I didn't have very good luck with those clamps. The first set, the spot welds broke, the second set came loose and made my exhaust crooked. Me and Case ended up buying a welder and he welded everything back together. I guess it depends where it gets clamped though.

 

You could always tip the car upside down and shake real hard.... remove exhaust...vacume.... sorry, I would leave it.

 

Ok i think im going to leave it, just wanted to make sure nothing would mess up. Maybe il go to the shop and get it cut to retrieve socket.

 

I think what 69 was suggesting was to use a big magnet on the outside of the exhaust and use that to move the socket up the pipe until you could grap it. Harbor frieght or even ace sells some that aren't expensive at all. I wasn't sure that point got across.

 

You might be able to use a round magnet and put electrical tape on the outside of it with a wire attached to it. Then you could slide it down the exhaust and it shouldnt stick to the pipe too bad, you might have to put a good amount of tape on it. Just be sure to leave the "tip" of the magnet exposed to grab the socket.

 

black95m6 thats a great idea, greenarrow that was the first thing i tried

 

Yes, I was referring to dragging a magnet on the outside of the pipe. You're not going to be able to drop a magnet on a wire without it snagging on the pipe. Wrapped with enough tape, I'm sure you would be able to, but then it's pull won't be strong enough to hold the weight of the socket.
Do you have, or know someone who has either an electricians fish tape, or a plumbing drain snake? I have both you could borrow, but the commute could be a beech. Either one of those are flexible and yet rigid enough to where you could push a magnet down. Just be sure you have the magnet attached well so it won't fall off, or you'll have another thing to try and fish out.