DC Sports vs. AEM - Intake problems!

EJHonda · 01-08-2002, 11:01 PM

Pics of my DC intake and bracket

My DC Sports intake is a pain in the ass. The 'L' bracket that attaches the filter-end of the intake pipe to the passenger strut tower is always snapping (twice in 6 months), and the K&N filter refuses to stay on the intake pipe. I've found the filter banging around in the engine bay, completely off the intake pipe, at least 5 times now. The only time the filter stays on is once the 'L' bracket is broken!

DC Sports has provided me with free replacement brackets, but I've got to believe there is a better product out there. I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems with their DC intake, and if people have had good experiences with the AEM cold air intake. I'm thinking of ditching this DC intake and replacing it with an AEM unit.

Just looking for feedback on those issues. Thanks!

r2k916 · 01-09-2002, 12:30 AM

I dont really understand what you are saying about the"L" Bracket. But you might want to try one of those metal hose clamps. If you havent already, but if you havent, try it out. They are really cheap, just tighten it really really tight. Thats what i used and i havent had any problems. The only problem that i had was I was stupid and didnt use the rubber mounting bolt, and the engine snaped the weld and bracket right off the intake. But hope that help a little. Holla!

Shaggs2Dope · 01-09-2002, 02:55 AM

i hate little crap brackets, the AEM welds all mounts to the intake tube so it is a secure fit the first time. I have had my cai over a year and the fit still is perfect, and have never had any filter slippage. I would think that DC would make a better designed product, but those brackets almost resemble super cheapie intakes.

syclone · 01-09-2002, 06:57 AM

recently, i've heard more and more complaints about dc products... i think they're losing their quality control... sad...

one advice... after you use a screw driver to tighten the parts, tighten it a little more with a ratchet... also.. tighten the clamp on the throttle body last... you want everything to fit right before you secure the clamp that's mainly responsible for holding the intake in place...

Kris79 · 01-09-2002, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by syclone
recently, i've heard more and more complaints about dc products... i think they're losing their quality control... sad...

one advice... after you use a screw driver to tighten the parts, tighten it a little more with a ratchet... also.. tighten the clamp on the throttle body last... you want everything to fit right before you secure the clamp that's mainly responsible for holding the intake in place...

see they are proving my point

EJHonda · 01-09-2002, 09:54 PM

r2k916 - check the pics link in my original post and you'll see the 'L' bracket. The intake came with a metal hose clamp, but the damn thing won't stay on because of the 'L' bracket is supposed to be in between the hose clamp and the filter's sleeve - thus the hose clamp doesn't exert equal compression around the full diameter of the intake pipe.

Shaggs2dope - it's good to hear that the AEM bracket works better. That's what I assumed by looking at it.

syclone - excellent suggestion. I know I tightened the hose to the intake manifold first before tightening the intake bracket to the strut tower. If I do end up keeping the DC intake, I'll try that - or suggest it to whoever I sell it to.

kris79 - I'm assuming you're an Injen fan. Know the difference between the regular Injen intakes and the Race Division intakes?

sillypuddy · 01-09-2002, 11:50 PM

i made my own intake and i don't have a bead on my pipe, but there is at least two inches overlap between the filter rubber piece and the pipe.. prehaps you should replace your filter with a k&n with a longer "neck"?

-joe

EJHonda · 01-10-2002, 12:00 AM

The K&N that came with the intake probably has at least a 2 inch overlap on the intake. The problem is the engineering of that damnable 'L' bracket and having it sit under the hose clamp, between the clamp and the filter neck.

If you take a look at the pic of the bracket, you'll see that it isn't curved like the intake pipe is, just bent on the ends. This causes the clamp to put pressur unevenly on that side of the filter neck. Combine that with the fact that when the engine revs, it rocks and moves the intake pipe, while the rest of the car body is still. Thus all that torquing motion is placed right on that bracket. It's a formula for failure.

The filter would probably stay on if I just ditched the bracket and ran the iintake without it - as I have since the bracket snapped. But for $130, I'd expect the piece to work better and not require some jury rigging to function properly.

Kris79 · 01-10-2002, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EJHonda
r2k916 - check the pics link in my original post and you'll see the 'L' bracket. The intake came with a metal hose clamp, but the damn thing won't stay on because of the 'L' bracket is supposed to be in between the hose clamp and the filter's sleeve - thus the hose clamp doesn't exert equal compression around the full diameter of the intake pipe.

Shaggs2dope - it's good to hear that the AEM bracket works better. That's what I assumed by looking at it.

syclone - excellent suggestion. I know I tightened the hose to the intake manifold first before tightening the intake bracket to the strut tower. If I do end up keeping the DC intake, I'll try that - or suggest it to whoever I sell it to.

kris79 - I'm assuming you're an Injen fan. Know the difference between the regular Injen intakes and the Race Division intakes?

yeep only because they are like aems! as you all know injen was made by a guy that worked for aem. you pay another 20 bucks and get one nice shiny looking intake with a carb sticker on it =)

the regular intakes are short rams but most of them you can add a coldair extention, the race division is one peice cold air intake.

rshih · 01-10-2002, 06:50 PM

The bracket for AEM's Accord V6 intake breaks as well. Apparently, the bracket needs to be pre-bent in a certain angle to avoid that because the engine torques and moves when driving.

