I started hearing some sounds when backing out of the garage that to me were clearly exhaust related. I drove around a day or so listening since i had no choice but to go to work. When I parked and left the car on I found the trouble immediately. If you follow the side mirrors straight down and under the car you'll see the exhaust and the clamps(on either side of the car) that clamp front the front pipes to a section going towards the rear. These clamps rust over time in this Kansas City climate and in 1 week both popped and began rattling!!!

I just pulled them off and all is quiet again. The pipes they were holding have long flash rusted together. I'm not at all worried at this point and now have a reason to think about cat back straight exhaust. 2002 with 178k and most importantly driven in snow and salt.. Don't need no stinking clamps

 

Interesting... I would have assumed the clamps would be stainless... You just never know...

 

I got away with that on my Maxima, until everything broke eventually. But to be fair, 12 years on the original exhaust in the northeast. Once that stuff gets replaced with aftermarket, it's a never ending replacement. Yes, I got that lousy muffler chain that was once American and based out of Chicago (now based out of Miami), to replace 2 mufflers, but they make it up by concocting labor charges. One time I refused and took them to the BBB so they replaced the resonator as well (hmmmm the manager wrote lifetime resonator and stapled his card--they said no longer with the co. and should not have stated that and won't be honored--I said boo hoo yes you will and they did)....so I would think the Lexus would last even longer, it should be superior...and I hope my car was in FLA will help. that's why I was surprised to hear my exhaust rattle this past week.

 

New stainless ones will get popped on in the mean time

 

If you drive in salt/snow, I recommend removing those clamps and the heat shields permanently. They cause accelerated corrosion of the Y-pipe, requiring entire replacement of the Y-pipe. Search the forums for DTC P0420 and P0430.

My clamps had rusted off and I replaced with stainless steel clamps, but did not know about the heat shields causing the Y-pipe to leak until it was too late.

 

Thanks! I plan on removing that heat shield very soon. Need to find a write up on the best way to do that. I haven't had a chance to investigate for myself.