Replacing exhaust pipe rubber mount

[EricE]

One of the first problems I found with my truck years ago was that the rubber mount between the Cats and the tail pipe can was sheared/broken. That piece I believe is $300 to replace and the rubber mount comes welded on so one can’t buy it as a separate part. If I could get that part it should be fairly easy to have it welded on though. I doubt a wrecking yard is going to part with just the bracket and the whole pipe is still going to be expensive. Thus far I have lived with a simple bailing wire mount to keep the exhaust from banging on the frame. It works but I have to adjust/fix it every 6 months or so.

Pics:

http://www.nwlink.com/~erice/TLC/Exhaust/IMAG0001.JPG
http://www.nwlink.com/~erice/TLC/Exhaust/IMAG0003.JPG
http://www.nwlink.com/~erice/TLC/Exhaust/IMAG0004.JPG

I was thinking of maybe making a bracket like:
http://www.nwlink.com/~erice/TLC/Exhaust/IMAG0010.JPG
and then using a normal doughnut between there and the pipe bracket. That bracket on the pipe may not hold though. I should probably make a new one for there too.

What do you think? Suggestions are welcome.

 

[Grench]

8" exhaust hangar from the parts store. The kind with the holed strap on one end a rubber bumper in the middle and a flat hook on the other. The hook goes to the 2.5" exhaust clamp you buy with it.

Put it in a vice and bend it over just past the pivot. This yields a 90* bracket that can then be bolted onto the remaining mount from the old bracket.

I -have- had to do this twice on my Grey '96. These parts stores brackets only last about 2 years or so in our salty climate. They're cheap though and the job is easy to do.

If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll try to grab a couple of pictures of it tonight.

 

[GeoRoss]

I recently put a 4x4Labs rear bumper on my truck.


In the process of doing a temp hanger for the tail pipe (had to cut off about ~5" forward of the resonator) I discovered the same thing on the rubber mount above the muffler.

It turns out that the rubber mount used on the resonator is the same as the one above the muffler. I removed the frame mounting bracket and just bolted in the rubber doohinkus from the resonator.

For the rear hanger I used two pieces 3/8" round stock and an Autozone rubber exhaust doodad to connect them.

I put this forward as there is more room to get creative with exhaust hangers in the rear of the truck than under the muffler.

 

[EricE]

Hmmm, I can't picture what you talk about but I am going to go to the autoparts store and see what they have to work with. The whole point of this is to replace my metal strap (which works but is likely transmitting noise to the frame) with something that is rubber mounted.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[GeoRoss]

This isn't mine, but it gives you the idea.

 

[Slomo]

Not sure who quoted you the price on the oem replacements but I replaced all three of the rubber mounts on my 97 and they have plates with two studs per side and bolt in. IIRC they were $11 each.

 

[EricE]

Not sure who quoted you the price on the oem replacements but I replaced all three of the rubber mounts on my 97 and they have plates with two studs per side and bolt in. IIRC they were $11 each.

This particular piece comes with the pipe though. To replace it you must replace the pipe.

 

[EricE]

I see it now. I picked one up from my local shucks. Thanks guys, this is perfect.

You can't see it well but it is the piece on the left and you mate it to the pipe with one of the U clamps.
The strap has a 1" section that is all rubber and is perhaps 1" thick.
http://www.goerlichs.com/product_pages/products_accessories.asp

 

[Bluedog]

One of the first problems I found with my truck years ago was that the rubber mount between the Cats and the tail pipe can was sheared/broken. That piece I believe is $300 to replace and the rubber mount comes welded on so one can’t buy it as a separate part. If I could get that part it should be fairly easy to have it welded on though. I doubt a wrecking yard is going to part with just the bracket and the whole pipe is still going to be expensive. Thus far I have lived with a simple bailing wire mount to keep the exhaust from banging on the frame. It works but I have to adjust/fix it every 6 months or so.

I just went throught the same thing. My truck came with a broken center bracket. The whole unit was so rusty and with a hole in the resonator I just replaced the whole thing with a borla cat back and 3 new rubber/metal muffler mounts at 12.50 each. I rest easier knowing the exaust is properly mounted and now stainless steel.


B.

 

[Grench]

The pics I promised...

I think you have the right idea, but I said I'd post these tonight, so here they are.

If you're crawling around in there these will make sense.

It worked for me. YMMV.

 

[Dusty]

8" exhaust hangar from the parts store. The kind with the holed strap on one end a rubber bumper in the middle and a flat hook on the other. The hook goes to the 2.5" exhaust clamp you buy with it.

Put it in a vice and bend it over just past the pivot. This yields a 90* bracket that can then be bolted onto the remaining mount from the old bracket.

I -have- had to do this twice on my Grey '96. These parts stores brackets only last about 2 years or so in our salty climate. They're cheap though and the job is easy to do.

If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll try to grab a couple of pictures of it tonight.

I did same thing. this is such an easy fix. no welder needed. and solid. dont overthink it