'91 190E 2.3 exhaust vibration
 

My continuing saga of trying to work out the bugs in this 190E 2.3 we acquired.

While the car was up in the front for suspension work, I noticed a 'heat shield' over the exhaust pipe just south of the downpipe - just rearward of the idler arm. It had been attached to the pipe by crimps at its seams welded to corresponding crimps on the exhaust - and they have broken loose. The shield now vibrates around on the pipe with an annoying sound. I tried jamming it to the pipe and sealing with muffler cement, but it broke again free after a few miles of driving.

Is this a common problem, and is there a good CHEAP solution (it may annoy the neighbors in the morning, but with the windows up I can barely hear it)? Would JB Weld hold better? should I try to drill a small hole trough the rather deteriorated pipe and shield crimps and pop-rivet them? Any advice appreciated.

Steve

Well, an update on this problem. After 'cementing' with JB Weld, I have found another NOT-use for that product. So far, I have found nothing at all that it can be used for successfully. After curing overnight, once the repair heated up, it stank royally - and smoked profusely - as the exhaust heat proceeded to incinerate it to a crumbling carbonaceous mass. This continued to a lesser extent for a couple of days until the rattle was back as bad as ever. The best I can say is that at least the remains were easy to clean up in preparation for another repair attempt.

This time I got an exhaust system U-clamp (2"), crimped the heat shield down to the pipe, and clamped it. I think I may hear small 'pops' as it heats and cools, but I don't expect the rattle to return this time.

Steve