While all exhaust systems on cars use some type of hanger system to support the exhaust system, some cars use muffler straps.
Wheel wedge
Jack
2 jack stands
Safety glasses and gloves
Wrench set
Ratchet and socket set
Portable propane torch
Replacement strap hanger with new hardware (retaining bolts and nuts)
Instructions
Wraparound Muffler Strap Hangers
1. Place a wheel wedge in front of one of the front tires.
2. Hoist the rear of the vehicle up with the jack -- one quarter panel at a time -- and then support the vehicle with a jack stand.
3. Put on safety glasses and gloves, and crawl under the vehicle with the remaining items.
4. Bend the strap hanger by hand if it is snapped in half. Inspect the position of the hook of the strap located above the muffler, and pull the strap away from the frame rubber/metal hanger to remove it from the vehicle. There are some strap hangers that have squared hooks that make it particularly challenging to remove from the rubber/metal hanger. If this is the case, remove the retaining bolts of the hanger and bring it down with the strap for easier removal.
5. Replace the new strap by reversing the removal procedure. Squeeze the strap together, insert the long strap retaining bolt and nut and tighten until the strap is tightly wrapped securely around the muffler. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
Two-Piece Straps
6. Perform the first three steps as illustrated in Section 1. Two-piece muffler straps are commonly used when a muffler is located underneath the center of the vehicle, such as Dodge Caravans, and not at the rear such as Cavaliers and Saturns.
7. Remove the nuts and bolts on each side of the muffler straps with a wrench holding the bolt heads and using a ratchet and socket to loosen and remove the nuts. If necessary, use the torch to heat the nuts. Once they've obtained a cherry red color, remove them with the tools.
8. Remove the bottom section of the strap, and unhook the top section of the strap. In some applications, another bolt and nut may be required for removal at the top section of the strap. If so, remove them as well.
9. Replace the two-piece muffler strap reversing the removal procedure. Tighten both replacement bolts and nuts until the straps are wrapped tightly around the muffler. Tighten the upper retaining nut and bolt, if applicable.
10. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
Tags: muffler straps, section strap, vehicle with, around muffler, bolts nuts, glasses gloves
