I have a 1999 Civic EX and my muffler recently fell off (the pipe broke right near the muffler itself). I took the rest of it off today and I expected a rubber gasket between the resonator and the muffler. See the attachment for what I found. I can't exactly tell what it is, it feels like it might be metal but it doesn't make much sense.

The only thing that I can think of is that since the resonator was replaced about 2 years ago, they may not have used the correct gasket. Either that, or the gasket becomes really hard and looks metallic.

I guess the bottom line is, how do I get it off?

I have never done exhaust work before, so I need some help. Thanks!

 

nope thats the correct gasket. its weird but it is what it is.

just in case you're wondering the gasket between the cat and the midpipe is a metal o-ring. rubber would burn

 

Wow good to know. For some reason I really expected rubber, but it makes sense that rubber would burn. Now that I know what material it is, I'll probably be able to get it off and put the new one on tomorrow when it comes via UPS. Thanks for the help!

 

no problem, stick around.

 

Alright, I still have a problem. I started taking off the old gasket but it appears that it more or less melted on. The only way I was able to take any of it off was by chipping away just a little at a time. Is there a trick that I am missing?

 

no trick to it... just keep chipping at it until most of it comes off and then crap off the rest that is still stuck...

just do yourself a favor and replace it with another OEM seal as it will be the best material and last the longest... my friend had issues with the cheap donute gaskets at autoparts stores.
the oem gaskets are hard
and IMO i hate the spring bolts.... i replace those turds with regular hardened bolts and nuts and washers and make it solid. sometimes you can easily reinstall the spring bolts and sometimes.... they are very very stuborn!

 

Good suggestion on the OEM seal. I just called my local Honda dealer, does $21 seem like a lot for the gasket? My aftermarket one was like $4...

 

21bucks... that does sound kinda high. BUT oem quality parts are worth the extra money! perfect fit and they dont cheap out on quality materials like some aftermarket manufactures do.
so id go ahead and buy it oem and only deal with that joint once and dont worry about it again.

 

Just as a follow-up for whomever comes across this thread in the future, a gasket scraper is what I ended up using to get the gasket off. Makes sense, I guess?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

ya that works... i just use some old screw drivers and grind a point on them
works great and lets face it who doesnt have some old crappy flat screw drivers laying around?