I was investigating a rattle the other week under my Punto 2b and I found the bracket on the catalytic converter downpipe and rusted through.

Its before the flexible part of the exhaust, Fiat don't sell them separately and I can seem to find any elsewhere.

Anybody know where I might find something to solve this?

Pics?

Probabaly easy enough to fabricate and weld on a new bracket, but need to see.

Oh you mean this little fellow!



Holds the manicat pipe steady with the gearbox

Old mk2 didnt have one of these
The mk2b does, so you can live without it

Ziggy

My old mk2/b never had one of them, didn't even have the bracket for the bolt on the exhaust manifold lol, got to love how the Italians do things differently

Thanks for the replies

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the clamp, it was pretty much just a couple of pieces of rust stuck to the manifold.

It is the part you are referring to Ziggy but my punto must be a different version to yours (mines a Mk2b 1.2 16v) the one I had looked more like this.

I have been driving for a bit now without it so its obviously not crucial, I'm just worried that the cat will be moving more than normal and putting more stress on the seals and making the cat wear out quicker

Good question

I had a cat that lasted 40k miles without that bracket

A replacement cat came with the part, I haven't fitted it.

Probably should/will

Yes. I used a 50mm Bosel P clip ordered from my local motor factor Whiston Motors. However, to get it on I had to use a 4 inch bolt and a nut to spread the gap to just over 2 inches(It does close up under tension hence the reason to expand the gap to over 2 inches). You need to retain the plate with the thread. Having positioned the P clip over the pipe your next problem is exerting enough force to close the gap. With the help of a friend we used mole grips. Otherwise get another 4 inch bolt, as the thread on the other bolt will be destroyed, and reverse the process. I also had to use a longer bolt than the one supplied with the P Clip to pull in the threaded back plate. Do not flatten out the lip on the P Clip as this is used to prevent crushing the exhaust pipe. I also noticed that the clip strikes the nut and bolt on the clutch(?) housing but the pipe is solid. Hope this helps.

The reason why Fiat do not supply the bracket is probably because it won't spread to get it over the pipe without breaking. You cannot slide it along the pipe because you have a flange at one end and the Cat at the other.

you can use a U clamp (cost less than a quid often free) and piece of flat bar with holes drilled in, both mk2 and mk2b should have them.

Old post.....

The replacement bracket i got was mild steel, easy enough to open out

i take them off if rusted through
im a firm believer in over engineering and if its fitted its for a purpose
but this bracket is one thing i dont lose sleep over

s and b said:

i take them off if rusted through
im a firm believer in over engineering and if its fitted its for a purpose
but this bracket is one thing i dont lose sleep over

Click to expand...

and you can make more money when the flange snaps off:idea:

dave said:

and you can make more money when the flange snaps off:idea:

Click to expand...

i dont think so
if the flange is going to snap it will be due to age /corrosion not because of this bracket
the centre pipe is on a rubber hanger so its designed to move in relation to its surroundings
i would be more concerned with rear lower engine mount bushings as this would cause early manifold failure and theres al ot of weak bushings out there lately