Very often, car owners are faced with the need to replace the muffler. In most cars, the exhaust system is designed in such a way that it is usually not difficult to install a muffler, except for some points.
To install the muffler yourself, use a flyover or inspection pit. Drive the car onto it and be sure to place wheel chocks. Inspect the exhaust system. If the muffler has not been replaced for a long time, first treat all connections with an anti-corrosive liquid. You can use regular kerosene or vinegar.
In the event that parts of the muffler are flanged to the inner connecting ring, the greatest difficulties during replacement arise only due to the presence of rust. Unscrew the mounting bolts, remove the flanges and simply put in a new muffler. If the connection of the muffler parts is made "pipe-to-pipe", proceed as follows.
First tap the connection with two hammers. Hold one of them as a base for the pipe when hitting. Ask an assistant to swing the rear of the muffler from side to side while tapping. In this case, the internal rust will crumble a little, the connection will weaken, and it will be possible to disconnect it.
If tapping doesn't work, do the following. Take a flathead screwdriver and insert it into the cut on the outer tube. Bend the pipe metal along the cut to "strike". This will loosen the connection and help stir up the muffler pipes.
In case you need to replace only the front pipe (the so-called "pants") or change the muffler gasket on the exhaust flange, first prepare the connection. Lubricate the nuts with an anti-rust compound. Gently, without applying special force, tap the nuts of the exhaust pipe flange through the socket head.
Unscrew the connections carefully, without using excessive force, so as not to damage them. Otherwise, you will have to disassemble the engine to drill out the thread fragment. Use the keys "head" and "crank" for unscrewing. If you use open-end wrenches, this will lead, in the future, to the impossibility of gripping the nut, even with the help of a socket head. When unscrewing, do back and forth movements to clean the threads.
Install a new muffler. Parts must be installed without distortions. Use new mounting bolts and nuts, new gaskets and clamps. When installing, be sure to lubricate the thread elements with graphite grease so that they do not stick to each other in the future. Do not overtighten the clamps so that the muffler pipe is not deformed. Then it will be very difficult to disassemble such a connection.
Use a special assembly sealant for the exhaust system, be careful not to get it inside the pipe. All these little tweaks will extend the life of your new muffler and make it easier to dismantle in the future.
