Background :
While off-roading on a long rock stretch a rock appears to have struck the left side of the exhaust pipe just behind the cat.
I have an obvious exhaust leak but only under load, coasting, idle or light throttle no noise
The leak is on the left side front
One of the Y pipe to exhaust gasket nuts appears, to have been stripped, I replaced and tightened it but the gasket may have failed.
It does not appear to get less noisy as the Disco warms
Have not done the shop vac up the tail pipe test yet to check for a crack in the pipe

Any suggestions ?

 

You already know what you need to do, is there a reason you haven't done it?

 

I tore my right rotator so I was just looking for a bit of feedback, but as you posted I had done the vacuum cleaner test and confirmed the back of the manifold pipe junction joint is the problem. Just need to drop the pipe and see if the stud can either be fixed to remove in place.

But thanks for that motivation to get the testing done

 

Sometimes there just is no keyboard solution, have to get out in the driveway and get it sorted. I usually soak those studs in Kroil for about 2 days and either the nut comes off or the stud comes out. I think the studs are like grade 3 material because they always seem to snap off if you don't give them a good soaking or if you overtighten them. I have had to take a couple manifolds off and drill them out.

 

@Extinct Have done the drill and replace too. But I have a spare driver side with no studs, so worse case I restud that one and swap. I really hope to avoid a swap because I cannot currently physically do it.

 

I feel ya, the arthritis in my shoulders is terrible some days.

 

I also snapped a stud. Took a guy at an exhaust shop like 2 mins to fix it. He heated it up with a torch, then whacked the stud out with a 5 lbs sledgehammer. Using a standard nut and bolt has been a much better setup.

 

@sdtimb I got lucky the stud came out with the nut, cleaned up the threads all round, Then used a screw jack to push things into place and snug it up. Nice and quiet.