I just got a VMS tow hook that mounts to the 2 muffler mounting bolts. One of the bolts went up into the cavity above the muffler . I dropped the muffler 6 inches but there is no way to access the cavity where the bolt is located. Do I need to remove the bumper or remove the floor of the trunk to get to this bolt. I put my hand all around this metal plated area and cannot find any holes or openings to access the bolt. I have to imagine there is a very easy way to get to these bolts when mufflers are taken on and off. Any help will be appreciated.

 

Try using a magnet and probe to reposition the bolt.

 

I may end up having to do this but my concern is that the tow plate and muffler plate will just push the bolt back up again . It sure seems like there has to be a way to put downward pressure on the head of the bolt to allow the nut to be screwed on.

 

Actually I just figured out that both bolts are connected together with a cross piece of metal. Therefore, it is fairly easy to get the bolts back down thru the holes. Hope this thread is helpful to someone else that wants to put on a tow bar on a C5.

 

The bolts for the muffler hanger are spot welded to a small bracket on each side, and if you use them you need to be really careful not to have the nuts off both at the same time (on each side that is). There is a spring finger washer that holds the bolts from pushing up into the crossmember, but sometimes they break and fall off. Otherwise in the fooling around, you can push that bracket up into the rear frame cross member, Which isn't that big a deal, but does involve removing the rear bumper fascia.

There are maybe 6 screws that hold the fascia at the deck lid seal, then a metal bracket with 6mm studs that hold the fascia to the rear fenders on each side, then pull the tail lights and un plug them and the license plate bracket for the license plate light. I think the rear inner fenders have to come off too. Those bolts may not be long enough for both a tow ring and the muffler hanger. The nuts are lock nuts and they have to be fully engaged to work.

Then there is a black styrofoam impact absorber behind the fascia with two big plastic-head studs. After that you can reach into the rear cross member. Then you can reach into the cross member.

The other thing you can do is make a couple bolt assemblies as shown in the attached photos, which I used to put a home made trailer hitch on a friend's C6GS. You will need to drill a couple good sized holes and get some MIG welding wire to make a bolt fish. Then grind some flats on the bolt and you have a way to keep the bolt from turning. then you can center the tow ring over the exhaust tips:

 

Do you have any photos? Did you come in through the trunk? I am having the same issue. Do the bolts stayed in place when you unscrewed them?

- Rudy

 

The bracket that holds the muffler bolts is (supposed to be) bonded to the bumper beam with body adhesive. Therefore, they "should" stay put. If it does come lose, don't take both bolts all the way off at the same time. Keep one bolt a turn or two on so you can manipulate the other end without having to worry about pushing the bracket all the way into the bumper beam.

One thing that bothered me was there isn't much tread engagement on the nut with both the muffler and tow hook installed. I had my rear fascia/cover off this summer to repair an on track oops. I made a new bracket with longer bolts to give me more thread engagement with both installed. I used the method mentioned above to install the muffler and tow hook because I didn't bother trying to glue down the bracket.

It isn't that big of a deal to take the rear fascia/cover off. The bumper bar is hollow and you can reach inside to grab the bracket, if necessary. There isn't any way to get at the bracket through the trunk without a whole lot of cutting.

If you're really interested I can take a picture of the old bracket.

 

Was able to come in from the opening at the right hand end of the bumper beam with a long box end wrench. Didn't use the muffler brackets, drilled two new holes.