I just got my Budget Y pipe installed. Ok first of all the two bolts that connect at the end of the y pipe to the Catalytic Convertor were not coming out, so my mechanic torched the bolts off, took some of the heat sheild off as well due to the heat from the torch. I was paranoid bout' this, could any damage have occurred? The bolts did come off by the way. Second of all there was a strong smell, and smoke kept coming up, but that's because of the Liquid Wrench that was sprayed onto the bolts, and I'm assuming the smell is from the paint on the y pipe right that burns off? Also, there was no hanger but I also don't hear, any metal, any clunking noises, so everything is in pretty solid. What do you guys say about the torching off of the two bolts, and the part with no hanger?

Also there is leak, either in my axle boot, or axle. I don't hear any clunking noises, or weird sounds at all. So could it be the axle boot? How much am I looking at? It's the passenger side front boot. How long do I have till' my axle goes bad? Please help . I also need new brake pads man this sucks .

 

everything is fine with the y pipe, i dunno about the axle

 

you may want to get a hanger. it rocks alot.

 

Can I get a hanger from any repair shop? How much am I looking at? Any comments regarding the axle? What about torching off the two bolts from the cat. convertor?

 

They shold have put a hanger on for you, they did with mine. The heat shield fell off my car when I drove over a small crack in the road, no biggie. Also the bolts wouldn't move between the cat and stock pipe right? It's called rust. The smell will be there for a week or so, the coating has to burn off. My exhaust smelled like a pastry shop for a week after I put my cat-back and y-pipe on...

 

If you have a stock Y, you should have a bracket hanger for it. I hope your auto shop did not BS you about not having a bracket hanger. You may want to go back and check. If you don’t have one, you may want to get a custom made one or get an OEM bracket hanger.

May be someone with good experience of not having a bracket hanger can post something here. I would very much like to hear, if there are any funny noise under car from the Y or damages on the Y over a good length of time.

 

Nope, everything is fine here... those front 2 bolts on the cat are a ***** since the bolt is a part of the cat itself. Heat shield is not even compulsory to have so it's okay if a part of it is missing.
Yes that smell is from the paint that burns off... it will go away in a couple of days.
If there are no clunking noises, you probably do not need a hanger, but after some time passes, it might not be as solid... so might as well get hangers for it if you can without much trouble.
Do you see any grease build-up on the inside of your rims?