any help please...been trying for a while...

 

pry it off. It will come off man. Take a break and come back to it

 

Stick a screwdriver behind it and it'll come loose. Or on the inside of it and pry it a little. Don't worry, it'll come off.

 

Insert a thin, flat blade screwdriver between the gasket and the housing and work your way around the circumference of the thing. Then, once there is a bit of space, go back with a wider flat head screwdiver.

 

some good suggestions here. a screwdriver is your best friend ......

 

buy a new one, thats what i did, $15.

 

I just changed my downpipe, ran into the same problem. I used a screwdriver and hit it with a hammer in different spots around the gasket until it just fell off. Ofcourse it destroyed the gasket.

 

+1- If you can manage to cut a slit up one side of the gasket by using a screw driver, you should be able to just grab it with a pair of needle-nose pliers and pry it off. Make sure you are wearing eye protection if you are underneath the gasket pulling at it..metal fibers and eyes don't mix (sorry about the mom-sounding rant).

 

when i installed my DP i too took off the gasket...i didn't replace it, since it won tfit with it....but like everyone said, flat head works best and some muscle!