utjmac

After reading about Dean's fire, I ventured out to look at the shark, and found a new issue. My exhaust was dragging only a couple inches above the ground!

On my way home Friday evening (it was late), and remember hearing a slight thumb back and forth. Since I've been chasing hatch leaks, and have all the hatch interior out, I thought it was simply a hatch wire slapping back and forth or the factory jack moving. Turns out, it may have been my exhaust hitting the ground as I drove.

Upon inspection, the two exhaust hangers on either side of my muffler had torn, and the hanger midway up, by the cats was not hooked in place. My exhaust was hanging from the headers!

This afternoon, I pulled the header bolts, and will take this opportunity to replace all hanger rubbers, inspect the flex plate, and replace my lower bellhousing, and reinstall an 02 sensor. Giovanni had an extra, and mine had some sort of external damage that would keep me from using a flexplate lock tool. Also, I didn't even have an exhaust gasket on my driver side pipe.

Now that I think about it, it had hung a bit low originally, so I may have only had one hanger attached and didn't know. As a note to all, inspect your exhaust hangers!

So, are these same orientation , correct fitment, hangers typically stocked locally at a chain auto parts store so I don't have to wait a couple days for them to ship? I called, but they said they had something that would work (not exactly the answer I was looking for) Also, since they hung from the headers, is there anything else I should check for damage? When removing, I didn't notice any excessive play from the header flange. I was also surprised at how many places looked compressed in on the factory exhaust system. I can see why a consistent diameter aftermarket pipe can open this up, I wish I had the $$ to put an X-pipe on at the moment


Just a heads up for everyone to inspect these during your next under car visit!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

John

waveflux

On my 89 there are a ton of those hangers. About 6 or 7. I only used the porsche ones as replacement.
...but, I guess it wouldn't hurt to take an old one into a auto parts store for a quick comparison.

utjmac

Heading there now to investigate. I need a dial indicator anyways to check the flex plate.

James-man

I've had two break on me at once. Fortunately I was wearing a belt that I could take off, hook to the exhaust, close the hatch on the belt, and drive on until I could put together a real repair.

Always wear a belt. Always keep spare fuses and relays in your pockets.

utjmac

James, I didn't think of that, but good save.

Nothing available locally, not even gaskets that look to fit. I'll give one of the big three a call in the morning.

Tom in Austin

I had to change out all of mine too. On my car, there isn't a hanger up in the vicinity of the cats, even though it appears in PET. There was some lively debate about this, several Rennlisters went and looked under their cars; some had a hanger in this location and others didn't. If my car had one, it was probably lost when the PO changed the torque tube a few years back.

If you haven't already, you might consider replacing your transmission mounts since they are also rubber and likely have deteriorated along with the exhaust hangers.

Fogey1

One of the many uses for hose clamps - perfect for a temporary repair of these hangers, holds them together and on while still allowing the cushioning and minor "designed-in" movement.

Ask me how i know.

Chuck Schreiber

I think you'll only be able to find as a porsche part. I do know that the ones on my 79 and the 94 are the same part#, just different quantity as one is single and the other dual exhaust.
Cheap, If I remember correctly, about $5 each.

utjmac

I've got them on the way from Roger along with new header gaskets.

At least she will go back together with a new o2 sensor, new lower bellhousing, checked flexplate and new hangers. One more area of the car tended to for a while.