I have an exhaust leaK at center connection where 2 piece h-pipe connects.I had heard that there are some type of diff clamps than the u shape clamps.Some strap type?
I used a band clamp on the Jeep about a month ago. It was about $10 or so at the local O'Reilly and doesn't seem to leak; they had to look it up in the book - didn't have one on the shelf. I tightened down the bolts real well and it has done well so far.
Here's a pic:
I had the same thing happen. I have a 2 1/2" MAC Cat H pipe that rusted out at the middle part of the H that joined the two sections.
I got a piece of 2 1/2" exhaust pipe, & cut it so that it was a perfect fit around the sides of the existing pipe. I cut it in half down the length and trimmed it up. I had the muffler shop tack weld it in place, then dropped the H pipe and had them weld it all the way around & down the sides where I split it. Works great, even the muffler shop guy who welded it up was suprized how good it fit & worked.
I used to work as Night Foreman for a big paving company
that had over 300 trucks. We used those type of clamps
routinely to assemble exhaust systems.
I recently found out they also make them smaller for
car use, and found them at a local auto parts place
for around $10. (Summit sells them but gets quite
a bit more, plus their handling fee.)
They're the clear deal - they allow you to assemble
2 pieces of pipe end to end, without slipping them
together or having to have one end smaller or
larger than the other. Also, then you can take
them apart very easily, just remove the clamp.
No expanding the pipe or fighting to get them
apart.
Those clamps are reusable many times, are very
durable as they're stainless, and even allow for
small mismatches in angularity and small gaps
between the ends.
The welding cost $45. I had the splice or patch all cut and fit perfectly, so his job was easy. The closer fit you get, the less welding and effort it takes to do a first class job.
nice i think im gonna get one of those. mine is also cracked/rusty on the middle i was gonna take it to the muffler shop but i gotta see which way is cheaper and the Band Clamp seems to be the cheapest