For the past few months i have noticed a rattling noise coming from the rear of my car. Yesterday while i was changing my oil i decided to figure out what the rattling was. One of my exhaust brackets (near the gas tank) had snapped off of my exhaust pipe and my exhaust was bouncing and hitting a crossbrace underneath my car causing the rattling.






Seeing as how i was laid off a little while ago and i am a college student i don't have any money to pay to get the bracket fixed, here is what i did:

1. I got a relatively large hose clamp and completely unscrewed it so that it was open.

2. I jacked up my car

3. I got under my car with the hose clamp and a flat head screw driver

4. I put the open hose clamp around the exhaust pipe and the bracket

5. I then closed and tightened the hose clamp as tight as possible

6. I then dropped my car back down and took it for a test ride over a couple of bumps

7. Enjoy the rattle free silence while driving

Here are some pics of the finished product:








Not too major of a write-up but I figure it might be helpful to someone.

 

1. replace that rusted b-pipe
2. use macro setting on camera

 

1. no money
2. horrible digital camera

 

im just kiddin with you...good write-up

 

thanks but in all seriousness i have just decided to keep and start modding my max so a b-pipe will hopefully be in the near future but at the present time i have $3 in my bank account lol

 

i did the same to mine and few others

 

good write up.. good 25 cent problem fix lol.. you cant even get a gallon of gas with that lol...

 

i know

 

man i had the exact same problem, that metal piece u clamped down is connected to a rubber hanger right? i took off that stock metal piece off teh rubber hanger and put in a metal rod and welded that to the exhaust. how tight is that clamp? i don't think thats gona hold, when you hit a bump that is the only support for the pipe, it come down rather hard. I would suggest you weld that back on.

it took you a months to finally find out what it was? what was the wait, you could've messed up your exhaust system i think.

 

i will when i get money but i tightened it as much as possible and i live in mass (redneck county) and so far no issues. and i just havent had time to check with school and trying to find a new job.

 

What you oughta do is take that to a muffler shop and let them cut that flattened portion and replace it with straight/round pipe and you'll pick up about 5-8 whp and crispier throttle response!

 

fist when i read your write i just wanted to say its only like $30 to fix that problam with a weld but 3$ in your bank account i think you did the right thing. hope you have a student account so they dont charge you for low balance.

 

no really, what?

 

Yeah, From 2.25" crushed down to about 1"! My CattMan Midpipe still clears that brace! If you cut that crushed section out, you might want to go to Napa and get some stiff exhaust hangars...If you have any rubbing issues! Your Hp will increase!

 

i have a frankencar b-pipe...and im smart enough to realize it doesnt give 5-8hp gains

 

I used a muffler clamp to do the same thing.

 

but i had the hose clamp sitting in my garage so it was the best option for me.

 

I have this problem now. I am gonna give that a try. The noise is driving me crazy over bumps....

 

your frankencar exhaust is a joke!

 

thats a bad spot but mine was ratteling where it goes through the subframe in the rear.

 

I tihnk im starting to notice this noise at about 4k rpm. Might have to look under there in a few days. Then head over to home depot for your fix haha.

 

im seeing you posting...have yet to see the point of any of the posts....

 

that is the stupidest thing i've heard today...

dude, please don't post things like this unless you can prove that its true.



to the OP, good cheap fix.

 

yeah...i dont get anything he posts

 

I did the same thing and the bracket kept pulling out of the clamp (I hate when it pulls out on its own). I wound up drilling a hole in the bracket and fishing the clamp through the hole. Seems to work accept I have to retighten the clamp every once in a while.

 

The thread has been dead for only a month, so probably not that big of a deal bringing it back.

I am having the same problem. Will have to get under there and assess the situation.

I am also hearing some buzzing at really low rpm when I give it gas suddenly, even under no load. Sounds like the exhaust is buzzing. Could this be related to the exhaust hanging loosely, or have I got a whole separate problem on my hands?

 

culd have just had it welded back on for about 5 bucks.

 

the buzzing you are describing sounds like an exhaust leak.

 

damn... thanks though.

 

I used this same fix on my '99 and my '03, except it was the hanger just in front of the first bend in the B-pipe. On my '99, It worked for about a year until i heard a little clanking again. So I crawled back under, tightened it up, and it was fine for another year or so. After the second year, I think I had to replace the hose clamp. $0.49 for 2 years isnt bad.

Its been working on my '03 for a good 6 months or so now and no problems at all.

 

i guess this is common. Mine broke in the same place and i had a local mechanic weld a new one on there for $35. i thought about doing the same thing you did though.

 

does anyone know if its ok to completely remove the "beam" as you may call it that runs from 1 side to the other? The one towards the rear(the one in that pic) is already gone but I'm having issues clearing the one upfront because the flex on my ypipe is pretty stiff. So i'm surious if that bar does anything or is just there incase its breaks because i'd love to just get rid of it.