I bought a 4" diamond eye exhaust kit and am attempting to install it but can't figure out how to get the v-band clamp off to remove the downpipe. Does it just need to be loosened or does it need to come off completely? If anyone has pics of how to remove it or any other tips on the swap I would really appreciate it.

 

You should be able to loosen the nut and take the nut completely off, that will allow you to slide/slip the 'T' in the clamp back and remove the 'T' bar out of it's slotted location on the holder. You might encounter a little resistance when trying to pull the clamping part of the band loose/off, just use a screwdriver to gently pry up a little under it's edge. Once it pops off, all you need to do is slightly widen the clamp open and slip it down the downpipe. Put it around your new downpipe before mating up/installing the new pipe. It is much easier to loosen/open the clamp up wide enough to clear the flange and have it around the pipe at the flange connection than to try to open it wider to get around the entire pipe after the new pipe is installed.

I think I used an 11mm wrachet wrench to loosen the nut on mine?? Not sure what size is on your 04 but probably is the same as mine.


CD

 

Loosen the clamp all the way,then use a pry bar and work your way around the clamp.Then try using a heavy hammer and give the down pipe a whack from underneath the truck.

 

I just had the down pipe off of mine. Reached everything from the bottom. Once the nut on the clamp is all the way off I tapped the vee wedge part of the clamps off of the taper with a straight screwdriver and a small hammer. I think there are three or four segments that wedge and each might need to be tapped with the screwdriver and hammer separately. Try a few different angles if it does not come loose the first few times. When it gets a tap at the correct angle it just pops off. I had to tap each of the vee wedges separately to get the whole thing to release. Just have to get the right angle on it.

When you re-assemble wiggle the down pipe as you slowly take up the clamp so the downpipe can be drawn in square and true to the elbow. This will make a good joint and a tight seal.

 

yeah i would loosen it up and then just hit the pipe and it should loosen the v band.

 

Is the downpipe usually the last to come off? I tried moving it from underneath and its not budging. I still have the rest of the factory exhaust hooked up to the truck.

 

the downpipe should be connected to the turbo and the actual downpipe of the exhaust. there should be 2 v band clamps when you loosen the nuts they should come loose a little bit but sometimes they are siezed on there and you have to tap them with something like a hammer and chisel to get them to get completely loose sometimes they are a pain sounds like yours are a pain