GM 10371540
Exhaust Pipe

Service of the Exhaust Pipe starts with vehicle lifting and suspension. Prior to shifting a flex coupling out of its standard placement position, the flex coupling and pipe assembly require support to prevent excessive flexing because the flex coupling allows a maximum of six degrees flex but this leads to pipes moving only up to 1 inch per foot of pipe length thus the end of a 3-foot pipe would move no more than 3 inches. Start by removing the two Exhaust Manifold nuts and proceeding to unscrew the Catalytic Converter four nuts followed by uninstalling the exhaust downpipe. The first step for installation requires placing the downpipe against the manifold gasket before positioning the frontpipe onto the manifold studs with full adherence to fastener notice service precautions. Mount four Catalytic Converter nuts while tightening them to 25 nm (18 ft. Lbs.) and secure two Exhaust Manifold studs nuts with the same torque value. Finally, lower the vehicle.

Begin heat shield repair by removing the exhaust system and protecting eyes before drilling rivets. Drilling through the rivets at the heat shield's center allows you to disengage it from the retaining stud by pulling downward until you can slide it to the left and remove it from beneath the oxygen sensor wiring harness heat shield. Operation begins with heat shield placement to the right side under oxygen sensor wiring harness shield before pushing upward onto the retaining stud until holes on shield match floor panel holes. Install both the oxygen sensor wiring harness heat shield and Catalytic Converter heat shield directly to the floor panel one at a time by using a rivet gun for their single rivet then keep installing other rivets before reinstalling the exhaust system.

Connect the rear exhaust hanger to the rear compartment rail and tighten the fastener to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).

Reinstall the exhaust system.

Position the crossover pipe to the exhaust manifolds, ensuring to adhere to the Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Place a NEW exhaust manifold pipe gasket over the right exhaust manifold studs and position the exhaust manifold pipe accordingly.

Remove the two nuts attaching the exhaust manifold pipe to the right exhaust manifold.

Support the exhaust system at the converter and align it to the underbody of the vehicle.

Reinstall the air cleaner intake duct and the fuel injector sight shield.

Place a NEW catalytic converter gasket over the catalytic converter studs, position the catalytic converter to the exhaust manifold pipe, and install the four nuts to secure the catalytic converter to the exhaust manifold pipe.

Take off the two nuts that secure the power brake booster heat shield to the exhaust crossover, followed by the removal of the heat shield itself.

Install the oxygen sensor and tighten it to 41 Nm (30 lb ft), lower the vehicle, and check the exhaust system for leaks.

The maximum movement is 1 inch for every 1 foot of pipe length; for a 3-foot long pipe, the end can move up to 3 inches.

Remove the catalytic converter gasket, ensuring not to reuse it.

Position the catalytic converter to the exhaust manifold pipe.

Take off the two nuts that secure the power brake booster heat shield to the exhaust crossover.