Anyone ever install ball & socket connectors between midpipe and tailpipes?

ghunt · Apr 30, 2014

Ever since my header install, and cutting the factory tailpipes to install the Magnaflows I have as resonators, I have a slight misalignment between my H pipe and tailpipes, so the band clamps don't really adequately seal it and it leaks, and it annoys me.

I saw they sell aftermarket ball & socket connector kits which would allow for this slight misalignment. Downside of that is that I'd have to shorten the over axle pipes to fit the flanges (not a huge deal I guess, just difficult to cut under there), and a pair of stainless ones would run me about $90.

Anyone ever done something like this or is there another easier solution?

BIGCHRISS197 · Apr 30, 2014

The 11+ mustangs have them factory so I'd assume they'd work

07 Boss · May 1, 2014

A ball and socket can leak pretty good too depending on how acute the alignment issue. Are you leaking at the butt connection between the mid pipe and over axel pipes? Are you using a sleeved band clamp or a regular one? I would think that you could heat and bend the hangers enough to get it lined up better.

Back in the day we used to have some stuff called exhaust putty. You used to smear it between the pipes and band clamps and it would cure like cement sealing any connection pretty darn good. I don't ever see it around anymore. It was really useful when you had out of round pipes and/or misaligned connections.

kmac1622 · May 1, 2014

Boss maybe some high temp quick steel?

07 Boss · May 1, 2014

kmac1622 said:
Boss maybe some high temp quick steel?

Yeah, but then you might never get the pipes apart again. Might as well weld them at that point. This putty used to get brittle and you could bust it up to get the pipes apart. And then just kinda banged and broke up whatever was clinging to the pipe. Kinda like clay or weak cement. It was great stuff.

ghunt · May 1, 2014

07 Boss said:
A ball and socket can leak pretty good too depending on how acute the alignment issue. Are you leaking at the butt connection between the mid pipe and over axel pipes? Are you using a sleeved band clamp or a regular one? I would think that you could heat and bend the hangers enough to get it lined up better.

My problem is that there is a very small misalignment...like there's maybe a 1/16"-1/8" gap on one side of the pipes where they butt together because they aren't coming together exactly square. There's no other way to fix it, I have no adjustment in the H pipe due a slip fit on the headers, and band clamps offer very little leniency for misalignment.

Anyone ever install ball & socket connectors between midpipe and tailpipes?

ghunt

BIGCHRISS197

07 Boss

kmac1622

07 Boss

ghunt

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