Hey guys, i have a set of JBA headers on my 2011 sierra. Factory cat back exhaust with a borla muffler. Anyways, ive been chasing a collector leak for about a week or two and it's starting to drive me nuts. Its the driver side with te flat flange. The passenger side ball flange seals perfectly. Ive tried the graphite gasket provided, and a new crush ring oem seal on the y-pipe flange and cannot get this thing to stop leaking!!! Ive made sure to tighten it evenly and even tried tightening with a 3/8" air impact. Any suggestions before I pull my hair out???

 

I had the same issues when I was running JBA Shorty's. I don't think it ever went away completely but I would make sure to only use new ACDelco factory crush rings, not knockoffs from an Autoparts store and try some Permatex Ultra Copper, its sensor safe.

 

Thanks! My give the copper sealant a try!

 

I think I stacked a couple gaskets at one point to get rid of a leak there...

 

I tried an oem crush ring and a graphite/mesh gasket at once.

 

I got so frustrated trying different gaskets and selaer on the 3-bolt flanges, I just went to V-bands instead. 100% leak free now.

 

I personally prefer ball and socket joints over 3 bolt flanges and v bands.

 

which brand ball and socket connections do you use?

 

I don't, my turbo setup is all V-bands.

But my ARH headers and Y pipes I've owned in the past had ball and socket joints, leak free and headache free.