How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

ZmOz · May 1, 2005

About a month ago I put a $15 turbo muffler on my Jeep, it sounds like $**t. I just clamped it in. I bought a Flowmaster to replace it, and now I'm trying to get the old muffler off without cutting anything. I bolted the muffler clamps down very tightly, and of course it crimped the pipes together. I can twist the muffler around, but it won't slide out at all. I've been pulling on it and hitting it with a hammer for over an hour, it won't budge. Any tips for getting this thing out?

Bob_VT · May 2, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

You might have to crush or cut the inner pipe. They sell (rent) pipe expanders at most parts stores to get the crimp out of the old pipe. You mighe just have to remove the bad section and replace it with a short piece of pipe. Look into stainless band clamps for the new installation.

rosco_59 · May 2, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

Get yourself a thin sharp chisel and hammer and cut the pipe of the muffler off of the other pipe. Just split it with the chisel, not hard to do.

Barlow · May 2, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

yea .. get the cutting wheel out and start it then finish with the chisel like said above. you should be able to get it darned near close with the cutting wheel so the hammering isn't so stressful.

ZmOz · May 2, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

After prying, pounding, chopping, grinding, and burning all day I finally got the b***h out. It's funny, the original muffler that had been there for for 9 years came out pretty easy.

Sounds alot better now.

Better get some pain killers ready for tomarrow morning...

Bob_VT · May 3, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

Oh did we fail to mention the Blood, Sweat, Tears and Swearing involved

ebbtide176 · May 3, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

sorry i didn't catch this topic sooner. i usually just use oxy/actl cutting tip and skin the muff off, or split the collar in 2 places. then it can be pulled off. actually, on my jeep i just cut thru the muff pipe right up against the muff, so it could drop and i had ez access to the remaining 'collars'. just keep a spraybottle of water handy when using a torch under a vehicle. you can cool off the floorboards and/or keep the greasy undercoat from igniting this way. i just spraymist around the spot right b4 firing the torch.

or when saving a muff, i used to just use the cutting tip to thoroughly heat the collars red, then rock the muff up/dn to get the collar to expand enough to slide off. but you would probably have to weld the joints on reuse. often, you have to disconnect the hangers, so u have some room to rock the muff. or you could use a sawzall to do this... you're right, the cheap turbo muffs aren't very quiet

but they are quieter than some others. i might end up replacing mine again, if i can figure out what vehicle to cross ref to get a big fat long flat one. i might even change over to a smaller tailpipe. i hate loud anythings anymore

well, except when i fire up the 140rude on the waterhose

LubeDude · May 3, 2005

Re: How to seperate clamped exhaust tubing?

Ok, here is the real truth.

Knowing OZ as I do, he was hoping to get the muffler off without damaging it so he could resell it.