Silencer Removal

[kod81]

Hi,

I am looking to do some work on my trunk's floor (I'm fighting the rust there) and I need to remove my exhaust's rear silencer off the car to get more space.

My car is a 318i. I removed the rubber gaskets (two at the box, and one mid through the pipe) and I have loosen the box of the hangers. I have also removed the two screws joining the two plates on the exhausts pipe by the Cat Converter.
Now, all seems to be loose there and there's no more screws or gaskets holding the whole rear unit in place (I am just supporting it on a jack).
I am having troubles disconnecting the pipes. I am not sure how they were originally connected, but perhaps they have just seized over time. I was concerned using the brute force not to pull on the Cat converted and it's mounts.
Can some one please advise on the best way of disconnecting those? Maybe a heat gun (but I'd heat both pipes) or penetration fluid? Would that make sense? Thanks,

[Grrrmachine]

Fairly sure you have a three-piece system where the back box is separate from the catalytic converter. If so, then make sure the cat is still bolted in place at the gearbox, and that the rear section is unbolted at the pipes afterwards. If it is, then a bit of brute force and wiggling should get the two sections apart.

[kod81]

Nice one. Thanks.
It is a three piece system and the back box is separate from cat. As stated before, all bolts and rubber gaskets are removed. I just can not disconnect the two sections apart (mid and back section).
I will follow your advise and try with a bit more of a brute force and wiggling.
Just been wondering if there's a trick behind it that I am missing here.

Thanks