In a message dated 12/08/2005 12:03:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Fiber
gaskets were (are?) recommended for any SS  joint.

    Tabe, Pascal and all other interested parties, the  doughnut gasket joint
in an exhaust system is used to allow placement of the  components so that
there is no undue stress.  A solid flat joint allows no  repositioning of the
components to the best position.  That said there are  two types of doughnut
gaskets available on the market today.  Asbestos  fibre ones and solid steel
ones.  It was though that the fibre ones were  better for the stainless steel
flange connections due to stainless steel being  susceptible to cracking from
vibration.  The fibre ones were though to  reduce this problem.  This now after
many years of testing may not be  true.  Many of the stainless steel joints I
encounter in my shop have  been fitted with the steel gasket and no flange
cracking has show up thus  far.  The steel gasket will definitely give a longer
life over the fibre  ones.  The fibre ones will eventually burn out from exposure
to the hot  exhaust gases.  So what to do ?  I have begun using the steel
ones in  most all applications and I am checking these connections as often as I
can to  see how the joint is surviving.  So far I see no problems.  So, I
would therefore recommend using the steel gasket in all connections.  See  my
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless  Steel Exhaust System_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)  webpage for a list of part numbers of these two  gaskets.  They are
widely available from most good automotive parts  supply.  Contrary to
popular belief they are not made or supplied by  STEBRO.  I included them with the
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Muffler  and J-pipe as a convenience to the
customer.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel  Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or http://frankcondelli.com
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12,  2005