Exhaust "doughnut"

[mattocs]

I was talking to my mom, and a mechanic told her she had a leaking exhaust dougnut, and he recomended replacing the entire exhaust.

 

I have replaced my muffler and whatnot, and put new gaskets and bolts on.

 

I was wondering...is replacing the 'doughnut' similar? Just cut the old bolts off, take the old one out, replace it, new bolts?

 

I looked on 1stSubaruParts.com and Advance Auto Parts website and could not find the doughnuts listed.

 

Any help would be great. My mom does not want to spend all that money on a new exhaust, as the current one is fine, except those dougnut gasket things.

 

Thanks

 

(by the way, her car is a 95 Legacy L)

[Subie Gal]

yes there's an exhaust donut gasket

 

this gasket can be replaced

 

you can simply buy a new one.

 

i can get you a part # tomorrow..

if i dont remember, email me and remind me

 

Jamie

[75subie]

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=C001&UserAction=performMoreDetail&Parameters=TRUE%7C%7EDOUGHNUT+GASKET%7C%7ENONE%7C%7EFELPRO%7C%7EFRONT+PIPE++++++++++%7C%7EFALSE%7C%7EFALSE%7C%7E225406%7C%7E5126%7C%7E60871%7C%7ENONE%7C%7E%242.99%7C%7ESUBARU%7C%7ELEGACY%7C%7E1995%7C%7ENONE%7C%7E0.08%7C%7ENONE%7C%7EB

[RallyKeith]

Just a heads up, the gasket is made with metal so it can rust to the pipe. Just means it can be a pain to get off and may require some work to get all the old material off so the new one fits on.

 

Keith

[hklaine]

I was wondering...is replacing the 'doughnut' similar? Just cut the old bolts off, take the old one out, replace it, new bolts?

 

Try not to cut these bolts if you don't have to. If I remember correctly the bolts that go around the donut gasket are the spring-loaded ones and can be expensive to replace (at least the spring part - so save what you can).

 

As stated, these gaskets can be a PITA to remove, but certainly can be replaced.

 

-Heikki

[75subie]

the bolts usually are rusted to crap.you can cut the bolts or break them if needed, the springs are separate pieces anyway.i just took the pieces of the bolts to my local hardware store and matched them up with new ones.

[frag]

On my car, when that "doughnut" began to leak it was because the spring bolts and flange holding it were rusted beyond repair. I had to have a used second cat welded in. Your case maybe different but expect the worst.

[Gnuman]

Try not to cut these bolts if you don't have to. If I remember correctly the bolts that go around the donut gasket are the spring-loaded ones and can be expensive to replace (at least the spring part - so save what you can).

 

As stated, these gaskets can be a PITA to remove, but certainly can be replaced.

 

-Heikki

 

They are fairly cheap to replace actually, as they are a fairly standard size, and they are a discrete nut and bolt (with a flange that holds the spring tension on the bolt, while the flange holds the other side). A workable replacement is available at most auto parts stores, particularly AutoZone. It is better, of course, to keep the original, unless it is too badly corroded. Soak them in penetrating oil for a few hours before trying to loosten them.

[brus brother]

Your bolts may not be rusted sollid but I remember doing these up at Moosen's with Connie on her Loyale over on the Old Gen site. Ended up unable to remove the bolts so zip zip zip with a sawzall and replace the bolts with a new set she had on hand. She was prepared and it payed off, extra few bucks for insurance on a Sunday afternoon, driveway repair.

[mattocs]

Thank you for all the replies.

 

When I put a new muffler on my car, I just grinded the old bolts off, went to the hardware store and got high quality bolts, and all was well.

 

Thanks a lot for the help.

[Setright]

I like to replace the bolts with stainless steel items. Of course I am a bit weird and also like to swap my sport muffler and standard muffler around every now and then. Well, only when I go for long journeys where the loud one would be a pain.

 

The other gaskets, like between center and muffler are available from Subaru in aluminium, which doesn't distort the flanges like the soft gaskets do.