Hey guys,
I tried removing my y-pipe today to replace it with the Budget one i just bought, but there's one bolt i can't get off. The one that's giving me trouble is the one on the left side of the y-pipe that connects to the rear manifold (it requires a universal joint). I'm able to get the socket onto the bolt, but i can't get it to stay on while i try to loosen it. being as i can't get my hand in there to hold the socket in place while i'm trying to loosen it, i'm really not sure what to do now. yeah, i'm pretty upset, because i was able to get everything else off, including the cat bolts, despite the fact that these are the original, completely rusted bolts, and my car has 165k miles on it.
anyway, how did you guys get this bolt off???!? let me know if you have any suggestions, i'd prefer not to take the car to the shop.

 

I attempted to install mine today, but I couldn't get past the bolts for the cat...

Off to the exhaust shop tomorrow. Do you have any friends with smaller hands? Maybe the exhaust shop can help you too.

 

unfortunately, i don't have any friends with smaller hands that would be able to take the bolt off. the exhaust shop is my last resort, since i already got all the other bolts loose, and would prefer not to pay for having 1 bolt loosened.

 

I did mine with a universal joint, attached between the socket and the 12 " socket extension. It`s a mandatory tool in my opinion. Costs only $5.

Man you are so close, get the u joint and finish the job all by yourself. Very self-rewarding.

 

im kinda confused here as to why you cant get it to stay on. if its a matter of not enough space you really need to get an extension (or 2) - it will help alot. also, WD-40 the crap out of th bolt first. good luck.

:edit: nm i understand what you are saying now. yea you need to get a joint to do it.

 

dam i doubt any autostores are open now

 

actually, i've been trying to get at the bolt w/ a 6" extension (since i don't have much room under the car, it was on ramps), and a universal between the socket and the extension. maybe i'll try it with a 6" and a 3", and set it up like so :
torque wrench, 6" extension, universal, 3" extension, socket
maybe that way i'd be able to grab the 3" extension, and hold it in place while i try to loosen the bolt. twiggy, how did you get the socket to stay in place while turning? were you able to get your hands up there?

 

I had the front wheels on ramps as well. There was clear unobstructed view and access to all nuts, except for one nut on the firewall side manifold, where I had to use a universal joint. I also used a 12 " extension, and my socket was a deep type, like 2.5" long. With the 12" extension, your ratchet operates below the engine, so you have plenty of room to turn it. You need a 12" extension with a universal joint and a deep socket.

 

Oh and you dont need to reach up the manifold nuts with your hands. Attach the socket to the u joint and to the 12" extension, and to your ratchet, and lift the socket up there.

 

yeah, i'm using a deep socket. the only trouble i'm having is making the socket stay on the bolt, because when i try to turn the torque wrench, the socket moves and starts slipping. i was just wondering if there was a way to keep the socket from moving, so i can prevent it from slipping.

 

i actually tried to do that, but it's really hard to line up, because the socket just flops to one side, or it'll move around too much while i'm trying to turn it. yeah, sorry if i seem stupid cuz i can't get it, but it just seems really difficult to get up there

 

i had the same problem with that bolt, what i did was just line it up with extension and hammer it in, then start removing the bolt. make sure you line it up or else you'll strip the bolt.

 

Is your socket floppling from the universal joint? If that's the case, wrap the socket and the universal joint with some tape, just enough to keep the socket straight up, but still allowing the u joint to flex under torque.

 

yeah, that's whats happening, and i wish i could've thought of that solution a bit earlier... it would've helped greatly. but thanks for the suggestion. btw, sorry if my earlier posts were unclear, i was in a rush to finish some work. anyway, thanks again!

 

i just received my y-pipe today. i'm going to attempt to install it even though the bolts are pretty rusted. what tools do i need to access all of the bolts? torque spec? what did you guys use to take the O2 sensors off if you don't have an O2 socket? Thanks for the help.

edit:sorry, i found the install how-to. but still, what are the torque specs and what can i use besides an O2 socket?

 

Try an open end wrench for the 02 sensor, size 7/8. But you wont get as much torque to break loose as a genuine 02 sensor socket. Installation torque: 22 ft lbs, put antiseize on the threads.

Nuts to manifold: app 30-40 ft lbs, same with the cat bolts.