So I'm planning on installing a new catback exhaust on my '06 MCS with 86,000 miles. While I'm up there, should I replace the exhaust hangers, or should I just remove them really carefully? I've heard the OEM gasket works better than the aftermarket ones, so I'm gonna pick up one of those for the flange at the cat. Anything else I should keep an eye on?
The bolts on the mid point hanger plate may be rusted/seized. I snapped 2 of them off when I did my exhaust at 100k miles. Rather than extract them, I just used self-tapping screws right next to the busted off ones. Mark
Be careful with those rubber mounts. I ripped one once trying to pull it off the metal hanger peg. Lube 'em up...a little dish soap works great.
I took off the two bolts on each hanger, let it drop, then slide the hangers off the exhaust. This was after fighting with it for a while. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Good chance you'll tear at least one removing them anyway, with the miles and time already on the old ones ya might as well put new hangers on with the new exhaust.....2cents
+1 in terms of expect a fight. I changed to a JCW catback last week and most of the time spent was on the 4 rubber hangers
Thanks guys. I stocked up on PB Blaster, and I like the dish soap idea. My mechanic recommended a set of exhaust hanger removal pliers, too. Looks like I'm gonna be helping a friend replace the exhaust on her Civic, so I might drop the $20 or so on a set.
Don't use petroleum-based lubricants (like pb blaster or wd40) on those rubber hangers: it will degrade the material. Silicone lube works well, and I suppose dish soap would work as well. Take a set of adjustable pliers like channel locks, and put one side of the jaw on the bracket button, and the other side on the hanger, and squeeze the button into the hanger hole. Then back-n-forth wrangle the hanger off the bracket.
My single-sided Alta exhaust (sportone) started swinging back and forth during a weekend at the track... the hot exhaust tips melted my rear bumper valance. The cause was worn/broken exhaust hangers. I'd recommend the replacement.
The PB Blaster is intended for the bolts, but that's a good point about degrading the rubber. I decided to try to keep the old hangers. Plus the dealership didn't have 'em in stock, so by the time they get here, I'll have the exhaust up already. I have a limited number of warm days when I can use my friend's garage - gotta make the most of the opportunity. I'll probably replace them this spring before track season gets going. Thanks to everyone for all the advice.
I could never remember whether silicone was safe. I think that's why I started using the dish soap, and it became a habit after changing my exhaust that way five or six times. It's safe, works well, and is easy to clean up (obviously).
Surgery is complete, and the new exhaust sounds fantastic. Dish soap worked well, but it was only necessary on the pair of hangers that support the long center section. The two rubber hangers on the outside of each can are chunky and easy to remove with channel lock pliers (thanks Eric). Of the two rubber hangers on the inside of each muffler, one was DOA and the other didn't survive surgery. Luckily, the metal hanger that mates with that rubber hanger bolts on to the muffler separately so I'll address that in a follow-up visit this weekend, and it didn't affect the installation. Hardest part of the whole thing? Squeezing the assembly paste out of the tube. It was like forcing fruitcake through a colander.