I just pulled the shield off to inspect it a few weeks ago when I did a intake pressure test at the same time. Looked at the bellows and the clamps and all looked good, but that's not say it hasn't been cracked for a while, I didn't inspect the weld other than on the op that I could see. I suspected a boost leak seeing my boost spiking up and down on my logs by more than normal. Noticed it was worse when pulling the RPM down and lugging the engine too.
Pulling the pipe is easily done without pulling the tank, you can get at everything right from the muffler side of the sled. Its a pretty crappy thin weld right there.