Exhaust Question

[GMCjunkie]

Ill try to make a long story short....

I Just removed headers from my burb and put stock manifolds back on a couple months ago, (my pipes end just before the rear axle). The problem Im having is with my rear ( and only) bracket , mainly the pass. side. It keeps breaking. I drove coast to coast 2 times when I had the headers on there and never broke a bracket. The guy that did the exhaust, welded the new pipe on to fit the manifolds. First problem I was having was the bolts that connect the pipe to the manifolds kept backing off , thus burning out the donut and sounding really loud. I realized after the first time I had to tighten them up,. that If I didnt torque the pipe over WHILE tightening the bolts, the pipe would rub on the frame, you could barely put your finger between them with it tightened up. Now Im being told that the reason the bracket is breaking now, is because when I had the headers on there, the collectors allowed for some play. Now that I have the manifolds its all rigid and when the engine torques or rocks it snaps the bracket.

What do you think??? Are the brackets breaking because you have to torque the pipe over, then tighten the bolts down, or because the manifolds have made the whole thing more rigid??

Sorry if this sounds rattled... Im so frazzled right now.


Any input is greatly appreciated