ChrisCheezer

ok i got all my tools rdy to take out some exhaust studs this weekend.. so i decided to take an early look at what im going to be doing..

-removed the TB elbo.. and looked for some broken studs.. i expected to see alot of them... but.. guess what.. i didnt see any?! i was so confused..
- so i started the car.. and felt around.. first the front header..nothing.. then the rear... still nothing?! i didnt feel anything! ?what gives? i have a crazy loud engine sound comming from the rear of the enigne...i could of sworn that the studs were broken..... i felt every stud with my fingers in the rear (i couln't see them) and i felt around to see if any exhaust was comming out any place around the header... ??NOTHING??

im going to jack up the car tomorrow and remove some stuff and see wtf is going on...

how can u tell if a stud is broken or not.?

ChrisCheezer

any help at all..? what gives..?

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

I don't think you can tell if a stud is broken just by feeling the head of the nut. If it breaks off it is probably rusted in there pretty good and you might not be able to tell just by looking. Sorry, I've never done the job on mine so I don't know much about it.

ChrisCheezer

well i was feeling for exhaust leaks really

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

sometimes the studs can be broken, but still just barely hanging in there from part of the bolt that hasn't completely snapped yet. I did one exhaust stud job for a guy, and only two of his studs were visibly broken on each head. I ended up drilling out 7 of them total, as three more studs fell out as soon as I tried to turn them with a wrench.

as for the noise, also check your manifold--> y pipe junction and your flex section on the y pipe.. they're all common places to fail.

ChrisCheezer

yeah?...
damn.. i just got all happy thinkin i maynot have to replace the studs.. but now.. i guess ill be doing the job after all...
.. i didnt get a chance to look at it today.. (raining) but tomorrow im going to inspect it..
thanx matt

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

the easy way to tell... for the ones you can get to with a wrench, try turning them a bit. if they don't want to turn, or turn with some resistance, then they're not broken. if they turn very easily, then they're broken and about 1/8- 1/4 turn they'll snap the rest of the way off.

ChrisCheezer

good info
- i just went out to look at them again.. i started it...and i dont think any studs in the front are broken.. all the sound is comming from were the rear header is... will i be able to feel an exhaust leak with my hands?

Paul89SE

It's a VG engine so you need to get underneath. There are tin covers over the studs, but you need to look straight up from the bottom. Make sure the pipes are cool though. That's the only way to be certain. I have 3 different kinds of bolts it that tells you anything.

ChrisCheezer

well.. my studs arent the problem.. (it doesnt seemlike it)


-the problem is my flex section. and it has 3 big leaks .. i jacked the car up on its side.. and started the car (cold start-up).. and there was white smoke billowing from the flex section..
- i was thinking about just replacing the flex with 2 1/2 inch but then.. i relized that there is a reason for the flexable section..

-so monday i should have a 2 1/2 inch cat-back and a fixed flex section.. welded up.. i cant wait to hear my exhaust.... maybe ill take some pics/video of the install

well.... thanx for all the help