Rattling exhaust

[yellowpinky]

I have owned my Minor van for seven years now and have always had had one problem or another with the exhaust. It is a stainless steel version. The first problems I had were the brackets breaking. But in 2008 I got them fixed properly. Soon after, a hole apperared at the rear end of the silencer (where it meets the tube). I got this welded up but I now have another hole in the same place. The biggest problem besides it being blown at the silencer section is that it rattles alot when going through the gears at lower speeds. It's a kind of chugging rattle. I have put up with this for two years now and starting to do my head in.

I am wondering if the hole likely to cause the rattle?

I am also wondering, as stainless can often be brittle, shall I replace the whole thing with a steel one?

I am also interested in finding out if the steel versions sound better generally as I am a big fan of the Moggie sounding exhaust.

[bmcecosse]

If it was 'stainless' I don't see how it rusted through into a hole ???? The stainless exhausts are know to rattle after a few years - the internal baffles seem to rot/work loose. I know some have 'fixed' it by bashing the casing down with a hammer to clinch the baffles into place..............

[yellowpinky]

Thanks for the tip on clinching the baffles.. worth a try.

RE The hole.. It's a bit of a mystery...It seems like a crack/split near where it's welded form the silencer to the tube. A weak point perhaps. The exhaust was fitted before I got the van. The paperwork says it's stainless and the silencer is still shiney, but the tube section is rusting a bit. I assumed this was low grade stainless or something??

[taupe]

another bodge for a rattly exhaust box is to screw in some long self tapping screws!

[bmcecosse]

A crack is always possible - especially so in stainless.