Exhaust Downpipe:~ Flexible Bracket?
 

Just doing some servicing on the Volvo 240 exhaust system and I have a question: ~
The front down pipe has a flat plate complete with hole at the point where the two pipe branches go to one. Just above this a hanging fixture exists attached to the car frame.

Question is- should the above points be connected with a flexible hanger?
I can’t seem to find any details to a fitting if required.
(Car is a 240 estate F reg 2.0 Litre- no cat)
Thanks Bob

The exhaust is supposed to fixed to the bellhousing at that point with a solid bracket

Thanks for the prompt reply: ~ I seem to be struggling in tracking the bracket down- the nearest I can find is as picture, is this correct? & if so a stockist would be appreciated;
Regards Bob

(I could make one up in stainless if I had a picture of the original type)

My 240 has a factory system that was dealer-fitted and there's no bracket there, which suggests that it isn't required.

The bracket is there from teh factory, without it they exhaust is more prone to cracking

Thats what the bracket looks like

If you imagine bolting 12 feet of heavy pipework on to the exhaust manifold, supported loosely on flappy rubber rings, and then rocking the engine about vigorously, there's bound to be an enormous stress on the downpipe or the three bolts holding it on?

Bolting it solidly to the engine a few feet down the pipe makes sense to me.


What doesn't make such sense is having such loose mountings further down the pipework. Most of the catalyst and silencer failures I've ever had have been cracks where the pipe joins them. If you waggle the tailpipe about there's a considerable movement which can only be the pipe flexing somewhere. On other exhaust systems I'm familiar with the exhaust hangers get progressively stiffer the further from the engine, and the final one under the bumper is often a stiff rubber block permitting very little movement.
I'm often amazed that the Volvo system lasts as well as it does, considering how much the pipework flaps around.

Thanks to all for the advice: ~ I seem to have part of the hanger so my thoughts are that for some reason the rest has gone walkabout (always been like that in my ownership) just supporting by the manifold until the system reaches the centre doesn’t seem right here.
I will try and find one for sale or make it.
Regards Bob

Up to about 85 MY the bracket between the front pipe and the bell housing bracket was solid [URL="http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/exhaust/assembly-parts/holder-exhaust-pipe/1020256/"] after that it was similar to the round gold bracket [URL="http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/exhaust/assembly-parts/holder-exhaust-pipe-down-pipe/1020251/"] in the first picture more of a spring steel type

Thanks for the link: ~ I have just made one out of stainless steel after taking a template etc.
Took a guess at what is required as the part is fixed i.e. no flexible required at this point- the made up one has turned out to be very close to the one pictured- just waiting for a couple of suitable drill bits & M8 bolts/nuts.
Regards Bob.