Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Rubber hangers exhausted?

  1. lotsie

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    #2 lotsie, Jan 12, 2010
    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
     
  2. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #3 Steve, Jan 12, 2010
    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.
     
  3. wzabrouski

    wzabrouski Active Member

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    #4 wzabrouski, Jan 12, 2010
    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
     
  4. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #5 minimark, Jan 12, 2010
    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
     
  5. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    #6 mini_racer, Jan 12, 2010
    Dish soap or even WD40 will lube them enough to help slide them off. Still expect a fight though.
     
  6. OZChris

    OZChris New Member

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    #7 OZChris, Jan 13, 2010
    +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 :(
     
  7. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #8 BThayer23, Jan 15, 2010
    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.
     
  8. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    #9 Eric@Helix, Jan 15, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2010
    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.
     
  9. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    #10 mini_racer, Jan 15, 2010
    Good point about the WD40 I mentioned, thanks.
     
  10. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #11 agranger, Jan 15, 2010
    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.
     
  11. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #12 BThayer23, Jan 15, 2010
    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.
     
  12. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #13 Steve, Jan 15, 2010
    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).
     
  13. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #14 BThayer23, Jan 17, 2010
    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.
     
  14. lotsie

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    #15 lotsie, Jan 17, 2010
    Good to hear it went well.

    Mark
     
  15. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #16 BlimeyCabrio, Jan 17, 2010
    WooHoo... can't wait to hear it!
     
  16. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #17 minimark, Jan 17, 2010
    Same here, we got to hit some twisties Ben!!!:Thumbsup: