wobbly exhaust

[markthe45king]

Whilst i suspect i know the answer to this question i'll seek m'learned friends thoughts for clarity!

Lily recently gained a knocking from the passenger side. I had a look and there were some loose bits that got tightened, but the knocking has persisted. I also think she has become a little throaty. I just glanced at her in the car park and the exhaust didn't quite look right - a little low maybe, so i had a look and i can move the pipe at the engine end a few inches left to right by hand. That's not right surely?

So am i looking at a missing bracket that was holding the pipe in place or anything more sinister (cracked pipe perhaps?). And if i have to replace the pipe - mild steel or stainless? I won't be entering any concourse unless standards have slipped hugely, but what difference does it make performance wise?

cheers as ever

[bmcecosse]

The pipe should be 'solid' at the engine end - firmly clamped to the manifold. Standard issue then is a hanger in front of the rear axle, and another at the rear of the car. If buying a new standard exhaust - best get a stainless one, unless you plan to sell the car anytime soon of course. Even then - a stainless exhaust is a good selling point.

[simmitc]

It's likely that the clamp holding the pipe to the manifold has come loose. Remove it completely. clean all surfaces, and refit. A bit of copper wire (2.5mm mains electrical cable is a good source) wrapped around the pipe just under the flange, and then sandwiched under the clamp usually improves the seating no end. I always use a bit of exhaust paste as well, but others disagree. When doing up the clamp, hold the pipe in the correct position - a friend or a prop under the pipe help!

[markthe45king]

all sorted - seems a lot firmer - now if i could only resolve the horrible creaking noise going over kingston's apparently vertical speedbumps....

[MarkyB]

Have a look at the eye bolts which attach the lower front suspension to the chassis next to the engine.
The nut on the end should appear central in the eye bolt, if it is offset high the chances are the bushes are shot and you are getting metal on metal contact, not recommended!

[bmcecosse]

Or - the eyebolts themselves are moving about in the chassis legs - where they may be rotted or cracked......
Worth greasing all the suspension - and checking the tightness of the damper retaining bolts...