exhaust spring clip woes

[jettabrendan]

Hey all, what can a guy use besides the wedges to get on these suckers? Getting them off was no prob but I can't get them back on lol.

[subsonic]

Use a 2 or 2 1/2" exhaust clamp with the clamp portion turned around. Thread the bolts down onto the empty U, place upside down part of clamp on U.  The groove should be in the same direction as the U.  Put this inside the exhaust clamps and start turning the bolts to push outwards.  Make sure it is centered and does not come flying out and wang you in the eye.  Bam! Yer done!

[jasonsansfleece]

Like Subsonic says.
That will get them back on, but for complete mastery over the little buggers get your self the proper tool as found in the link below.

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/tools.htm

Guy

[saurkraut]

Picture stollen from the Vortex:



I've used both the special tool, and the muffler clamp.  I prefer the muffler clamp, for both removal and instaltion.  Especially on the TD engines as things are snug in there, and the special tool is cumbersome.  Never had one go flying.

I used two clamps, and left them in the clips until installation.  I suppose the u-bolt could be modified with two weld nerds to keep the exhaust clip centered.  But like I said, never had one go flying.

[jettabrendan]

interesting.. i got one on using a vice, screwdriver and a long bolt, about 3.5 inches long. I spread the spring in the vice using a screwdriver through one of the holes, then i jammed the bolt in while the spring was spread. Then i put on a welding glove, placed the spring on and hammered out the bolt. Dangerous but it worked rather well. I will use the exhaust clamp for the second spring because of its location. thanks much guys!

[theman53]

I do exactly what jettabrendan does and haven't been killed yet, but have seen some bolts go flying. If I am at my friends and have it on the hoist I will just put the top part on and pull down on the bottom until the clamp goes on. But I usually work on the ground :cry:

[Dakotakid]

All right, now. Pull out yer banjos and get to a-pickin' for THIS one.......

I get the car jacked up rather high on wood blocks so I don't give my life for this job (could be done on a hoist as well) and so I have a little room to move my body and head out of the way. I make sure I have either good full-coverage safety glasses or a full face shield (is best).

I use a double strand of wire and a longer tire iron. I loop the wire through one of the holes in the C clamp and down to the bottom of the car. I place the top part of the C in the upper groove where they ride on the manifold. I check the length of wire to allow me to pull down on the clamp and produce a twist with the tire iron in it. I then simply use the tire iron as a lever and quickly stretch the c clamp into position. Then, I end by reaching up and cutting the wire free and sending it to "wire heaven" (throw it away).
On the Mk. II's it is really easy to use the subframe as a lever point. Sure, it's dangerous, but THAT is where the facial protection comes in. If you are good at it, you can get them both on in about 4 minutes.....and the price is right (if you don't go to the emergency room in the process!!!).

[theman53]

That is it Charlie hear is the story. I didn't go to the emergency room...I had my wife stitch my forehead shut with fishing line. I have a really hard head and when the vice grips *I didn't have a tire iron handy* didn't hold onto the wire like I had thought they would I was wearing them in my forehead. I finished the job with a bathtowel on my forehead. Believe it or not for some reason headwounds bleed like a stuck pig and I couldn't lay down without blood running into my eyes so bad I couldn't see what I was doing without the towel. I came in and cleaned it up and asked my wife to superglue it shut like I do most tragic wounds. She wouldn't do it and demanded I needed stitches. I said no $ for Dr. in my budget, if you insist you do it...so she did.
    Out of that experience I do it differently now. Fishing line doesn't break down and 2lb test is super thin and strong enough to hold skin. It doesn't come out half bad either.

[Dakotakid]

Man, I've clearly been reading too much of Hagar's stuff on the other forum!!!!!!

[79rabbit4dr]

:shock: priceless Andrew, priceless

[burn_your_money]

For removal I always try and pull them off with my hands. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If that doesn't work then I try prying them off with a screwdriver or a wrench. Failing that I'll use the special tool.

I've used the vice method for installation mentioned above and it works well. Now that I have the special tool though it's all I use for installation. It's well worth the money in my opinion.

[jettabrendan]

Oh I didn't notice an exhaust donut gasket on there just a ring that looks like its hard to get off. Would that be the gasket? Wow that truck looks like it will come down on him pretty easily plus welding on the tank isn't very smart. I watched a kid blow up a motorcycle tank by welding it. There's still a black mark on the ceiling lol.

[Patrick]

I use the backwards mufler clamp trick. Just had to do a new clamp on the wife's '91 Golf. Anyone ever have a bad spring clamp? had a leak, new clamp fixed it. First time for me..........

[Vincent Waldon]

I find that a light smear of hi-temp red Permatex on both sides of the donut goes a long way to sealing it up nicely, and it stays a bit flexible over time.