Mine is in good shape for its 25 years, but the exhaust judders around when the car is idling and makes quite a racket. I checked underneath, and there are three rubber muffler 'hangers' holding the exhaust system to the car and they feel soft and quite bouncy. Are these meant to be firm with enough give under pressure, or is springy and muffler-bouncing the way they should be?
Is there any fix for it apart from newer, firmer hangers. eg, could I reduce some of the 'give' somehow, e.g. cable ties (which might melt from the heat), or would something metal, like a hose-clamp do the trick, if one is required.
Thanks in advance for helpful opinions.
intrade,
Mar 5, 9:03am
is your engine running right are the engine mounts ok ? exess bounce on exhaust is not normal. i got my muffler bang against my towbar extension that i had to place close to the muffler, when the 5 cilinder diesel starts to run on only 4 injectors at idle. This is a old high emission engine so no real problem as it comes right when i tap the accelerator, I have new injector nozzles to rebuild all 5 one day but its not like it will nuke it self like a low emission commonrail diesel would with that problem.
intrade,
Mar 5, 9:06am
now to the hangers usually you see cracking in rubber material they need to be replaced with the same thing , hangers are like shockabsorbers the rubber has to take up the bounce . So check for condition the hangers are in are the out of shape? cracked ?
hazelnut2,
Mar 5, 9:32am
The hangars are out of shape possibly. feel quite easy to move, and are sidways 'squeezable' Not cracked. I've seen pics of new ones, I'll take a pic of mine and compare.
daryl14,
Mar 5, 11:15am
They can be as soft and springy as you want. As long as they support the pipework and the exhaust is high enough off the road (100mm). Sounds like some part of the exhaust system is hitting on the chassis somewhere.
Just a bit of bending of the pipe or some of the hangers at the exhaust shop should sort it out. There wont be much clearance for an exhaust under an MX5.
timmo1,
Mar 5, 11:25am
Its probable that it's hanging too low and banging on something like mine (NB) did- I fixed with a sturdy cable tie around the rubber to pull it together. That's a good thing to try to rule out anything else that may be causing it.
hazelnut2,
Mar 5, 12:56pm
Thanks for all your informative and helpful inputs. Timmo, I had thought of doing that too, and am glad to know that cheap quick-fix works! Will save it for when I need it.
Took my car to a muffler place. She went up on a hoist (hehe, the mechanic had to get down on his knees to get the supports underneath my car; very appropriate hommage! lol ) The diagnosis was a crack where the exit pipe joined the main muffler ( sorry, don't know the technical description). Anyway, they welded it for me straight away (awesome!) and $50 later it's all fixed! YAY!
ETA: the muffler hangers are fine.
fordcrzy,
Mar 5, 6:42pm
Its very common for mxs to shear the left hand engine mount. not expensive (bout$70 a pair)
daryl14,
Mar 6, 6:54am
Was just thinking about this and got to thinking I'm sure exhaust systems used to rust out completely every couple of years, needing full replacement or even a custom stainless system built up. I guess the factory pipes now have some galv protection on them as you hardly seem to need exhaust repairs often now. And if you do, you bloody pay for it.
jmma,
May 16, 1:05am
Also removing the lead from petrol has something to do with it. (o:
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