Any tips/tricks for installing new donuts

[89325iturbo]

Any tips/tricks for installing new rubber donuts and hangers? Also which way is the donut suppose to be sitting like pictured or rotated 90*?

[McGyver]

So first, It's supposed to be rotated 90* so that the lumps are between the two metal parts.

Second, (for stock exhaust clamps) I remove the metal heat shield over the muffler. Then separate the hangers into their 2 parts. I put the donut on the car side, then use a big screw driver to help force the donut onto the hanger side. This allows you to pry against the car. Once both are on, I replace the shield, then use a jack to lift the muffler into place and put the hangers back together.

On non-stock exhaust, I usually put the donut on the muffler hanger, use a jack to hold the muffler in place, then use a big screw driver and a lot of 4-letter words to get the donut on the car.

Good luck!

[89325iturbo]

Got them on, and the exhaust hung. Bit of a pain to get the donuts on, but it worked out.

[jeffnhiscars]

A bit late to this...but I boil a bowl of water and let the donuts sit in it for several minutes. It cools quickly but does make it more workable just long enough to make a potential bitch in to a mere pita.

I'm also wondering what life expectancy people are getting from donuts. I find after a couple of years they start to crack so are now part of my routine maintenance. I'd say my system may not be aligned precisely so the donuts are over stressed, but I've had this issue with virtually every e30 I've owned.

[AwakenNoMore]

^ that is a really neat trick, never thought about boiling them before.

[AndrewBird]

I tend to put the loose part through the donut, then use it as a handle to put it on the car. Hook the donut on one side, then pull down and sideways to stretch the donut over the mount. Still a pain in the ass.

[1843lamp]

I just removed the original exhaust system from my car ,it is 30 years old and in pretty good condition including all of the original rubber hangers ,they are in such good condition and strong I am going to reuse them ,I find much of newly made rubber for these cars and others does not last very long ,my car is fairly low mileage and I think it had a garage much of its life ...,sadly not any more...