A lap joint exhaust band clamp is used to connect two exhaust pipes without the necessity of welding them. It can also be used to connect an exhaust pipe to the muffler.
A lap joint, whether in woodwork, metal work or with pipes, is a joint in which the ends overlap. In the case of your exhaust system it means that one pipe fits into another. These two pipes must be well connected and sealed to prevent the escape of exhaust fumes.
If you lower your whole exhaust system you can weld the lap joints either with an arc welder or oxy-acetylene torch. These methods provide a strong seal, but can be very costly. It is not possible to completely weld the lap joints in your exhaust system while the system is attached to the car, thus the exhaust system needs to be removed.
A lap joint exhaust band clamp is a metal object designed to wrap around the pipes that also includes a fitting to tighten the clamp. The major advantage of this type of clamp is that you can place it around the joint while the exhaust system is still in place on your car. Lap joint exhaust band clamps come in a variety of sizes.
