Lynn Syndrom
05-26-2011, 11:27 PM
I had the need to remove the rubber hose from the exit end of the fiberglass mufffler tube on my 2003 Outback for other repairs I was doing.
During reassembly I found it very difficult to get the hose to seal back onto the fiberglass (male portion) of the muffler tube. This was mainly due to the end of the muffler tube being tapered, and not very strong. It seamed that the fiberglass tube was crushing when I was tightening the hose clamp up even with just a screw driver. The muffler tube extension designed to receive the rubber hose is also less than 2 inches in length making it difficult to get both hose clamps to hold well.
Question: Does anyone have an idea on how to improve this and/or get it to seal?
It almost seams like there should be some metal support inside the muffler tube extension to offer some material strength to clamp against.
Sorry I did not have time to take some pictures to help explain.
During reassembly I found it very difficult to get the hose to seal back onto the fiberglass (male portion) of the muffler tube. This was mainly due to the end of the muffler tube being tapered, and not very strong. It seamed that the fiberglass tube was crushing when I was tightening the hose clamp up even with just a screw driver. The muffler tube extension designed to receive the rubber hose is also less than 2 inches in length making it difficult to get both hose clamps to hold well.
Question: Does anyone have an idea on how to improve this and/or get it to seal?
It almost seams like there should be some metal support inside the muffler tube extension to offer some material strength to clamp against.
Sorry I did not have time to take some pictures to help explain.