EJHonda · 01-10-2002, 08:03 PM

Kris79 -

Can you tell me how deep the Injen intake takes the filter into the area that would normally house the stock resonator (just in front of the front wheel)? I'm wondering how likely it would be to suck up water or whatever. I live in upstate NY and see my fair share of rain and snow, but I gotta believe it would be highly unlikely to get into something so deep it would be sucked up into the intake.

syclone · 01-11-2002, 04:39 AM

EJHonda, honestly, i doubt you need the bracket...

i'm using a rs akimoto short ram for a 5th gen accord... since the bracket doesn't mount in the same location, i left it off... it doesn't move.. although i must admit that the akimoto is very light... especially the filter compared to k&n's... weighs about half..

i'd post a pic, but photopoint went bankrupt... i'm re-loading most of my pics up to a new location...

CincyHugh · 01-11-2002, 07:49 AM

I would go with syclones suggestion and scrap the bracket. Maybe try and come up with another way of holding it down. That way you can at least make sure the filter stays on the pipe.

I had a DC intake on my 4th gen, and I also had problems with the bracket. Not that it ever broke, but the nut and bolt used to hold it on would always come loose because it just didn't fit flush. So I just stopped using it and never had a problem.

EJHonda · 01-11-2002, 08:47 PM

Cincy & Syc -

Yeah, I know, I shouldn't be so anal about the bracket, but that's just me. I still haven't ordered a replacement intake yet, so maybe I'll think this over a few more days.

Thanks to all for their input....

(I'd still like to know how close to the ground the AEM and Injen CAI's put the filter - if it's more than a foot than I'd still probably go for one).

Kris79 · 01-11-2002, 08:55 PM

sorry i took so long to reply, hmm.... lets just say by the time your filter is under water, you feet will be wet. =)

EJHonda · 01-11-2002, 09:54 PM

LOL!! I was hoping to hear that.

I saw you're looking for a way to keep your lights from dimming on your teg, so thanks for taking time out to get back on that. You hotshots who expect your rides to be fast AND supply 500 amps to your ICE....

01-08-2002, 11:01 PM	#1
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	DC Sports vs. AEM - Intake problems! Pics of my DC intake and bracket My DC Sports intake is a pain in the ass. The 'L' bracket that attaches the filter-end of the intake pipe to the passenger strut tower is always snapping (twice in 6 months), and the K&N filter refuses to stay on the intake pipe. I've found the filter banging around in the engine bay, completely off the intake pipe, at least 5 times now. The only time the filter stays on is once the 'L' bracket is broken! DC Sports has provided me with free replacement brackets, but I've got to believe there is a better product out there. I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems with their DC intake, and if people have had good experiences with the AEM cold air intake. I'm thinking of ditching this DC intake and replacing it with an AEM unit. Just looking for feedback on those issues. Thanks!

01-09-2002, 12:30 AM	#2
r2k916 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sacramento Posts: 205	I dont really understand what you are saying about the"L" Bracket. But you might want to try one of those metal hose clamps. If you havent already, but if you havent, try it out. They are really cheap, just tighten it really really tight. Thats what i used and i havent had any problems. The only problem that i had was I was stupid and didnt use the rubber mounting bolt, and the engine snaped the weld and bracket right off the intake. But hope that help a little. Holla! __________________ 2001 Satin Pearl* Silver SEDAN! R/H evo M7000 Eibach Sportline Black Housing ION Lenses Red/Clear Tails Kenwood Touchscreen DvD gps 2 Diamond Macdaddy 12's Playstation II Dual Greddy Evo AEM CAI w/ bypass aLL sHoW nO gO! Vtec01@aol.com

01-09-2002, 02:55 AM	#3
Shaggs2Dope 6G Militia Leader Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Cali Posts: 2,984	thats shitty i hate little crap brackets, the AEM welds all mounts to the intake tube so it is a secure fit the first time. I have had my cai over a year and the fit still is perfect, and have never had any filter slippage. I would think that DC would make a better designed product, but those brackets almost resemble super cheapie intakes. __________________

01-09-2002, 06:57 AM	#4
syclone Hondasociety Newbie Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Los Angeles, SoCal Posts: 1,673	recently, i've heard more and more complaints about dc products... i think they're losing their quality control... sad... one advice... after you use a screw driver to tighten the parts, tighten it a little more with a ratchet... also.. tighten the clamp on the throttle body last... you want everything to fit right before you secure the clamp that's mainly responsible for holding the intake in place... __________________ 99 Accord EX (DIY's) \| 97 Civic DX hatch (DIY's) 2005 Solo2 CalClub FSP Champion 2006 Solo2 OKSCCA BSP Champion 2006 Solo2 OKSCCA Overall Champion Team Motocrew

