As indicated in my signature, I have pacesetter headers and y-pipe. The y-pipe is a slip on. I can never seem to get it to stop leaking. The driver's side seems to be leak free, but the passenger's side sucks. Or blows, however you wanna put it.

I have been trying various different band clamps over the past months, and none seem to do it. I've tried both the 3" band clamp and the 'stepped' 3" OD - 3" ID band clamps, and neither style works. I have even stooped to some paste exhaust sealer as a last resort, but it just got blown past.

With the band clamps, they just don't seem to get tight enough, even after I take out any extra spacers and tighten them down as much as possible. It also seems like with the stepped band clamps that the 02 bung is in the way and interferes with the "step" being aligned directly where it should be.

I have noticed that summit has a different kind of exhaust clamp, part # SUP-094-3000, "T-bolt style exhaust clamp". I'm thinking of buying two, but at $17 a piece I am daunted. Doing my exhaust the "cheap" way by using the pacesetter y-pipe and exhaust clamps is nickel and diming me to death, I've bought about 10 different band clamps, usually for $8-13.

Has anyone had a flange added to their pacesetter's and y-pipe? If so, how much did it run ya?

I would try to muffler clamp it, but i definitely dont want to put a crimp in my headers.

As a footnote, all the money I was trying to save for duals has been going to gas money. My mileage is horrible, and I'm getting to the point where I believe it can only be caused by this exhaust leak screwing with my 02 sensor. My mileage was about 160 a tank with a failing opti, and with the new one I only got up to 180. I'd like to at least crack 200 a tank. Mostly city driving.

Any advice is appreciated

 

I had the same problem with my SLP pipe. All I did was smear a generous helping of rtv on the pipe and assemble. It will bead up as the pipe pushes some of it back. Just let it cure. Get black so it isn't so obvious. A cheap but effective way to fix your leak.

 

I know that they have alot of different kinds at the store, which heat range is appropriate? There is at least black, blue, "silver", ones with extra fun compounds, etc.

 

The dynomax band clamp that I used only worked for the driver side and leaked pretty bad on the passenger side. I ended up using 2 of the pacesetter clamps side to side and it sealed right up. Kinda getto but it worked.

 

The clamps included with the headers were U-bolt clamps though, correct? Did they put a crimp in the collector?

 

Anything high temp is fine. I am not even sure if the black was "high temp" but it works fine.

 

I would just get the slip-fits welded. I had 3-bolt flanges welded onto my Pacesetter Y, and the damn thing still leaks.

 

No crimps and so far no leaks either.

 

I weleded a 3 bolt flange to the Y and the header, so its basically like the hooker setup. No more leaks, and you can buy gaslets for it anywhere pretty much!

 

i was actually interested in the flowmaster ball-flange, my brother has it on his MC and it is pretty good, tight seal and no gasket. the only problem is they dont make a 3"-3", its strictly 3"-2.5", 3.5"-3" etc