Exhaust Hangers

What Do Rubber Exhaust Hangers Do?

Rubber exhaust hangers isolate your exhaust from the chassis and absorb engine vibration before it reaches the cabin. They flex as the engine rocks under load, so the pipes can move without cracking welds or loosening joints. That flex is why rubber is the factory choice on most street vehicles.

The rubber piece is often called an exhaust hanger insulator or isolator. It slips over a rod on the pipe and a matching rod on the frame. When it wears out, you can replace only the insulator. Crown Automotive offers tailpipe hanger insulators and Jeep replacement hangers, and Dynomax offers exhaust insulators.

For custom systems, Stainless Works sells a hanger grommet assortment. Keep in mind that heat, oil and age crack and stretch rubber over time. If your exhaust tailpipes hang lower than they used to, check the insulators first.

Are Polyurethane Exhaust Hangers Worth It?

Polyurethane exhaust hangers are worth it when you want firmer control and longer service life than rubber provides. Poly resists oil and stretching, so it holds the exhaust in place longer. The tradeoff is more vibration and drone transferred into the body.

Poly makes the most sense in a few situations:

• High-horsepower builds where engine movement pulls on the exhaust
• Track cars that see hard launches and cornering loads
• Vehicles where rubber hangers keep stretching or tearing

If comfort matters more than control, stick with rubber. A stiff hanger paired with loud performance mufflers can make cabin noise more noticeable on long drives.

Mount every isolator away from the hottest sections of pipe, since neither rubber nor poly handles direct radiant heat well. In tight spaces, exhaust heat shields can help protect the hanger.

Stainless Steel Exhaust Hangers and Exhaust Hanger Brackets

Stainless steel exhaust hangers resist rust and corrosion, so they're a good match for stainless systems and vehicles driven in wet or salted conditions. Mild steel hangers can rust through long before the pipes do. Stainless keeps the mounting point as durable as the rest of the system.

Exhaust hanger brackets give you a mounting point without welding. JEGS stainless steel bolt-on hangers clamp around the pipe, and some versions include a stainless exhaust clamp or a T-bolt clamp. JEGS also offers a 5-3/4 in. by 3 in. stainless bolt-on hanger and a 9.5 in. steel strap hanger.

Bolt-on brackets work well when you're adding a hanger to an existing system or testing placement before you weld. Match the clamp to your pipe's outside diameter. If you're also replacing joint hardware, browse our exhaust clamps and review how to install exhaust clamps for leak-free joints.

Weld-On Exhaust Hangers for Custom Systems

Weld-on exhaust hangers give you a permanent, clean mount for a custom or fabricated exhaust. You weld the hanger to the pipe, then connect it to the chassis with a rubber or poly isolator. Since there's no clamp, nothing can slip or loosen over time.

JEGS weld-on exhaust hangers come in 2.250, 2.500, 3 and 3.500 in. sizes. The Stainless Works Trick Hanger is a weld-on design offered in 2 in., 2-1/4 in. and 3 in. versions. To fabricate your own mounts, Jones Exhaust 3/8 in. rod hangers come with an arrowhead end or a 90-degree bent end.

Tack each hanger in place with the exhaust aligned and the vehicle at ride height before final welding. This keeps the isolators from being preloaded once the car sits on its wheels. For pipe prep and welding guidance, see our 2-3 inch exhaust pipe installation and welding tips.

Universal vs Direct-Fit Exhaust Hangers

A universal exhaust hanger works on almost any build, while a direct-fit hanger bolts into factory mounting points on a specific vehicle. Universal hangers suit custom systems, engine swaps and race cars where nothing is stock. Direct-fit hangers are the quicker choice when you're repairing a factory-style exhaust.

Pypes Performance Exhaust offers both approaches. Its universal hanger kits give you hardware for fabricating mounts, and its exhaust hanger kit fits the 1999-04 Ford Mustang. Crown Automotive replacement hangers cover Jeep applications.

To find direct-fit parts, use the Year/Make/Model vehicle selector on this page. The results narrow to hangers listed for your vehicle. If you're installing one of our complete exhaust systems, check what hardware the kit includes so you don't double up.