LanEvo
Reader
7/22/14 1:58 p.m.
So, I'm having an unexpected issue. I've just started racing my '87 190E 2.3-16 after a lengthy build. The original exhaust system basically fell apart on the track. Figured it was just due to old age.
Went ahead and ordered a brand-new, mandrel-bent, stainless-steel exhaust system from the headers back. Excellent build quality. Gorgeous welds. Quite pricey. Guess what? It also fell off the car!
It seems to me the problem is the stock exhaust hangers allow way too much movement: both up-and-down and side-to-side. All that swinging around eventually fatigues the rubber mounts ... and I end up black flagged.
How do you guys with stiff suspensions keep your race exhausts in place? Is there some super-secret exhaust hanger I don't know about? I'm taking it back to the shop to start all over again and I can't have this happen a third time! Please help!
- Hose clamp around outside of rubber mounts.
- Drill a hole in the car side hanger. Put a washer and cotter pin on the end.
I had issues with the exhaust falling off of the Neon I raced. The washer and cotter pin stopped it from slipping off of the hanger.
I ditch the rubber donuts and hangers and weld a piece of 1/16"X1" flat stock to the pipe and muffler at the stock mount locations. Then I bolt it on solid.
The length and thickness of the "straps" allows some movement to keep from destroying the exhaust or floor pan if you high side a curb or go off in the bumps but it is essentially a rigid mount otherwise. This approach assumes pretty stiff engine/trans mounts too. Mine are solid aluminum.
This is what I used on the Lemons car. That was 40+ hours of track time ago. Don't spare the fasteners because one isn't enough. One trip across the rumble strips will rattle it all loose. Exhaust donuts are worthless.
