this is the toda header btw

 

looks to be what is holding them together......

 

It's a slip-fit header.

 

can you go into detail?

 

From the looks, those pipes will come out of the header if you remove the springs. so those springs are holding the pipes in. My motorcycle has 2 springs on the pipe (aftermarket) holding it onto the S pipe. I would guess that you can remove all the pipes from the header to ease installation....bolt it up to the head, then slip each pipe in one at a time. would be a hell of a lot easier than trying to snake it into the engine bay.

 

wouldnt it be more prone to leaking then?

 

No, those springs are pretty stout. it would take a lot of backpressure to cause the joint to leak. Another advantage to that style header is that the runner lengths can be tuned if the header is made to accept spacer pipes. If not, it's just for ease of installation/removal.