Weird Muffler hangers broken

[Red69stepside]

I just found that my tail pipes --off a Flowmaster H-pipe -- are hung from the frame with rigid steel bars tack welded to the side of the pipes.

Actually only half hung--both of the bars on one of the pipes are broken and the pipe's holding itself up.

Is this a really screwy way to hang muffler pipes, or am I just old?

Last time I spent any time under a vehicle, pipes were hung with brackets that had flexible webbing-type straps between the frame and the pipe. I always thought this was a pretty smart way to reduce the force of any shock from the frame to the pipe.

But the PO was real proud of this exhaust system, and I'm surprised it's designed this way.

(I guess that fact that two of the four brackets are broke means maybe I'm right) .

Anyway what's the best way to support this pipe?

Thanks for any help

[Harold Shepard]

The web style has begun to give way to the new style. This new style utilizes a rubber donut to hold the hanger, look and see if you have some small, 2 inches or so, diameter bushings attached to your frame somewhere above the hangers, if you don't you should and is prob. the reason the exhaust hanger brke in the first place. People like this type because it looks more "clean" than the clamps and flex webb of old.

[Red69stepside]

You mean welding rigid steel bars onto your pipe is ok as long as you got a bushing on the frame?

I think I have what you mean--i'll take a pic tomorrow. but it sounds crazy...especially with two broken ones hanging off my frame.

[jimfulco]

Car makers have done them like that for years.

[Harold Shepard]

The bushing allows the exhaust to flex as needed. It acts just like the older type but not clamps to rust or webb to break (ideal world)

[chevymad]

Sometimes they'll use a couple of rubber washers.. bout 3/8s thick too. One on each side of the rigid metal with a bolt through the middle holding it to the frame. Usually use these whenever clearance is real tight. If the pipe has only 1/4" of play it'll bang around with the larger flexible mounts. Course if you have a motor that moves around alot, or shakes, you'll have the problem you're having now.

[Red69stepside]

Here's a couple of pix of my broken pipe hangers. I guess the blue things are the bushings you guys mentioned. But both of these hangers broke real clean, even with the bushings.

Looks like the pipe itself may have taken a hard blow. Another thing that makes me think this is the third picture of a joint in the pipe where I found some water (I think) leaking out the other day.

Does this just need a spot weld? Or is it a more involved fix.


So should I get new rigid hangers like the old ones and weld them, or get the U-clamp kind and hanger I found at Kragen with a piece of rubber webbing in it?

Thanks, all.

[Red69stepside]

Forgot to ask whether the spot welding here looks ok.

Any expert welders out there got some advice?

[chevymad]

Looks like the metal fatigued from vibration. I would have used a longer hanger and wrapped it more around the pipe. You can see with them that short, then welded directly on the end, vibrations cause the metal to flex just in that one spot. If the pipes have room to move around without banging into things you can use the rubber hangers instead. My pipes are hung the same way but i've had no problem. Seen pipes hung on a diesel this way and it only lasted a month. Also you can just weld that spot on the flange. The clamp should have sealed the pipe. But the flowmasters are usually so thick its hard to crush them enough to get a seal.

[Red69stepside]

Originally Posted by chevymad

The clamp should have sealed the pipe.

Should I try tightening down the clamp, or just weld the seam?

And when you say "flange" what part are you referring to ?