I finally got around to replacing my muffler and rusted crosspipe in the last few days. I went to the extra trouble of sourcing the OEM cone gasket that goes under the clamp between the tailpipe/resonator and the muffler. Unfortunately I couldn't get the muffler in far enough to actually pinch the gasket and make it worthwhile. I think I have the tailpipe nub keyed into the grove in the muffler. I even blocked the resonator in place with a 2x4 between it and the hitch and using a block on the front of the muffler gave it some wacks with a 3 lb sledge but couldn't get it any closer. Given the rarity of this gasket and the fact that only one aftermarket supplier even makes it I'm wondering if there is even a point to it. I thought about getting the oem clamp thinking that maybe it will bring the two closer together but I'm doubtful. The clamp included with the muffler certainly does nothing to bring the ends closer. It is close and I tried wiggling and twisting it in every direction but no luck. I lubed the inside of the pipe to aid in slipping it on also. I went with the Northeastern Exhaust brand which from what I can tell is the best non oem option. Any wisdom? Just clamp it and send it? From what I'm seeing on Youtube seems like most don't even bother with the gasket?
Muffler to resonator gasket necessary?
- Thread starter aharlan001
- Start date
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The muffler to tail pipe, needs about a 5 degree turn/twist once the two full joint/inserted.. To lock in the "nub key". Which female side of key, has 90 degree bend at end. This draws the two together and lock them..
I'm having more or less the same issue, replaced muffler with Northeastern and cannot get this joint tight enough to not leak. The little nub is in the slot and rotated as far as its going to go. I'm using the OEM clamp which is doing pretty much nothing. Wondering if I should wrap it in muffler tape?
- Thread starter
- #5
The tailpipe/resonator definitely keys into the muffler but even with the nub in the key it isn't sealing. This is my OEM muffler, see key. Aftermarket looks similar. My suspicion is that the Northeastern muffler is too long and is bottoming out inside of the resonator tailpipe preventing the two coming together enough to seal... I just spent 30 minutes struggling with this. Next step will be to pull the two apart again to take a better look and measure to see if this is the case. Fix might be trimming the end of the muffler 1 cm or replacing the resonator/tailpipe with a northeastern resonator/tailpipe.
- Thread starter
- #6
Looking at stock photos online compared to OEM the Northeastern definitely looks longer.
I dealt with 4 years ago. Bought the gasket with all intention of using it. But it just didn't fit, so I just used u-clamp that came with the replacement muffler and it worked great.
Did it leak air/exhaust, at joint?
No it didn't. It's a tight metal to metal fit.
The clamp keeps it that way.
The clamp keeps it that way.