Exhaust Clamp

[98GTKid]

Hey guys I have a little problem.. I was walkin out of the store yesterday and my car was parked across the lot and as I was walking back towards it I saw something hanging down in the rear. I got under it for a second and it appears to be an exhaust clamp or something. The exhaust still seems sturdy but obviously it needs to be fixed. About how much would it cost to get a new one? Should I not drive it even the 1 or 2miles to school and back in the morning?

[Blackhawk]

Clamps aren't that much, just go to Auto Value or Napa, a shop like that. They normally have plenty of exhaust supplies.

[Nighthawk243]

Pretty cheap for a basic clamp.

As far as drivability, it isn't something that'll disable your vehicle. I had a broken cat flange for about 4 months and still drove.

[HornetGT141]

One of my rusted off not to long ago and all you have to do is drill/bolt a new clamp up. Really easy if you can get under the car.

Nighthawk is right don't worry about it, just try and make sure you don't bottom out or do some serious bouncing so that it scrapes the pavement. :P

[rixGAphx]

You have a 3.1 'GT'.
IIRC, the 'GT' has 'dual exhausts':
Actually, one exhaust pipe and cat, then a split into two different mufflers and tailpipes.

Each tailpipe has a hanger, behind the muffler.
It is *prolly* one of these (or only this, if you have 'single exhaust) that you see.

Upstream of this, on the dual exhaust, there is a cross-overpipe that runs from the 'split' to the right muffler.
There is a hanger for this cross-over pipe, right behind the fuel tank and attached wwwwaaaaayy high to the chassis. It's a real PITA to get to that attachment bolt, and the bolt/nut itself will rust-out.
The single exhaust cars will have a similar hanger, though I don't know where it attaches to the chassis.
It is this hanger that carries most of the weight of the cat and half the weight of the muffler(s).
If it is this mid-car hanger that is broken, then there is a LOT of stress being placed on the exhaust pipe at the fire wall, and at other parts of the pipe that weren't meant to carry so much weight.

Since your car is 9-yrs old and has a least a bit of rust on the underside, I wouldn't wait too long to repair this.
As it is, it's mebbe an hour on your back and $10 of parts/bolts.
If the exhaust pipe breaks at the exhasut manifold or cat, the time and expense will be much greater.

At the very least, crawl under and take a look.
Baling wire or a coat hanger are your best friends for temporary exhaust-hanger repairs :D

Good luck,
-Rick

Farmer's Adage: Nothing is as permanent as a temporary repair that works.

[98GTKid]

OKay I got under there today.. theres really not much rust under my car at all.. EXCEPT.. for the exhaust hangers.. it is a strap that runs around the circumference of the muffler itself and goes up into a lipped 'hook' type thing. it has 1 bolt on it. I had one HELL of a time getting the coathanger/wire to go in the place the original part was, so I wired it up to the chassis nearer the end of the tailpipe.. its 10x sturdier than it was so atleast I can rest a little easier knowing my tailpipe isnt draggin like some rusted out beater or somethin. Until I can properly fix it this will work. I have a pic of the part but my digi camera literally just broke too.. jeesh. Everything needs fixin these days, thanks guys.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by 98GTKid
.....I have a pic of the part but my digi camera literally just broke too.. jeesh.
Everything needs fixin these days. Baling wire won't work on electronic cameras.







Use duct tape! :D :D

Sorry for your pain,
glad you got that muffler hanger temporarily fixed at least,
-Rick