01-10-2002, 06:50 PM	#10
rshih Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 71	The bracket for AEM's Accord V6 intake breaks as well. Apparently, the bracket needs to be pre-bent in a certain angle to avoid that because the engine torques and moves when driving. __________________ -=98 Accord V6 EX 4 Door=- Team Racing Direction

01-09-2002, 09:54 PM	#6
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	r2k916 - check the pics link in my original post and you'll see the 'L' bracket. The intake came with a metal hose clamp, but the damn thing won't stay on because of the 'L' bracket is supposed to be in between the hose clamp and the filter's sleeve - thus the hose clamp doesn't exert equal compression around the full diameter of the intake pipe. Shaggs2dope - it's good to hear that the AEM bracket works better. That's what I assumed by looking at it. syclone - excellent suggestion. I know I tightened the hose to the intake manifold first before tightening the intake bracket to the strut tower. If I do end up keeping the DC intake, I'll try that - or suggest it to whoever I sell it to. kris79 - I'm assuming you're an Injen fan. Know the difference between the regular Injen intakes and the Race Division intakes?

01-09-2002, 11:50 PM	#7
sillypuddy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Frozen North Posts: 273	i made my own intake and i don't have a bead on my pipe, but there is at least two inches overlap between the filter rubber piece and the pipe.. prehaps you should replace your filter with a k&n with a longer "neck"? -joe

01-10-2002, 12:00 AM	#8
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	The K&N that came with the intake probably has at least a 2 inch overlap on the intake. The problem is the engineering of that damnable 'L' bracket and having it sit under the hose clamp, between the clamp and the filter neck. If you take a look at the pic of the bracket, you'll see that it isn't curved like the intake pipe is, just bent on the ends. This causes the clamp to put pressur unevenly on that side of the filter neck. Combine that with the fact that when the engine revs, it rocks and moves the intake pipe, while the rest of the car body is still. Thus all that torquing motion is placed right on that bracket. It's a formula for failure. The filter would probably stay on if I just ditched the bracket and ran the iintake without it - as I have since the bracket snapped. But for $130, I'd expect the piece to work better and not require some jury rigging to function properly.

01-10-2002, 08:03 PM	#11
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	Kris79 - Can you tell me how deep the Injen intake takes the filter into the area that would normally house the stock resonator (just in front of the front wheel)? I'm wondering how likely it would be to suck up water or whatever. I live in upstate NY and see my fair share of rain and snow, but I gotta believe it would be highly unlikely to get into something so deep it would be sucked up into the intake.

01-11-2002, 04:39 AM	#12
syclone Hondasociety Newbie Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Los Angeles, SoCal Posts: 1,673	EJHonda, honestly, i doubt you need the bracket... i'm using a rs akimoto short ram for a 5th gen accord... since the bracket doesn't mount in the same location, i left it off... it doesn't move.. although i must admit that the akimoto is very light... especially the filter compared to k&n's... weighs about half.. i'd post a pic, but photopoint went bankrupt... i'm re-loading most of my pics up to a new location... __________________ 99 Accord EX (DIY's) \| 97 Civic DX hatch (DIY's) 2005 Solo2 CalClub FSP Champion 2006 Solo2 OKSCCA BSP Champion 2006 Solo2 OKSCCA Overall Champion Team Motocrew

01-11-2002, 07:49 AM	#13
CincyHugh Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 361	I would go with syclones suggestion and scrap the bracket. Maybe try and come up with another way of holding it down. That way you can at least make sure the filter stays on the pipe. I had a DC intake on my 4th gen, and I also had problems with the bracket. Not that it ever broke, but the nut and bolt used to hold it on would always come loose because it just didn't fit flush. So I just stopped using it and never had a problem. __________________ 99 EX Sedan i4 5spd- Check it out www.cincinnatiaccord.com Rock ON!!!!!!! FS: TEIN SS Coilovers - $450 OBO

01-11-2002, 08:47 PM	#14
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	Cincy & Syc - Yeah, I know, I shouldn't be so anal about the bracket, but that's just me. I still haven't ordered a replacement intake yet, so maybe I'll think this over a few more days. Thanks to all for their input.... (I'd still like to know how close to the ground the AEM and Injen CAI's put the filter - if it's more than a foot than I'd still probably go for one).

01-11-2002, 08:55 PM	#15
Kris79 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: i controll the weather ~ fear me! Posts: 6,872	sorry i took so long to reply, hmm.... lets just say by the time your filter is under water, you feet will be wet. =) __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...page_id=208073

01-11-2002, 09:54 PM	#16
EJHonda Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 47	LOL!! I was hoping to hear that. I saw you're looking for a way to keep your lights from dimming on your teg, so thanks for taking time out to get back on that. You hotshots who expect your rides to be fast AND supply 500 amps to your ICE....

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