Please help: X-pipe ball to muffler socket leak

[Hivand_M]

Hi all,

Yesterday I bought and installed an oem x pipe with test pipes onto my car with an AA rear.

The shop I took it to used a pry bar to get the ball of the xpipe into the mufflers socket and in doing so bent the muffler's flange outward.

While driving home I noticed a nasty leak from the rear so guessed it was that connection.

Long story short I put the car on ramps, took that clamp off and saw this.. hammered it down as much as I could and started the car. The nasty leak sound was gone but there's still a ton of air coming out.

Any advice on how to make this fully seal without welding or making this connection permanent?

Appreciate it!

[roastbeef]

The clamps wear out after a while. Get new clamps.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

The clamps wear out after a while. Get new clamps.

Should've done that from the beginning regardless, you are right.

Do you think the clamp should force that shape again?

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Hivand_M

Should've done that from the beginning regardless, you are right.

Do you think the clamp should force that shape again?

Give it a few taps with a hammer to see if you can get it back into close shape and hope the clamp does the rest.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Hivand_M

Should've done that from the beginning regardless, you are right.

Do you think the clamp should force that shape again?

I'm not sure what you're asking, but the clamp on your pic is done. It's stretched and flattened. There's no going back, get new clamps.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by tdott

Give it a few taps with a hammer to see if you can get it back into close shape and hope the clamp does the rest.

Thank you! I did this the best I can with the limited space I had yesterday. There's still a a little bit of the lip left to hammer down but I couldn't get anything close to it. Will try again though with new clamps.

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I'm not sure what you're asking, but the clamp on your pic is done. It's stretched and flattened. There's no going back, get new clamps.

The flange on the muffler was bent outwards due to a pry bar being used to get the x-pipe to go into the muffler, I couldn't flatten all of it down due to not enough room so was asking if the new clamps will help reform that oringinal shape. Will get new clamps asap though, thank you for the advice!

[roastbeef]

No, you'll have to bend it back yourself. Don't let the person who used the pry bar work on it again. It fits together fine without a pry bar. Loosen the rear muffler if it's tight… it's a couple of bolts.

[Hivand_M]

With the old clamps on and the x-pipe/muffler warmed up it helped reform the shape again over a couple days.

I did get and install new clamps which definitely helped seal it up even more. Thanks for the advice roastbeef

AA rear, oem xpipe with primaries deleted sounds delicious.

[darkbmw]

Exhaust paste, it's not permanent, and has to reapplied every time u take the muffler down but fills in all small cracks where the bolt and camp meet where it is leaking

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by darkbmw

Exhaust paste, it's not permanent, and has to reapplied every time u take the muffler down but fills in all small cracks where the bolt and camp meet where it is leaking

I looked into this but very briefly, thought it was permanent. Will definitely give it a shot next time either the muffler or x pipe come out since I still felt the slightest bit of air coming out even after fitting the new clamps. Thanks!