Hello,

My 997 has a bent muffler bracket on the passenger side. I removed the muffler and removed the four bolts on the bracket that bolt the bracket to the engine. I can't seem to manipulate the bracket to remove it. Looks like engine has to be dropped? Any advice or ideas appreciated!!

Thanks

Guy

 

unless something has been bent, the bracket is bolted to the upper cat flange and the side motor/body point bracket, then the muffler drops down with all the brackets attached to it , easily

 

997.1 or 997.2? Perhaps post some pics or point out the items in question from the PET so we can visualize this better. I replaced the stock exhaust on my 997.1 S with a full FVD exhaust system(headers, muffler, cats, tips) so may be able to help given enough details are provided.

 

Thanks guys.....my muffler is fully removed already. The bracket I am working on is bolted to the engine, two bolts up top on the engine and two on the bottom of the engine. I imagine few would have to remove this bracket as it likely is left in place for most muffler installs. I will try to get an image up as soon as I return to a PC. Thanks

 

Its a 2008 997.1.......didn't realize my signature didn't show up. sorry!

Its number 18 on the bottom diagram

 

looks like 3 studs hold it on, I would think it would come off with out trouble

 

OK, got me there... I have not had to remove that particular bracket. How did it get bent? A pic of how badly it's bent would be great to further analysis the situation. Could you heat it up and bend it back close to it's original form vs. dropping the engine to get to it. Can you get the other side off w/o issue? Just wondering it this is a case of engine block intrusion where the bracket has somehow been pushed into the aluminum block and that is why it's stuck there.

 

Removing the rear bumper and muffler heat shields gives you plenty of access. Seems scary but its pretty simple to do.

 

Thanks. Bumper, bumper bracket, muffler, both heat shields are all off. I am beginning the think that the damage to the bracket is causing the issue. Its fully loose, just can't slid it out or lower it out around the engine. I can cut it to remove it, just hopeful the new one goes on easier than this comes off.

 

How did you get it off? Its been a while but i remember that these brackets dont "just come off" once the four bolts are removed, just cant remember what else needs to be done.

 

I actually cut it to remove it as it was badly distorted. There was four plugs to remove as well after it was cut . Looks like I should be able to get a new one in place without having to lower engine

 

Just wanted to follow up for the sake of anyone searching this out in the future. Once I removed the distorted bracket, I replaced it with a good used part. It was necessary to drop the exhaust manifold off the head in order to get the bracket in place. Also, I needed to unplug the injectors and coil packs as well. Even with this prep, it was a very tight fit and needs a little persuading

All in all, went well.

Thanks for the replies!