General Exhaust on 4x4

[euroben]

My Panda 4x4 keeps grounding out on things. I do drive up the odd muddy track but I’m talking about in general road use mostly. Speed bumps are an issue. I am having some new springs and shocks fitted next week which will hopefully fix the issue because I think the front end has dropped. However looking under my car I am sure the exhaust doesn’t look right. It seems to hang quite low and I didn’t think that applied to cars as they got older! The exhaust mountings are all in good condition. Not sure how useful my pics are but let me know if you think this looks right. Many thanks.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Im not sure thats sitting any lower than mine, but clearly isn't the original flexi coupling, and maybe the alignment was altered when the new bit was welded in?

Here's mine... (in passing, this past year the car's seen less use, and the exhaust seems rustier as a result...)

Seen from the front, the exhaust hangs no lower than my (just repainted) undertray

 

[euroben]

Im not sure thats sitting any lower than mine, but clearly isn't the original flexi coupling, and maybe the alignment was altered when the new bit was welded in?

Here's mine... (in passing, this past year the car's seen less use, and the exhaust seems rustier as a result...)

Seen from the front, the exhaust hangs no lower than my (just repainted) undertray
View attachment 464590
View attachment 464589

View attachment 464591

Thanks for this! Your exhaust looks a similar position to mine. Yes I did have a new flexi pipe welded in and they did quite a bodge job on it to be honest. What I can see as being significantly different on yours is the original skid plate is much less protruding than the aftermarket one I have, so I have ordered a OEM one today as they happened to be on special offer for £160 free delivery on shop4parts. That’s actually cheaper than the aftermarket one I previously bought.

 

[Panda IIs]

Thanks for this! Your exhaust looks a similar position to mine. Yes I did have a new flexi pipe welded in and they did quite a bodge job on it to be honest. What I can see as being significantly different on yours is the original skid plate is much less protruding than the aftermarket one I have, so I have ordered a OEM one today as they happened to be on special offer for £160 free delivery on shop4parts. That’s actually cheaper than the aftermarket one I previously bought.

Here's the difference I think? The flexi and possibly the hanger is also not original and this one (I think) is longer? The same hanger on mine evaporated (oxidised is probably more accurate) I modded a regular exhaust clamp to achieve the same effect as it was an MOT advisory - I'll try and get a picture tomorrow.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Here's the difference I think? The flexi and possibly the hanger is also not original and this one (I think) is longer? The same hanger on mine evaporated (oxidised is probably more accurate) I modded a regular exhaust clamp to achieve the same effect as it was an MOT advisory - I'll try and get a picture tomorrow.

View attachment 464612

Yes - I looked at that too, but think it’s the same as mine (which is original).

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Actually, looking again, yes is has been altered and looks like it might be made from a bent, threaded rod?

 

[euroben]

Yes - I looked at that too, but think it’s the same as mine (which is original).
View attachment 464655

Yes that does look the same as mine.

 

[Panda IIs]

Actually, looking again, yes is has been altered and looks like it might be made from a bent, threaded rod?

Definitely looks that way to me, I was eyeballing the exhaust diameter v's the length of the hanger "hook" in each photo - yours looks shorter but small differences. Since @euroben suggests the front springs are shorter then this is likely the major contributor. Maybe he has inherited a MJ car fitted with TA front springs or indeed non-4x4 springs.