Can anyone tell me how to check and see if a braided flex pipe is leaking? It is on a SS and it appears to be aftermarket maybe stainless steel or aluminum.

 

Visually you can look with a flashlight and mirror from above for tearing of the braided mesh covering and signs of carbon deposits. You can have a helper or lovely assistant operate the throttle at different rpm ranges and listen for a whooshing sound or buzzing.

If it's on a lift a technician can feel for a leak with gloved hands, preferably welders gloves or heat resistant work gloves, that exhaust is screaming hot at the flex joint...around 800 degrees.

And if you haven't read this excellent thread, click the link below.....

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/how-repair-flex-pipe-31536/

 

Or have an assistant block the rear of the tail pipe to force more back out thru the flex pipe.