Date:         Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:29:27 -0700
Reply-To:     neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Help with exhaust bracket design?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi all.

After repairing my exhaust:

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/JustForLaffs.jpg/JustForLaffs-full;init:.jpg

(yes you can laugh now)

I found yet more nagging details. Like broken exhaust brackets:

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/brokenexhaustbrackets

I *think* the passenger side breaks are due to me bumping into a hill
side whilst escaping from a logging road on my last trip. The driver
side likely started to fail due to the increased motion. Plus upon
disassembly, I realized I had mistakenly built a little tension into
the design. i.e. inlet of cat needs to be pushed a little to line up
with the flange on primaries.

So I'm hoping engine vibrations aren't the culprit.

But if they are ......

Does anyone have some pointers on a better design for these parts?

I like where they're mounted, and the material should be suitable
(1/8" mild steel) but the design may be the fault here.

FWIW, the welds held up fine. There is an flex bellows in the exhaust system.

TIA for any pointers or pics of successful designs!

Neil.

--
Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/