So does that exhausted hanger rod bend over time then? or is that just the only viable option to fix the rattle? I read somewhere that the bushing that the rod sits in isnt able to be replaced but I swore I've seen a thread talking about it be having to bend certain tabs to replace it. I just want to fix it as it is the most annoying thing I've heard and felt lol
It could be the hanger is relaxing. It may be multiple joints are relaxing with age. The fit may not be just right, especially with after market parts. May be a little of everything. Even motor mounts or transmission mounts, a little here and a little there all adds up..
Sometimes a new hanger helps.
Sometimes the only solution is like mentioned, heat it up red hot and let it cool slowly so it relaxes in the proper position.
I've found, especially when replacing exhaust pieces, to stick that 3/4" piece of wood between the pipe and the cross member, while everything is loose but assembled, then tighten the flange and the clamps down. The rear hanger by the axle can also cause issues, the pipe gets a little twisted and/or the welded on hanger isn't just right and it may stress the exhaust downwards causing it to contact the cross member. The exhaust isn't built to close tolerances and little off on one end, is a lot on the other end.
Some after market down pipes (cross over pipes) come flattened on the bottom where it passes over the cross member. I had to heat mine (on my Renix) and flatten it myself to get it to fit and not bang on the cross member. No amount of adjustment or tweaking seemed to help, so I broke out the torch and hammer and made it fit.
It is a poor design and needed to be made with a little more clearance. I seem to remember some later models actually had a curved notch built into the cross member for clearance, but I may be getting this confused with another vehicle, Jeeps aren't the only thing I work on.
