One thing after another! Now the muffler.

[kenstfelix]

It seems like whenever I fix anything on this car, almost immediately something else breaks! I replaced the master brake cylinder and turn signal, then drove a couple days, then I had a coolant leak. Had to replace a special order hose going into block. Literally, the first time I drove it after fixing that, just a couple miles, and the entire muffler falls off. In the rain, at night. It seems like this car is constantly just sitting waiting for parts to arrive the mail. Last time it was up and running for a few months was last summer. Ugh. Just venting.

Soooo... the muffler. A couple years ago I replaced the rear section of the muffler. Now the center one needs to be replaced and whatever pipe in front of it. I saw that some people just connect a long tube back to the rear muffler. My car is unbelievably loud now, but it was pretty loud anyways. I'm not in the mood to spend much more money on this car, so I'm considering just running a straight pipe back to the rear muffler. Would it have an effect on the car other than the noise?

How would I go about doing this? Can I buy these things (header pipe, straight pipe and clamps) at a generic auto parts store so I don't have to order them sent?

[barry123400]

Maybe check the auto salvage places for a good looking complete system and swap it out? Could be quick and cheap with some luck.

[toomany MBZ]

A straight pipe back to your muffler will work fine.

You may not even have a flex down pipe at the manifold.

According to the attachment, you don't, but do have a connector and a flange, both of which may be reusable.

[scottmcphee]

I'm fairly convinced that cars grow old gracefully with parts wearing together as a system, and if you make an old part stronger... by replacing it, the problem literally gets pushed downstream to the next weakest component.

replace water pump -> blow a hose!

steering dampner -> tie rod end shakes out

etc...


As far as exhaust work goes, the answer is always simple for me: Drive to a muffler shop and say "straight pipe back to exhaust".. 30 minutes later. It's done. And pretty reasonable cost where I go. There's no reward in this work and they have the tools to do things fast and right.

Most recent example "cat gone" 15 minutes and $30 later, done.

[kenstfelix]

yeah, i think i might run by a shop and see if they'd do it for cheap. looks like the pipe is pretty rusty far up. car is too low to the ground to get under there and really see. i think previous work done here wasn't done right. the center muffler is pretty far back, only a few feet in front of the rear one.

[oldsinner111]

Straight pipe it,you will sound like a Cummins.

[pwjeep]

A straight pipe is something cool. Diesels aren't that noisy. I did it on my 4 cyl 4 spd and it seemed to have a tiny bit more power (less restriction in the exhaust). At 67 horses any improvement is significant. You've got a 5 cyl NA... so your power will be much better.

[Codifex Maximus]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

I'm fairly convinced that cars grow old gracefully with parts wearing together as a system, and if you make an old part stronger... by replacing it, the problem literally gets pushed downstream to the next weakest component.

replace water pump -> blow a hose!

steering dampner -> tie rod end shakes out

etc...


As far as exhaust work goes, the answer is always simple for me: Drive to a muffler shop and say "straight pipe back to exhaust".. 30 minutes later. It's done. And pretty reasonable cost where I go. There's no reward in this work and they have the tools to do things fast and right.

Most recent example "cat gone" 15 minutes and $30 later, done.

I think you've hit on a good theory. Given data that seems to support it, I'd verify whole systems rather than individual parts. WWTGD? (What would the Germans do?)

[psaboic]

Granted it is not an MB, but I am going through the same things with my F150 wood truck. First the muffler went, fixed that, and then the starter went. Fixed that and then the battery died, got a new battery and the wiper motor siezed up. You guessed it, fixed that and the brakes started grabbing/squealing. Fixed that yesterday, and today *sigh* the brake booster started hissing!!

I'm scared to fix that as God knows what ELSE will go out!!

[buffa98]

I was under mine to replace the diff mount, I was done in about 15 mins. (Thank you WHunter!!) But saw a whole bunch of soot around the muffller So when I get done with the flex discs Monday (I hope) I will have a straight pipe stuck on it from the down pipe and exiting just in front of driver side rear wheel. This car is only to run back and forth to work so I am no longer working on the interior.

[1stbenznc]

I feel for you! I think that happens to everyone at some point.

Sometimes I feel its some kind of bad karma....."WHAT DID I DO WRONG????"

....... but then I realize it's happening to everyone else as well !

[pwjeep]

Buffa98: Extend the exhaust pipe to the rear. Otherwise you'll get exhaust gases into the cabin when you have the windows open. I'm assuming that you don't want to smell like diesel exhaust.

Another reason to extend the exhaust pipe to the rear is that you can "smoke" bothersome tailgaters.

[buffa98]

Originally Posted by pwjeep

Buffa98: Extend the exhaust pipe to the rear. Otherwise you'll get exhaust gases into the cabin when you have the windows open. I'm assuming that you don't want to smell like diesel exhaust.

Another reason to extend the exhaust pipe to the rear is that you can "smoke" bothersome tailgaters.

Will look into that.

[kenstfelix]

well someone accidentally threw away the muffler that fell off my car (partially my fault, left it in the wrong place)! i was planning on running a straight pipe back to just the rear muffler, which was in ok shape. but if i do a straight pipe all the way, with no muffler at all, will it pass inspection? i'm getting used to the volume, though i don't know if my neighbors are.

i was actually thinking, since the car just passed inspection, of waiting to fix this. maybe that way i'll hold off the next thing that's going to break. because i know as soon as this is fixed, something else will go!

[Stretch]

The only thing you'll have to worry about is noise for the inspection - I don't know if that is part of the test where you are. It would be here.