96 Golf body integrity

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Henry Markov - 30 Sep 2007 17:26 GMT

There is a transverse stiffener or brace on the underside of the 96 Golf at
about the point where the middle muffler joins the long connecter pipe
leading to the cat. This brace is held by 4 threaded studs and nuts. How
necessary is this brace to body integrity? How upset should I be that I
have two suspect mechanics who may have removed it in the last several
months and not reinstalled it?

HM

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Jim Behning - 30 Sep 2007 20:57 GMT

>There is a transverse stiffener or brace on the underside of the 96 Golf at
>about the point where the middle muffler joins the long connecter pipe
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>HM

Well the question is posed in an odd way. Two different mechanics
removed a brace that VW spent money to design, manufacture and
install. Now how did the said brace got re-installed only to be
removed again? Or are you saying that there was once a brace on the
car, you sent it to the shop two different times, after that last
visit you noticed that the brace was missing? I guess it does not
matter. If it was my car I would get a replacement brace and install
it.

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Matt B. - 02 Oct 2007 05:34 GMT

> There is a transverse stiffener or brace on the underside of the 96 Golf
> at about the point where the middle muffler joins the long connecter pipe
> leading to the cat. This brace is held by 4 threaded studs and nuts. How
> necessary is this brace to body integrity? How upset should I be that I
> have two suspect mechanics who may have removed it in the last several
> months and not reinstalled it?

I don't think it's super-important (for something that allegedly braces the
body it's rather light and doesn't seem incredibly heavy/strong) so I
wouldn't worry much about it but I would replace it since it should be
there.

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SteveC - 03 Oct 2007 10:14 GMT

one, it could have rusted off, two it's sole purpose is to hold up the
exhaust in the event it falling loose/off, not structually.

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Steve
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> There is a transverse stiffener or brace on the underside of the 96 Golf
> at about the point where the middle muffler joins the long connecter pipe
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> HM

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Matt B. - 04 Oct 2007 02:22 GMT

> one, it could have rusted off, two it's sole purpose is to hold up the
> exhaust in the event it falling loose/off, not structually.

that's what I thought too (not structural) but the ETKA does refer to it as
a "connecting strut for floor plate" (assuming i'm looking at the right
part...191898335) and that sounds a bit structural to me.

I'd just get a new one and put it on and if there are no issues now w/the
body from its absence, then I won't worry about it and move on.

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jeanguenat@gmail.com - 23 Oct 2007 12:20 GMT

> There is a transverse stiffener or brace on the underside of the 96 Golf at
> about the point where the middle muffler joins the long connecter pipe
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> HM

I have been driving my 96 Golf without that bracket for oh about 70K
miles. The car is still structurally intact! It just seems to cause
the muffler to make sounds that annoy my wife. I think it sounds
cool.

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