FWIW ... I haven't had either problem with my '84 or my '85.

I've been driving my '84 since '91 and haven't broken an exhaust support
rod yet.  My muffler strap finally RUSTED apart a couple of years ago
and the replacement is doing fine.

When I got my '85 all the exhaust support rods had been removed and
discarded by a PO or some "Mechanic".  I scrounged around and got all
but the one that angles upward from the J pipe to the side of the
exhaust pipe at the head.  For that one I just put on a turnbuckle which
  is working like it was supposed to be there.

Mike

Greenamyer, William L wrote:
> Got a question about exhaust brackets/supports.  My 84GL seems to break
> the driver side two supports on a regular basis.  Weld them up and they
> get broken again.  Guess the vibration is pretty bad on that side with
> the Y-pipe and the cat attached.  Seems to always break the right angle
> piece that attaches to the engine most often.
>
> Is this a regular problem with this engine?
> Is the bracket just not make strong enough to take the
> vibration/flexing?
> Would stronger brackets (heavier metal) work better or could they break
> something else?
>
> The other questions relate to the muffler strap.  Seems that this strap
> holders the muffler fine but there is rubbing against the header pipe
> which causes the strap to wear and break.
>
> Is this characteristic of the Vanagon design?
> Is there a fix to prevent the wear and breaking of these straps or do I
> just beaf up the metal (straps) in those areas to take the rubbing?
>
> William
>