New Exhaust Hangers Aren't Lasting
 

About 3-4 months ago I installed a set of new rubber exhaust hangers. I got the reinforced type (not the donut type). Now they are cracked and look like they could give out.

I noticed this same thing on the 300SD I used to own. They only lasted 6 months before falling apart. I guess they are just made out of bad rubber.

The OEM donut type seem to last for decades (though they eventually stretch out and get hard).

I really like how the reinforced hangers keep the exhaust secure, but they just don't last (less than a year). I guess I should go back to the donut type. Is this consistent with others' experiences?

My experiences;

Polly bailing twine wound & wound around lasts about 5 years.

a reinforced rubber one cut out of the sidewall of an old tire has yet to fail (8 years)

It is easier just to use the OEM ones. I only had the above experiences as the original ones failed in remote locations & at times that I couldnt get the OEM ones .

One of the problems I ran across was bent metal hangers on the exhaust system. This caused the exhaust to "dangle" and crack the rubber donuts at a rapid pace. Using OEM rubber hangers from the dealer and reforming the metal to cause the exhaust to be snug against the rubber exhaust bumpers, has really helped.

After ordering replacement hangers from Fastlane I noticed that Advance Auto had rubber dough-nuts in stock, sitting on the shelf by all the exhaust adapters. I don't know if they are exactly the same, but they would work, and if the price is right, you could replace them on an annual basis as a maintenance step.

Are these the reinforced ones that MB used on the 560SL?

These are the exhaust hangers I have been using:

Thease are for the 86 SL, have a chain in the rubber for a back up.


http://12.153.160.115/images/catalog/tn/1074920044.jpg

Charlie

I used these too from Worldpac and they failed in about 9 months.

Of course the original M-B ones had lasted 18 years, why exactly did I replace them?

Those are the best ones to use for the W126 sedans and coupes.