What is your Ground Clearance on your Muffler Back End?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Fellows,

I need some input about the normal ground clearance of your rear muffler end (Point of Muffler between rear bumper and muffler ~ see photos please).

I drove home last week and was flagged by a truck driver to stop, he was concerned that my muffler was hanging too low. Last month I drove behind another member from this forum and his muffler was also hanging low. Someone in my car at the time stated "It is quite normal for the muffler to hang low on the Pagoda"

Since the fellow in the truck stopped me and expressed his concern, it has been on my mind. Today I took some photos with the car on level ground in my garage.



This photo shows ground clearance of 3.75" +/- about 1/16 as measured on the low end of the muffler. I estimate the clearance between the top of the muffler to the under body of the car to be around 2.75" 



This photo taken from the passenger side of the car looking toward the tail pipe (I see no hanger on this end of the exhaust system other then the one near the bumper area)



This photo shows the hanger in tact and solid right after the rear section of the muffler (muffler not hanging low at this end).

My question; is there a hanger that is missing or lost. Should I be concerned. In short is what I see normal?

Thanks in advance for you help and input.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Please delete the topic ... I posted it in the "Full Member" Section since I saw no area about "Exhaust or Mufflers"

The topic was moved and therefore may as well be deleted.

[Larry & Norma]

The exhaust should be supported by hanging from rubber do-nuts at three points.
One about centre of the car, another just behind the rear wheel and the last at
the very rear of the car. If these are all in place the I think it must be hanging
correctly.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks for responding Larry & Norma !

I will get it checked on a lift.

EDIT ---> I checked the two at the very back, they seam nice and solid as well as flush. Perhaps the center of the car hanger needs to be replaced. I will get it checked out. Thanks again.

[Jordan]

Rolf, after reading your post I went out and checked my clearance.  I have about 5" (12.5cm) at the front of the muffler as shown in your first picture, which looks to be about the lowest point.  I haven't checked my tire pressure lately but they look a bit low so once I top them up it may raise it another half a cm.  BTW, do you have a skid plate at the front end of your muffler?  I have one welded directly to the central resonator.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks for checking yours Jordan !

I've taken a photo from the mid section in it you can see the mid support and what I think is the skid plate you refer to. Something seams not right the 3 3/8" clearance (muffler back end to ground) seams too close for comfort to me ... I will get it checked out. Thanks again!

[garymand]

The rear end of the rear muffler has a little angle plate welded parallel to the output pipes.  That platre is pulled up against a round rubber bumper coming down benieth the trunk floor.  The rubbers pull the plate up against the bumper and that sets the height of the rear of the muffler.  If the muffler is low at the very back, by the rear bumper, the plat must be hanging below the rubber bumper. and you must be able to put a jack under the muffler and boost it up to where the plate presses the bumper.  That is where it should be.  With all the big o-rings in the right places and the hangers in place, the mufflers will not be hanging low. 

I've lost a hanger once and the center muffler hung low.  I've had orings break in the back and have the rear a few inches low.  The skid pad, I though was a wind effect thing, but maybe skid pad is what it really is.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thank you garymand for the very detailed response !

[pj]

Hello Dieter and Marcus and everyone,
the muffler hanging low has been a problem for me for a while. The rubber "donut" hangers amidships are missing, so that was the obvious first step. But I also looked at some pictures I took when the body work was done in summer 2011 and, by golly, the rubber hangers were there then! So I wonder what could have happened to them. Do these rubber hangers have a tendency to break? Or can they be bounced off by going over a bump?

I'm not sure whether this is relevant, but I'm pretty sure I am also missing the heat-protector-plate that runs more or less from the transmission to the first set of rubber hangers.

[Benz Dr.]

I`ve been talking to a place that may soon be making the center heat shield. They are often missing. Rubber doughuts often break from age. And no, I didn`t get to that.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks Peter and Dan ... much appreciated !

[Bonnyboy]

I just installed a system on my car and spent a couple hours getting the height compromise just right for me - not too high where I could bang the pipes with the axle going over some nasty potholes and not too low as to drag or hit those same nasty potholes.

My optimum location was 5 1/2" above ground.  see photo.

Please don't say anything about my welds - I did some of those while under the car. 

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks for your reply Ian, no worries about the welds I've seen worse. In fact some 25 years back I had to shut down a project in the NWT they where trying to repair weld a water wheel (overhead welding) I finally convinced them that one does not attempt full penetration welds by overhead welding

Once I get my car onto the lift I will have them hang that muffler a bit higher.

Thanks again.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Update ... Had my car up on a lift today all seams well and normal, no broken or missing hangers. I'm still surprised that the rear end of the muffler is hanging that low in relationship to the ground ... 3 3/8" seams rather low to me.

I will have Dan (Benz Dr.) check it out next time I see him.

[Cees Klumper]

Ground clearance on my muffler 13 cm, or a hair over 5 inches. And I think it should be a bit higher at that.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I agree with you Cees, I'm not satisfied with the Mufflerman's answer I think 3 3/8" is way too close for comfort. Something needs to be done to improve that. I will consult with Dan (Benz DR.)

[Cees Klumper]

You're in good hands ...

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I know Cees, only he is soo busy with finishing the 600 for the weekend and harvesting shores on his farm ... we may have to organize a group to help with the harvesting shores