Broken exhaust bracket help

Gday everyone.

I installed my 3inch exhaust about 6ish months ago. Manta no cat installed by my mechanic. I have not done much off road since due to work and such, but about 2-3 weeks ago I started to notice a rattle under the car. I had a look under and found that my exhaust bracket had fractured and was rubbing against itself. I had a work mate try to fix it during a lunch break by doing a quick weld but we could only get to one side of the bracket. All was good until a couple of days ago when it broke and started to rattle again. I did a quick pit stop into my mechanic and also Mr Nissman, both asked a small fortune to fix, as they said they needed to lift the transfer case a small amount to remove and replace the exhaust bracket.

Has anyone else had this same bracket fracture, and was there a cheaper option to fix or replace rather than selling a child to fund this small item.

Would I be able to use my small jack to slightly lift the transfer case enough to get the bracket out.

I hope these pics help explain.

I would've thought an exhaust specialist should be able to weld that with a mig for not too much, (my local bloke charges $65 an hour). Even a good solid weld on one side should be pretty strong.

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Originally Posted by mudnut

I would've thought an exhaust specialist should be able to weld that with a mig for not too much, (my local bloke charges $65 an hour). Even a good solid weld on one side should be pretty strong.

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Thanks Mudnut, Yep now that you said exhaust specialist.........that was one place I did not go and check in on. I might see one down the road tomorrow for their advise.

Cheers Mate

I may have it wrong, but to me it seems like poor design to have the captive nuts on the underside & insufficient clearance to undo the bolts from above to enable the bracket to be removed with the exhaust in situ. The sort of thing which only becomes apparent when there is a problem like you have. For the bracket to have fractured like that in a relatively short space of time would seem to indicate that it is stressed. I would wonder if a weld whilst fixing the current problem might simply result in the bracket cracking elsewhere further down the track. In your shoes I would be wanting either the exhaust manufacturer to sort it by providing a 'meatier' bracket, or your mechanic to fit a straight replacement, having first re-aligned the exhaust to relieve the stress causing the cracking. Either way I don't think it should cost you.

Cuppa

I have done away with that bracket....

Went to Nissan today and picked up a replacement bracket. $103. Got home and installed it. Took about 30mins.

YAY

Does your exhaust have a flexible section in it ?

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Originally Posted by threedogs

Does your exhaust have a flexible section in it ?

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Explain flexible please. Its a 3in manta exhaust

After the dump pipe as the exhaust heads rearward you should have a piece that's flexible
,it'll look like braided stainless steel wire

Looks like this one

Attachment 35792

Mic

This section is just after the bracket that attaches to the transfer case.

Is this the piece you were talking about

I was gonna say, well I am actually lol, this is a common issue with the early GU's. Mine busted so I got one off a later GU, It was exactly the same but heavier in design.

Mine broke on a 09 just after the cat so I'd hate to see how weak your original one was mudski lol