It’s a fact: while saddle-type U-bolt clamps may lack the visual appeal of many bespoke exhaust clamps, no other clamp is more easily recognised, or better suited for a wider range of tasks. Whereas high-end tube clamps and V-band clamps are designed for the most specialised tube connections, only U-bolt clamps are both versatile and sturdy enough to handle just about any clamping job that’s thrown at them. And that’s a huge advantage in an environment where, if there’s an emergency, the most popular clamp is likely to be the most practical one.
Bringing U bolt Exhaust Clamp Design To the Forefront of Fasteners
source: pinterest.com
Let’s be honest: from the nylon P-clamps used to stabilise wire harnesses, to the various narrow-band clamps used on high performance exhaust systems, there are literally dozens of different types of clamps used in the automotive industry. None, however, are more useful than the universal U-bolt exhaust clamp that’s found on the underside of virtually every car or truck ever manufactured.
These 2-piece assemblies – consisting of a curved threaded rod, a corresponding saddle section – are the epitome of positioning fasteners. They simply bow around the outside of an exhaust tube, and are produced in a range of styles that illustrate just how practical their straightforward design actually is.
- Standard round U bolt clamps. These are the most common saddle clamps, utilising a 180° threaded rod section for tubes with outside diameters up to 67mm.
- Form-fitted square U bolt clamps. The rod sections of these clamps feature 90° bends on their corners, and are typically used for aligning and stabilising leaf spring packs.
- Special-purpose semi-round U bolt clamps. The clamps also utilise a 180° rod, but are designed to spread their clamping force over a wider-saddled area.
Standard round U-bolt exhaust clamps are by far the most frequently used clamps, with cost and convenience inherently being their most prevalent qualities. They can be manufactured by the millions for any tube diameter, can be mounted in seconds and don’t require any special tools. It’s the perfect combination of attributes for use in the automotive industry; and vehicle owners only have to consider how an exhaust system functions to fully understand why U bolt exhaust clamps are at the forefront of exhaust fastener design.
Counting on U Bolt Clamp Design For Increased Engine Performance
It doesn’t take a degree in engineering to recognise why standard U bolts are so well suited for exhaust systems. With their extreme on- and off-road vibrations, temperatures ranging from 250°C at the muffler to over 600°C at the header, and persistent exposure to corrosive gases, exhaust systems are subject to some of the harshest conditions imaginable. This is an environment where the durability of exhaust U bolt fasteners rapidly outshines their contemporaries.
As the main purpose of U bolt clamps is to prevent exhaust tube segments from separating or striking the ground, they are, by extension, also responsible for the following:
- Exhaust system sealing. Exhaust systems depend on maintaining perfect seals for optimal scavenging, air flow and fuel economy. The solid clamping force of a U exhaust clamp keeps tubes from shifting or flexing, thereby ensuring an unbroken exhaust seal at all times.
- Reducing noise and CO2 emissions. Not only is an unsealed exhaust prone to performance losses, it’s also guaranteed to be louder and to release more CO2 emissions. By stabilising the tubing, U bolt exhaust clamp fasteners are essential for reducing noise and CO2 emissions.
- Ensuring system survivability. Between their non-stop high temperature heat cycling and susceptibility to moisture and the elements, exhaust systems are routinely exposed to some of the worst working conditions imaginable. Zinc-plated, galvanised steel exhaust U clamp fasteners help ensure their survivability by keeping them stable and solidly supported.
Make no mistake: with auto manufacturers and drivers expecting more from their exhaust systems than ever, exhaust clamps are also expected to deliver more. Increased performance, better fuel economy and lower emissions are as easily attributed to exhaust system efficiency as they are to engine output. Not surprisingly, standard U bolt clamps are better suited to meet these higher expectations than any other type of clamp.
Small U Bolt Mods That Can Make A Big Difference In An Emergency
Anyone who spends even a modest amount of time on the highway knows that a situation can always arise where some type of fastener assistance is needed. Whether it’s clamping down a loose airbox intake pipe, temporarily aligning a stressed leaf spring pack, or support for an antenna mast, keeping a few spare fasteners in the boot to make quick fixes is an unmistakeable part of owning a vehicle in Australia. That’s precisely where the simplicity of saddle-type standard U bolt clamps comes in.
Even when compared to guillotine and U band clamp fasteners, the basic rod and saddle design of U bolt clamps lends itself perfectly to a wide range of on- and off-road hanging and fastening jobs that may or many not have anything to do with the exhaust system. And as it’s easy to swap, modify, or reverse one or both of a U bolt’s segments to meet these urgent requirements, their versatility leaves practically every other type of heavy duty fastener in the dust.
- When a grip with a bite is needed. Either the rod or saddle of a standard clamp can be substituted for a serrated segment that will deliver even greater gripping pressure when tightened down, making it ideal for clamping together severely mis-sized tubes.
- Favouring flat-faced stability. Replacing or reversing the standard clamp’s curved saddle in favour of a flat saddle surface offers better clamping force distribution, and is the hands-down choice for making quick, on-the-move repairs.
- Proving that length matters. Replacing the standard interior-length threaded rod with an even longer threaded segment provides for added clearance, or for securing taller items like loose spring packs or similar stacks of items.
- Rolling up a sleeve for noise reduction. A bare threaded rod segment of a standard clamp can be covered with a rubber sleeve (like a piece of hose tubing) for maximum noise and vibration reduction, thereby preventing temperature cycling from causing a problem.
- The friction-free fit. Fitting a full rubber cushion to the inside area of a standard clamp takes using a rubber sleeve to the next level and can be used to safely protect fuel, brake, and even coolant lines from full metal-on-metal friction.
The fact is, when it comes to the range of uses for a U bolt clamp, exhaust systems are only the tip of the iceberg. They can find use just about anywhere under the body or under the bonnet, in either routine or emergency conditions. That makes them a fastener that’s always worth having a few available.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, while U bolts may be the most widely used type of clamp in the automotive industry, they’re just as handy in the workshop for an array of tasks that include everything from securing sagging plumbing and metal fences, to building custom tool hangers and power tool jigs. And with the lowest price point of any type of automotive clamp, the cost of keeping some spares on the workbench is anything but prohibitive.
Whether it’s in the car or in the shop, universal 2-piece U-bolt exhaust clamp fasteners are the answer for a host of hanging and securing needs. They’re the durable, practical exhaust clamps that are as good in an emergency as they are in everyday use.