Recommendations for replacing the exhaust system

Welding work must not be carried out on the rust-weakened metal of the exhaust system parts. The result of repairing a rusted exhaust pipe will not stand the test of time. Use the use of crack sealant or the installation of bandages as a temporary measure for repairs en route. As practice shows, a pipe damaged by rust breaks next to the repaired place. It rarely happens that both mufflers burn out at the same time. But there is no guarantee that a currently functional muffler will not fail in the near future. To avoid doing the same job at short intervals, it is recommended to replace the center and rear mufflers at the same time. To determine the extent of damage, it is necessary to thoroughly check both mufflers, even if they look quite normal from the outside, and then decide whether to replace individual elements or the entire system assembly.



SEQUENCE OF WORK

1. Raise the vehicle and secure it on stands. During all work on the exhaust system, the vehicle must be securely fixed and must not tip over even with sudden jerks of individual parts.

2. If the threaded connections do not disengage when removing the mufflers, simply rip off the bolt heads. At installation use new bolts, spring rings, nuts and linings.


3. Replace the rubber feet for safety.

4. Push-in pipe connections are easiest to disconnect when hot. At the service station, a welding torch is used for this, but a hot air jet can also be used. Be sure to wear goggles and keep a fire extinguisher handy when doing this job. In cases where it is not possible to heat the separable parts, use rust solvents.

5. Inserted pipes are separated by strong torsional movements or hammer blows.

6. If this does not help, the connection of the faulty muffler is cut with a saw at a distance of 10 cm behind the connection. The remains of the pipe are cut lengthwise with a saw and removed with a large screwdriver.

7. The threaded connections of the exhaust system are easier to separate if, when installing, a layer of copper grease is applied to their threads.