Broken exhaust pipe

Started up the 94 Caprice wagon, and it instantly sounded like the parking lot of a Nascar race. Got it up on the lift at school, and the driver's side pipe is sheared right in two by just in front of the trans crossmember. Here's the issue... the complete exhaust was replaced, cat back, right before I bought the car. The pipe broke where there is a U clamp around it, and the clamp is attached to the support bracket on the trans. The pipes look great, with no corrosion other than where this clamp is. It also seems that the clamp was holding the pipe in tension, which helped cause the break.

My question is how is the pipe supposed to be supported between the cat flange and the muffler? There are hangers on the back of the mufflers. Haven't looked in my FSM yet, but will. I am pretty sure that that U clamp is not stock. I can't remember what things look like under my SS. To be honest, I don't think it has a hanger in between the cat and the muffler.

I'll order the pipe and swap it out soon. Just need to decide if it is getting a support or not. Thoughts, opinions, and pics would be most welcome.

J

there is a round "ring" clamp on both of my cars holding the exhaust up with two bolts to the tranny bracket. It is not a U clamp on either of my cars.

I rendered this unusable with the wagon when I installed the floor shifter. Not a problem. It has plenty holding it without that clamp.





Tim

Thanks for the pics.

Yes, that is about the right location. Not sure if it is still the stock clamp or not. I think my clamp is a bit further back, on the short straight section between two curves. The pipe broke right where the clamp is.

Just to make me more grumpy, my left turn signal decided to delete the cancel function today. Why can't this stuff break in the summer?

Don't know if it is the same but had to do the diesel. Removed the wheel to get at the canceling pawls, and one of the little springs had popped out. Gave it a little stretch and the problem was gone. 1/2 hour to get at it and 3 minutes to fix. The only other possiblility is one of the cogs broke off. If thats the case you need a new assembly.

Bill

Yeah, I just replaced the wheel a couple of months ago, too.