McMaster Carr has cup washers in both stainless and zinc plated steel. I now use them on all the exhaust connections. 
91477A181 for the stainless.
95221A111  for zinc plated steel. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Larry Alofs
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 4:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Diaphragm Springs - Exhaust - 2.1L WBX

For a long time I used long bolts with rather stiff springs from a hardware store or home center.  I generally use stainless steel fasteners for exhaust ( 5/16" when I could not get 8 mm). The problem was that I could never find SS springs and the ordinary ones would rust away eventually.
Recently I switched to SS flat washers and lock washers, alternating, three or four of each in a sandwich on each bolt.  Seems to work so far.

Larry A.

On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have run into a problem. The J-pipe has broken right at the 2 into 1 
> cast iron collector. I have a replacement.
>
> Upon close examination, it is clear that break is an expansion stress 
> break. Also, it's clear that connection is supposed to be an expansion 
> join. But like the 'lil boy  sez "It ain't happening!" Therefore I 
> have a broken J-pipe.
>
> Bentley ( page 26.9) shows that joint assembled with 5 DIAPHRAGM 
> SPRINGS on each of 3 bolts. Mine has none. So far, list vendors I have 
> contacted don't use or sell these, so they say, and haven't seen them. 
> I have a problem with that, because I KNOW that is an expansion joint 
> and has to have a way to relieve the stress of expansion due to heating and cooling.
>
> Can someone enlighten me about this? Tell me where to get Diaphragm 
> Springs
> - by that or another name?  I don't want to put this back together 
> unless it is right and can give under heat in that joint.
>
> Thanks
>
> John
>