Muffler Strap

It starts with a clunking sound beneath your car that's easily dismissed. Then the noise gets louder every day, but you still choose to ignore it. The next thing you know, your muffler is already foraging the road together with some parts of your car's exhaust system. This is what happens when you let your muffler strap rust or loosen until it snaps off or becomes dislodged from position. And because we know better than to remedy the repair with duct tapes and clips, here's a short guide to help you choose the right muffler strap replacement for your car.

If you're looking for the best holding force, it is recommended that you purchase bent bolt types of muffler straps. Bent bolts are strapped together by a tight and bolt-like mechanism whose holding force is reinforced with aluminized or stainless steel materials. Bent bolts are also the easiest to install as attaching it only requires a forceful nudge to bolt it shut. Another variation of bent bolts is easier to install as it comes in a slotted model that snuggly fits the two end pieces together.

Tube deformation is normally caused by clamps whose strengths are insufficient to hold exhaust pipes and tubes. If you want to prevent this sort of deformations, it would be best to search for V-band clamps. V-band clamps are bolted by a flared, lipped or flange type of connection. The materials used to create the V-band strap is also made from aluminized and/or stainless steel. Most V-band clamps are flat banded in order to support and maintain the structural integrity of its supported pipes. There are also narrower variations of V-band straps to serve as an effective support tool for smaller pipes and exhaust tubes.

How long can you ignore your car's rusted muffler straps? We know that you're just saving as much money as possible from car repair and maintenance, but broken muffler straps will cost you more if you don't replace them immediately. The muffler strap holds the muffler in place and connects it to the vehicle's exhaust assembly. A rusting strap can just fall off with the slightest vibrations it endures while driving ? if the strap falls out of place, the muffler will be dragged down to the road creating more damage in its wake. It's really an inconvenience to have your mufflers trap fall off in the middle of the road, so we encourage you to replace them in your own backyard while you still can. And what better way to do this than following these five simple steps?

• Auto jack
• Rust remover spray
• Safety goggles
• Socket and ratchet
• Muffler strap
• Wrench

Step 1: Use the auto jack to elevate the clearance below the vehicle. Jack the axle up to 8 inches or until you've reached a desired clearance.

Step 2: Slide yourself under the chassis and position yourself right under the muffler.

Step 3: Apply the rust remover fluid by spraying it all over the bolts securing the rusty strap to the router. Spray more of the fluid on to the vehicle frame just on top of the muffler as well.

Step 4: Unhinge the bolts holding the muffler strap in place using a wrench. Once removed, replace it with the new muffler strap by attaching it to the vehicle frame on top of the muffler.

Step 5: Secure the muffler and look for loose fittings. Remove the auto jack by lowering it gently to avoid accidents.

The next time you see your muffler strap rusting, don't hesitate to replace it right away ? it might save you more that way than risking the muffler to drag along the road when the muffler strap snaps.