Hi All,
Just like the title states, I need some help with this. For those of you who have removed the factory Y-Pipe, did it just slip right out after you removed the U-Clamp or did you have to do something out of the norm to get it to separate? I've removed the U-Clamp and the Y-Pipe(inner sleeve) will move within the exhaust pipe(outer sleeve) connected to the Cat, but I can't get it to come out. The outer sleeve is crimped all the way around the inner sleeve. There is a little rivet at the 12:00 position on the inner sleeve, but that is just there for positioning. I've tried to bang it out with a mallet, but since the rest of the exhaust system moves, that was no help. I just need some out of the box ideas before I figure on a worst case scenario. Maybe I missing something? Thanks for the help!
Define "come out"? You should be able to separate the y-pipe collector and the exhaust pipe after the U clamp is removed and then set it aside and remove the 4 bolts (2 per side) which hold the y-pipe to the headers and it should come out. Not much was special about it when I took it off my dakota. Of course there could be something different on the durangos, although I would think something as simple as a y-pipe would be identical.
Lear,
Yep, that's what I mean, although I should have said separate the two, great that's what I didn't want to hear. I've already removed the exhaust manifold, so the Y-Pipe is just on there, took the U-bolt clamp off and while the Y-pipe will move within the exhaust sleeve, it won't separate. I've sprayed WD-40 in between the two and I can see the inner pipe move, something is holding it in to the outer sleeve, I think it may be the crimp from the U-Bolt in the outer sleeve, so I just wanted to know if anyone else ran across this type of situation. A Google search didn't come up with any answers, neither did a search on any of the other forums, most people like you just separated the two without any problems.
Hmm, that's really odd, the sleeve shouldn't be crimped or held be anything at all but the U-bolt... I can't for the life of me figure out why yours is stuck, unless it's just so rusted in that you can't get it free.
I just removed the Y pipe to muffler last year. The U bolt crimps the outer sleeve to the inner sleeve. I cut the Y pipe leaving an inch to an inch and a half to bend in on itself to bend in on iself again to pull it out. Then you need a tail pipe expander to lessen the crimp to get the new Y pipe in.
If I get a chance I will post the Y pipe and tool.
Thanks guys for the help on this. E350- sounds like you ran into the exact same problem that I am facing now. I'll have to do what you did. If you could post a pic or at least point me in the right direction of the tool that would be great. I've heard about those tools before, I'll also do some online research.
Lear- the inner pipe does move, but the crimp around the outer pipe from the U-Bolt is what's holding the inner pipe in place. Most of the guys on all the forums never posted about a problem like I am experiencing, I guess the Y-pipe came apart easy for them, but that have problems with the manifold bolts, for me it's the exact opposite, no problems with the manifold bolts but just when I think I'm home free. . . :frown:
You put the edge that is expanding on the crimp and see if you can push the crimp back out far enough to insert your new Y-Pipe.
The question you asked, how to you get the inner tube out of the outer tube after it has been crimped together by the U-bolt.
Picture the inner tube as a circle. What I did was cut off the inner tube leaving 1" to 1 1/2" sticking out then used some big, I mean really big channel locks and vice grips to crush that circle to look like pac-man
E-350, that helps a lot!! I have a Harbor Freight right by me so I will swing down there on my next days off and grab one of those exhaust expanders. I also kind of figured I may have to cut the end off and the inside then crush it as you stated but before I took such drastic measures I just wanted to throw it out there to make sure I wasn't over thinking or missing something. Thanks again for the advice and pics.
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