third muffler clamp breaks

Hello, I have a 97 SC2 and today I noticed that clunking noise back by the
muffler. Checked it out and it was the muffler clamp, the clamp that goes
around the muffler holding it up. This is the third time it has rusted out.
Have 40k miles on the car. I live in ILL and guess it is the salting of the
roads here in winter that is causing it. Is there a better clamp? Am getting
tired of having it replaced.
TIA Dan.

 

See if you can find a stainless steel clamp...

Call a custom exhaust shop and see if they will sell you one.

Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Ask me about "The Ride" on July 31, '04:
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

 

Man, that's weird, especially three times. I haven't heard of that
problem. But I don't work at a dealer either. Maybe it's common and
just hasn't come up here. Where does it break?

 

Where is the hanger rusting out? The part that clamps to the muffler or to
the body? There should be a 'rubber' section in the middle of any hanger for
vibration isolation and (sometimes most importantly) galvanic isolation. Hot
dissimilar metals make small electric voltages which if short circuited can
accelerate corrosion. If the hanger seems overloaded, look into adding
another hanger to spread the load.

just my $0.02 worth,
Oppie

--
For valid response address, remove the '1' following oppie
_________________
| Hello, I have a 97 SC2 and today I noticed that clunking noise back by
the
| muffler. Checked it out and it was the muffler clamp, the clamp that
goes
| around the muffler holding it up. This is the third time it has rusted
out.
| Have 40k miles on the car. I live in ILL and guess it is the salting of
the
| roads here in winter that is causing it. Is there a better clamp? Am
getting
| tired of having it replaced.
| TIA Dan.

 

I replaced the stock muffler with a Walker part on a 92 SL2 about 3
years ago. This muffler came with a strap-hanger bracket which was much
more robust than the stcok item (which had also broken earlier).

I think the Walker strap-hanger is available separately from the muffler
and probably too expensive - the muffler cost about $65 w/ bracket. The
difference between the Walker piece and the Saturn is easliy seen (and
has not broken yet).


=================================

" ..... I ain't no bandleader!!"

 

. Where does it break?
It breaks right under the muffler in the middle of it. This last time, right
where it broke there was a hole in the muffler. Had to replace the muffler.
Dan

 

Where is the hanger rusting out?

On the bottom side of the muffler right in the middle.
Dan.

 

Just out of curiosity, is the U bolt for the clamp installed with the nuts
to the bottom? I usually put the clamps on with the nuts facing to the side
so there is no area where any water can accumulate and accelerate any
corrosion. Still, heavy duty or stainless components are the best.

My Voyager had a stainless exhaust system. I replaced the muffler 3 times in
200k miles but the rest of the pipes were the originals.

Oppie

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For valid response address, remove the '1' following oppie
_________________
| >Where is the hanger rusting out?
|
| On the bottom side of the muffler right in the middle.
| Dan.

 

Just out of curiosity, is the U bolt for the clamp installed with the nuts

I don`t really know. It was a snowy day when I realized it was broken again.
I didn`t want to crawl down under the car to check it out. I just used my foot
to lift the tail pipe and found the strap was broken.
Dan.