Repairing a Broken Exhaust Pipe

You can repair an exhaust pipe quite easily in a very short amount of time. When you are finished you will have a secured line again and no issues with vapor leakage or noise issues. Water can build up in the line from condensation, and over time as it sits in there and does not evaporate, it eats away at the metal. Mufflers and exhaust pipes are not made of the same solid metals as long ago, and they can corrode in a very short amount of time. You should be able to locate the exhaust adapter, gasket clamps, and mounting brackets with no issues at your local automotive or hardware store for a decent price.

Step 1 - Cut out the Rusted Pipe

Be sure the vehicle is cool to the touch, and then use your cutter to cut out the rusted portion of your exhaust pipe. You can gauge the distance, or cut this piece out first and then take it to a shop and look for an adapter that will cover the length you're taking out. The rusted area should not be more than 4 to 6 inches and most standard adapters are at least that long.

Step 2 - Slide on the Gasket Clamps

Take your gasket clamps, which should be the screw locking variety, large enough to reach around your exhaust, and slide two on each side of the remaining exhaust pipe. There will be two on one side and two on the other across from each other, from where you cut the bad piece out. You want to point the screw side of the clamps toward the ground so that you can easily tighten them with your wrench.

Once the gasket clamps are in place, take your exhaust pipe adapter and slip it into the gap. Once it is in place, space out the securing gaskets on each side by several inches and then tighten them down. This is going to seal your system shut again, and you can use heat resistant tape as well to help make the seal on the adapter before putting it into place as well.

Step 3 - Secure the Exhaust Piping

Once you have patched the exhaust pipe, you will want to secure it to the under body of the vehicle so it does not move or fall and scrape the road while moving. You can get special clamps that wrap around the exhaust and bolt to the frame itself. If you don't have the money for this, though they are not expensive, you can do the same with a wire coat hanger by wrapping and twisting it around the pipe and through the holes.

Keeping your exhaust pipe secure and up away from the ground will prevent it from getting snagged and torn off. Once you have the exhaust sealed, it is good to start the vehicle for a moment and listen to the noises it makes to determine that the pipe is secured tightly and no air or gases are escaping from your patchwork.