Exhaust Clamps - Do they weaken over time?

[Mungrel]

A dumb question perhaps, but its all i can think o.

Long story short, my rear muffler keeps working its way loose.
I tightened it Friday, the week before last and tonight on my way to meet someone, its wriggled loose again. 3rd time in the last month.

The exhaust has been on the car since late 2005 / early '06 and the rear muffler which clamps to the intermediate section has been on and off a few times.

Furthermore, it did receive some gentle persuasion carefully performed by an apex at a recent track day.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

It's really starting to frustrate me and weakened exhaust clamps are the only thing i can think of as the rest of the exhaust from what i've seen looks fine.

[VYSHSV8]

Mate what you might find id that the exhaust has actually stretched when it was hit by an unknown assainlant.. where the clamp fits try cutting 2 small 1mm wide slots in it/ exhaust and then retighten it as this will allow it to clamp down correctly..

drew

[planetdavo]

Clamps do tend to weaken over time due to the continual expansion and contraction of the metal from exhaust heat.
They shouldn't weaken much over a week though.

[Mungrel]

Mate what you might find id that the exhaust has actually stretched when it was hit by an unknown assainlant.. where the clamp fits try cutting 2 small 1mm wide slots in it/ exhaust and then retighten it as this will allow it to clamp down correctly..

drew

I'll have a squizz under it this weekend and have a look.


Clamps do tend to weaken over time due to the continual expansion and contraction of the metal from exhaust heat.
They shouldn't weaken much over a week though.

Is it possible they've loosened over the 2+ yrs i've had the system and now don't have the clamping force to keep it all together? Perhaps the apex was jus the straw that broke the camels back?

The ideal situation IMO which i will be looking into, will be to get the rear muffler modified so that there are two flanges so it bolts on and off (not that i remove it often) At least that way it shouldn't come off again.

[nqcv8]

I'll have a squizz under it this weekend and have a look.



Is it possible they've loosened over the 2+ yrs i've had the system and now don't have the clamping force to keep it all together? Perhaps the apex was jus the straw that broke the camels back?

The ideal situation IMO which i will be looking into, will be to get the rear muffler modified so that there are two flanges so it bolts on and off (not that i remove it often) At least that way it shouldn't come off again.

you work up the road, drop it in to brad one day mate.

[hsv-maloo-R8]

sound like it need a couple of tacks ,,with the MIG.:)

[YEEEHA]

Make sure the nuts arn't coming loose "use split washers not nyloc nuts or they melt rendering them useless" or make sure there not bottoming out on the threads.

[iamhappy46]

Even a new exhaust clamp would make a huge difference.

[tanka5.7]

your rubbers at the rear might be to stretched and muffler putty insde the sleeve will help also