Anyone NOT using the exhaust hanger off crossmember?

[TR Custom Parts]

Going to be doing a few exhaust changes and was wondering if there are any of you out there NOT using the exhaust hanger off the crossmember. Always hated struggling with that thing. Would just like to eliminate it if possible. Figure most the weight is being supported by the rear hangers and tailpipe supports anyway. Thoughts?????

 

[WSLN 6]

I got rid of mine 10 years ago.....saves having to get the oval flange TR specific pipes as well I guess.

 

[aminga]

I tried taking my pipes loose from the hanger and letting them swing and the system would sway from side to side enough that the pipes would hit and cause knock not to mention the awful squeaking at idle. This is an ATR pitbull system I've since found that the tail hanger are a bit small for the stock brackets. Adding a set screw helped there but I haven't taken the cat hanger loose again to test it again.

 

[87geeinn]

3" downpipe to Hooker 2.5" exhaust here and after replacing my turbo, I left the hanger off completely. I just made sure that I snugged up the rear portion of the exhaust so that it doesn't swing side to side. The SS downpipe supports the weight toward the front just fine as it is not that much weight to begin with. No problems here.

 

[8UWITH6]

That puts a awful lot of stress on your turbo/passenger exhaust manifold guys................ just my .02

 

[gnxtc2]

For the guys that got rid of the exhaust hanger, did you install any shims under the trans mount. The hanger is needed to have proper angles on the driveline.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[03FatBoy]

My thought that is if the factory put it in, it must have been needed. The OEM's usually do not put in parts for the heck of it. They try to ensure things hold together, that they will not have warranty issues, un happy customers, etc. If they could eliminate a part, just think of all the $$ in parts, and labor and time they could save... not to mention weight.
My bracket was missing off my car when I bought it, but it was running a dump pipe. I needed to install a cat to pass VA emissions, and due to the additional weight I bought a new one from G-Body in stainless... very nice part.
I also agree that you would put a lot of stress on the down pipe, turbo and factory manifold...

 

[Turbo1dr]

I welded a solid hanger from my trans crossmember and then welded a bracket over to the bottom inner bolt of the flange. Since my trans crossmember is mounted on rubber and I have a rubber trans mount the exhaust is still isolated from engine/chassis vibration. I had to do this because I use a flex pipe....a stainless one from the downpipe to the exhaust system. BTW, the inside of the flex pipe is smoothed flexable pipe also and not ridged like you would think.

 

[novaderrik]

GM started putting that hanger there in the mid 70's when they needed to support the extra weight of the cat converter.
so i'd say that if your car still has a cat, then use the hanger.
if not, then you should be able to get by without it.
altho it can't hurt to have an extra support right there for vibrations and what not.

 

[salvageV6]

My exhaust squeaked and rattled over bumps when it broke.

Squeak was probably from the broken bracket however, rattle wasn't.

One was stock exhaust, other was Kenne Bell dual 2.5's.

The bracket is easier to install with slightly smaller bolts that work fine.

I've got 5/16" bolts I believe on one car with no issues.

 

[salvageV6]

.

 

[at7we2]

That puts a awful lot of stress on your turbo/passenger exhaust manifold guys................ just my .02

x2 on that. Buick put that hanger there for a reason.

 

[Bad Buick]

Cat Hanger

I recently decided to put a stock cat back on. After cleaning up an original AC Delco cat (gutted of course), I had it high temp ceramic coated. At this point I realized I had no cat hanger. After scrounging up a powder coated bracket, I fabbed the rest out of stainless plate. I'm quite proud of myself. Dave

 

[Turbo1dr]

I recently decided to put a stock cat back on. After cleaning up an original AC Delco cat (gutted of course), I had it high temp ceramic coated. At this point I realized I had no cat hanger. After scrounging up a powder coated bracket, I fabbed the rest out of stainless plate. I'm quite proud of myself. Dave

Hell yeah! That looks NICE!

 

[Bad Buick]

Thanks. My wife said " GET THOSE CAR PARTS OFF MY DINING ROOM TABLE!!!" Dave
P.S. Notice the parts are sitting on my wife's Grandmother's antique doilies

 

[bison]

For the guys that got rid of the exhaust hanger, did you install any shims under the trans mount. The hanger is needed to have proper angles on the driveline.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

I havent ran a hanger in 15 years. A couple cars needing some shimming to take up the space and correct the ds angle.

 

[Turbo1dr]

Speaking about shims...After two years of the cars life I'm sure the transmission mount could have settled at least the width of the hanger bracket thickness.

 

[just plain john]

When I started my G body hybrid project, I had no hanger as none was supplied with the donor drivetrain. I recently got the Gbody.com stainless unit with the HRParts mount. It's a well made piece, but I'm not quite sure it's installed correctly. It had a rectangular piece of heavy gauge sheet metal with holes that matched the bolt holes on the trans tailshaft. I installed it between the hanger and the trans. Is that correct? Any installed pics out there?

 

[Bad Buick]

John,
Here is a pic of a hanger installed. Note:this is not my car. Couldnt live with that much rust on the undercarriage Dave

 

[just plain john]

Sweet. Thanks Dave.