Exhaust Hanger Touching Hitch and Transferring Vibration and Noise through a 2010 Mercury Mariner

Updated 04/16/2010 | Published 04/15/2010

Question:

I installed this a couple days ago. One issue, is that when at idol in R or D, the muffler dampner hits the assembly and the vibration inside a little loud. If I move the hitch over, it will no longer be centered. Any suggestions? 2010 Mercury mariner non hybrid

asked by: Ed M

Expert Reply:

I am looking at the install pictures and if I am reading things correctly, the steel hanger welded to the exhaust pipe is touching the hitch. This in turn sends exhaust vibrations into the vehicle and that is what you are hearing. You have a few options of how this can be corrected.

The first is what we do here in our shops, and that is simply re-bending the hanger so that things do not make contact. The hangers are not always welded on the same way at the factory and some times they warp so we just bend them back in shape. If this is something you are not comfortable with doing, you can take it to a muffler shop and they can probably do it for you.

You may also be able to go the the muffler shop and have them cut off that hanger and weld it to the the other side of the exhaust pipe. They should not charge much for a simple task like this and it will solve the problem.

The third option is to go to your Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer and get a longer rubber isolator so that the exhaust will sit a little lower and the metal hanger will not touch the hitch.

I have linked a help article to the right for you as well.

expert reply by: Patrick B