I need to replace the muffler, however it's welded to the cat and tailpipe. Not sure if it's the original or not. right now, I just want to replace the muffler as the rest of the exhaust is OK for the most part.
From what Jeep, it says to heat the pipes up with a torch cherry red and twist them apart.
I'm wondering if I can just cut it off and clamp on some extra pieces of pipe if needed to make the connections. anyone run into this before?

 

Im all about savin a few bucks and do everything my self. Exhaust work i found it easier just stop by the muffler shop and swap it. It will be stronger and prolly better than what you will have to rig to make up extra pipe. thats one of the few things i would rather just pay for. They can cut it of and have the new one welded in before you can blink

 

Just replaced my entire exhaust, I used a sawzall, torch and an adapter. But for your needs-use a sawzall, cut your pipe where you need to and purchase muffler pipe adapter (if necessary) and clamps. I think stock pipe OD is 2.25".

 

I disagree. Of all the things to have a shop do, exhaust is one of the easier things to accopmlish. Its probably a 4 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being hardest.

Even if you use exhaust claps and a sawz-all its simple.

Or for the more advanced you can get a cheap wire feed welder and weld it up yourself!

 

Thanks all, my main concern is the piece of pipe that is stuck inside where the pipes meet if I cut them off. I'm not sure if the replacement compensates for the smaller/larger pipes diameter or not. when I did my 94 cadillac from cat back, they assumed we would cut it off at the back and not pull the welds apart, so the pipe fit perfectly and we just clamped it on. I find that the shops around here are about a 75% or more markup + high labor cost unless I get out of the suburbs and into the city, otherwise I would just take it somewhere. When I can do it for 50$ and they want 200+....

 

Factory exhaust uses clamps fore and aft of the cat, the tailpipe is welded to the muff. Most auto parts stores have exhaust pipe adapters and clamps for the DIYer. A chain type pipe cutter works great and the parts will rent it to ya for free.

 

it isnt that hard to put a muffler and tailpipe on.... ive done 2 of them in the last month on XJ's ive owned.

$75 for a direct fit muffler and tailpipe at napa......p/n for my 97 was 18568 (muffler) and tailpipe was 55188......

You can sawzall the tailpipe off right behind the muffler or jack up the rear of the body (not suspension) about a foot if you arent lifted..... remove muffler at joint behind cat converter , test fit new parts to be sure and then hi temp red silicone the joints and install using new muffler clamps... make sure the parts slide into the other at least a inch.
It less than a hours job

 

Cat appears to be welded to front pipe, then there is a small connecting pipe and it is welded to the cat and muffler. I have the shop manual from jeep, shows the same thing so maybe whoever replaced it just followed suit. it's a 96 by the way.

 

Cut it off, use adaptor pipes and clamps.

 

I've never had to silicon any of my exhaust, never had leaks either.

 

Cause your doing it right

 

As u can see in the 1st pic, the cat is clamped at both ends (from the factory) and the tailpipe is welded to the muff (factory).

 

Sounds like something is leaking now.

 

FYI, all complete....now i see what the different prices are for mufflers, think i got the "universal fit" which surprisingly wasn't too painful to put on. The muffler and cat were welded on and I'm assuming it was a dealer as it had a jeep muffler on it, so I guess it's the mechanics discretion. Nothing a sawzall couldn't fix.

 

I must've missed something...cuz I don't understand.