My exhaust pipe is hanging low on a 2004 ford ranger edge and the back hanger has cracked and is hanging by one side and I have the rubber part to replace it but I cannot find out how to remove the metal piece it is attached to. Does anyone have any idea where they can point me. Both sides are flat ends so I am not sure where to remove it at.

Walker Exhaust Insulator
Part No. 35460

Product Application(s):
2004 Ford Ranger Edge

Insulator; Use after Tail Pipe

 

There is another post on ranger-forums.com that says they dremeled the bolt off and replaced it since it was "peened on" or both sides of the bolt were rounded off with no way to remove other than to cut it off and replace with a standard bolt from home depot. what do you think of this idea? I was probably going to go and purchase an angle grinder from home depot or harbor freight, and grind it off for about $25 for the grinder out the door and a few bucks for the nut/bolt.

 

If it was mine I'd take it to tne local muffler shop and have it fixed. They'd have it done right in about 15 minutes.

 

I hear you, but when my truck is only worth a dime, its not worth paying someone a quarter to fix it. I also enjoy the satisfaction that comes with fixing or f--ing it up.

There is a universal hanger that I plan on trying next. $8-10 part. 100% pleasure

 

The rubber insulator was easy as pie to take off and put back on, unfortunately, I dented the fixture in every possible angle and now the exhaust is touching the leaf springs and make a metal on metal noise as I drive slow in the neighborhood I can hear it rattling which sucks! The Universal Hanger from Walker should do the trick that is sold at local auto stores. Just for kicks I may see how much the local muffler shop would charge to fix it for RF comparison purposes.

 

I contact Muffler Man and they wanted 10-15$ to install a new hanger. So I took it over there, and they ended up using the existing hanger I recently installed, but I had to replace the tailpipe from the muffler back, because it was bent badly after a recent back-up accident I had a few months ago that left the tailpipe dangling to start with. So $47 later, and it took them about 15 minutes to weld the new one on, I am back on the road! Good idea momule!

It is amazing how much better a vehicle will run when the exhaust is properly installed. It's like having a new truck, well not quite, but it is nice!

TLDR; If your having a exhaust issue, check with a muffler shop and see what the cost is before attempting to repair anything yourself, because you probably will be saving a lot of time and effort leaving it in qualified hands.

 

Good for you my friend!! I do love the idea of taking a project in for an estimate before doing it at home. It not only gives you an idea of how much money you save as a do-it-yourselfer but it can also give you clues as to what to do in case your first thoughts turned out wrong. I squeeze shop managers for as much info as possible...also find that parts stores hire damn knowledgable old retired guys sometimes who love to show off their expertise. Some of them will even go out in the parking lot with you if asked to hand out free pointers.

By the way be watchful of some muffler shops...especially the big name chain ones because they will take a big pair of channel locks and start squeezing along your muffler pipe trying to find a weak spot...which will show itself by collapsing or bending. The pipe might have had another year of life left in it but not when they get done...and then they tell you that they have to replace the whole muffler because its so corroded and they don't weld pipe but rather use clamps.

These are tips from the School of Hard Knocks and Bad Experiences.

Glad this thing worked out well for you.

Motor On!!!
momule