Ok, so the downpipe and cat are part of the same assembly. I was close then. Yes, I have an exhaust leak after removing the top of the downpipe during my steering rack.

I am concerned about the thin metal gasket/seal at the joint. I put the gasket back in cockeyed the first time by missing one of the bolt holes. I corrected that but I guess I could have put it in backwards.

I noticed the gasket had some compressible material on one side so I supposed it could be in backwards.