Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 06:48:53 EDT
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Broken Stebro Muffler Bracket / Malcolm's trip + FIBER EXHAUST
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 12/08/2005 12:03:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
Fiber
gaskets were (are?) recommended for any SS joint.
Tabe, Pascal and all other interested parties, the doughnut gasket joint
in an exhaust system is used to allow placement of the components so that
there is no undue stress. A solid flat joint allows no repositioning of the
components to the best position. That said there are two types of doughnut
gaskets available on the market today. Asbestos fibre ones and solid steel
ones. It was though that the fibre ones were better for the stainless steel
flange connections due to stainless steel being susceptible to cracking from
vibration. The fibre ones were though to reduce this problem. This now after
many years of testing may not be true. Many of the stainless steel joints I
encounter in my shop have been fitted with the steel gasket and no flange
cracking has show up thus far. The steel gasket will definitely give a longer
life over the fibre ones. The fibre ones will eventually burn out from exposure
to the hot exhaust gases. So what to do ? I have begun using the steel
ones in most all applications and I am checking these connections as often as I
can to see how the joint is surviving. So far I see no problems. So, I
would therefore recommend using the steel gasket in all connections. See my
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust System_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) webpage for a list of part numbers of these two gaskets. They are
widely available from most good automotive parts supply. Contrary to
popular belief they are not made or supplied by STEBRO. I included them with the
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Muffler and J-pipe as a convenience to the
customer.
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or http://frankcondelli.com
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
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