After replacing all of the exhaust pipes ($$$!) and muffler ($$!) in my '87 VW
Money Toilet over the span of about two years, the muffler brackets needed
replacement as well.  I decided to save a few bucks and use large gear clamps in
combination with what was left of the brackets to secure the muffler instead of
paying mega bucks for a pair of gold-plated, diamond studded VW Westfalia
muffler brackets :)  I was quite pleased with my frugal ingenuity until eighteen
months later when one of the exhaust pipe sections developed a crack and needed
replacing. So the end result was replacing the practically new (but cracked)
pipe and buying an official VW Westfalia muffler bracket set (without the
gold-plating and diamond studs).

Just plain bad luck or an example of penny wise and pound foolish?

You decide.

Roy O.
'87 Westfalia
('till death us do part)