I'm having trouble taking off the stock y-pipe. I unscrewed the o2 sensors (BTW I'm fed spec) and all the screws in red:



The pipe still doesn't want to come down. It's sort of loose when I bang on it, but apparently something is still holding it in place. What did I miss?

Thanks

 

is it loose by the exhaust manifold or more loose by the cat?

 

it's completely loose by the cat. Nothing holding it there anymore.

It's "kind" of loose by the exhaust manifold. When I hit it with my arm, it dingles. I'm not sure what is still holding it. Do I need to jerk it downward with a lot of force maybe?

 

I am looking at the directions for replacing a y-pipe taken from http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=255278&page=3

The guy lists the steps as follows:
1. Drive the car on to ramps or jack it up and put it on jack stands.
2. Make sure it's cool enough to work on the exhaust components!
3. Spray liquid wrench on all nuts.
4. Using a breaker bar, break free all the bolts starting with the ones on the cat - do not remove them until you've broken them all free. 2 on the cat, 3 on each vertical section.
You'll need a 14mm deep socket, some extensions (6", 10"), a universal joint.
5. Once you've broken all the nuts free, remove the O2 sensors using an oxygen sensor socket. Just let them dangle once removed.
6. Undo the hangers on the cat section.
7. Remove all 8 14mm nuts.
8. Remove 2 12mm nuts in the pre cat area in the middle
.
.
.

etc. I've done everything but #8. WTF? I don't understand #8. I removed 8 14mm nuts, but I have no clue what he's referring to in step 8. It appears there are 2 12mm nuts somewhere, but where?

 

I did the same thing thinking rust was holding it up.

Look at the section between the two downpipes and you'll see two bolts right next to each other. They're bolted through a flange thats welded to the stock y-pipe and it holds it up to the engine block. Undo those two bolts and it'll fall right out on your head. goodluck!

 

Keep looking, you'll see them.

 

My friends was on too after I took the bolts/nuts off. We had to wiggle hte **** out of it to get it out, and that is when he let the ypipe hit my head when I told him to hold it up

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=culprit


post 13 is a picture of the two bolts, i think its on the tranny housing

 

You just couldn't wait til tomorrow could you? Thanks for letting me know.

 

Once you get it installed I'd like to know how you like it, performance and sound wise.