what are you using to hold your exhaust up?

[cjmatt]

Ive recently installed my exhaust, it mounts like most others, bolted through the frame right above the exhaust tips in the abck, but for people with test pipes, what are you using to hold up the rest of the exhaust, it seems like it should be supported midway, other than by the turbo at one end and the bolts at the other, there is alot of weight hanging in between. What is everyone doing to address this?

[LBNJWE4]

I made hangers to go on top over the rear, also used the stock hanger by the test pipe

[John Larkin]

There is an exhaust hanger that mounts to the trans crossmember. This is the midway support which bolts to the backend your test pipe.

Are you a moderator?

[cjmatt]

yeah, ive never seen the exhaust hanger that mounted by the cat, my GN came sans-cat hahaha

I guess I will have to fab something up this weekend in order to hang it

and no, im not a mod, at least not that I know of

[ijames]

The ATR kits came with four extra hangars plus the welded tabs at the ends of the tailpipes. Two attach to the stock muffler mounts between rear and gas tank and clamp onto the pipes where they go up and over the axle. Two more clamp onto the joint at the back of each muffler and the pipe that goes over the rear, and then get attached through an existing hole in a body cross brace right above the muffler. I wanted to use band clamps so I used the strap hangar part of the guillotine style clamps(whatever you call that U-shaped round rod with the legs threaded that clamps around and digs into the pipe and makes it impossible to get things back apart :-)), turned it upside down so the strap part gets one of the band clamp bolts through it, and drilled a hole at the other end in the little U that used to go under the guillotine clamp so I could bolt it to the body brace. Oh, I also have two more guillotine clamps going from each tailpipe to the frame near the end, behind the rear wheels, where the welded tabs broke off. So a total of six hangars to the body from the mufflers back to the end of the tailpipe. My cat hangar at the trans crossmember tore through but I never replaced it because with all the hangars out back it just didn't seem needed. No rattles, just need to retighten the band clamps every 2-4 years, but I've had it completely apart a few times with no pain or hammering. Oh, a band clamp between downpipe and catalytic converter makes that joint easy to slip apart, as well. I can lay on the ground and reach under the car, without a jack, and go from test pipe to cat in about 10 minutes.

[bmackinnon]

Originally Posted by ijames

I wanted to use band clamps so I used the strap hangar part of the guillotine style clamps(whatever you call that U-shaped round rod with the legs threaded that clamps around and digs into the pipe and makes it impossible to get things back apart :-)), turned it upside down so the strap part gets one of the band clamp bolts through it, and drilled a hole at the other end in the little U that used to go under the guillotine clamp so I could bolt it to the body brace.

Oh, a band clamp between downpipe and catalytic converter makes that joint easy to slip apart, as well. I can lay on the ground and reach under the car, without a jack, and go from test pipe to cat in about 10 minutes.

Hi Carl,
OK, I've carefully read and re-read your post here and I'm following you except for the bold part above. When you are referring to the band clamps, are you talking about a T-bolt style band clamp? I'm not clear how 'one of the band clamp bolts goes thru the strap hole'. Standard band clamps have no 'bolts'? I'm getting ready to mount my exhaust and like you, don't want to 'crimp' my connections on using the 'guillotine' clamps. Do the band clamps you're using apply sufficient clamping force to (for the most part) seal the connections, or are you relying mostly on the 'interference' fit for sealing, and the clamps to provide support for the weight? Sorry if I muddied the waters... If you could clarify a bit? Thanks!

[ijames]

This is one of those "a picture would explain all" situations but my camera is at work and I don't know how to post a pic and my dog ate my homework :-). The band clamps I'm referring to are a wide strap about 4" long with two bolts to cinch them tight - see Dynomax Performance 33226 - Dynomax Lap-Joint Band Clamps - summitracing.com for a pic. They grip and seal up okay but over a few years can slip a little and let the muffler twist slightly, for example, so I just loosen them, realign it all, and retighten every few years. The bolts are perpendicular to the exhaust pipe. Maybe I'll get enthused and try to get a pic this weekend, but don't count on it :-). Hope this helps.

[ijames]

Well, I'm going to try to post a couple of pics. First one is shot across the car from the driver's side, showing the hangar and band clamp at the rear of the passenger side muffler. Second one was with the camera laying on the ground shooting almost straight up, on the passenger side. The top end of the hangar attached to the body is "L" shaped so I drilled a hole in the end and there is a vertical bolt going through a hole in the body brace, with a nut on top. The bottom end is under the nut on the rear band clamp bolt, on the pipe end away from the muffler. Hope this makes it, and makes it clear :-).

[bmackinnon]

Originally Posted by ijames

Hope this makes it, and makes it clear :-).

AHHaaa... Perfect! Thanks a bunch Carl!... I'm gonna' copy that... Much obliged!!