Rotted Cat Hangers

[billr99]

Age and constant exposure to salt air has taken its toll on the hangers that were formerly attached to my downpipe. The hangers are about 2/3 their original diameter and the welds where they attached to the cat have fractured allowing the hangers to come away. The obvious fix is to re-weld the hangers to the car housing but I suspect this will become an annual fix until its necessary to replace the downpipe. Anyway, was wondering if anyone is aware of any better options?

I suppose there is a good manufacturing reason to use mild steel hangers on a stainless pipe but they really are a pain to sort when they break. At least there is an affordable repair option for the rear hanger but nothing I've seen for the front one.

Thanks, guys

Cheers,

Bill

[Nightair]

Dissimilar metal corrosion cannot be avoided but I am sure there are SST clamps and wire that can be welded together. Another option is a 1" sq piece of zinc somehow attached to the hangars. It will act as a sacrificial lamb and corrode away before the metal does.

[billr99]

Turned out to be a relatively simply fix with a bit of welding and the addition of 1/4in rod to strengthen what was left of the original hanger. I still question Volvo's wisdom of not just adding the optional middle hanger at the factory lessening the stress on the front and under-axle hangers. Plus it would have prevented the whole rain squeal issue from the get-go. All for the want of a few pennies worth of steel and a bit of additional work on the line. BTW, $120+ for that middle hanger is a bit of a joke as well. Arghhhhhh !

Cheers,

Bill