OK, so starting today or tomorrow, I'm jacking up the maxima and taking out the exhaust. I think im gunna order a ypipe and cat from Warpspeed or Budget real soon. I called Nissan and a cat costs $1,xxx something, i couldnt remember exactly cuz my mind was traumatized, lol and stock new y pipe was $319.

What size tools do I need and what do you recommend I should have for the removal?

Thanks

 

just get an aftermarket y-pipe and a high-flow cat. Lots cheaper and more performance

 

yes, that is the route I'm taking, who the hell in their right mind would buy the OEM cat for 1 grand on here? lol

 

sorry, i guess i read it a little too quickly

 

yea the dealers always rape us consumers.

 

for the exhaust manifold side of the y pipe you need a 14mm socket on about a 1-2ft extension with a breaker bar (if youve never removed it before, the bolts will most definetely be rusted and tight). for the cat side of the y pipe and the rest of the exhaust system going to your muffler you should need just a 14mm socket and rachet and a 14mm wrench (for leverage on nuts on opposing sides of the bolts). you may need a screw driver to get off the rubber hangers or a 10mm wrench/socket to get off the brackets holding them on (i think their size is 10mm but ive never taken them off). everything on the pipe system should be 14mm in size but i dont have any stock bolts anymore so you may encounter a 16mm or something somewhere.

 

PB Blaster is a necessity.

 

AND HEAT...that could help some of the bolt to come off(heat expands metal, do not heat the screw) and lots of penetrating oil for rusted bolts, let it soke(not sure on spelling) in before you start, apply it several times and overkill is an option . It should make it easier, but i still would hate to work on exhausts

 

All I know is if I were you is, after I spray about 10 cans of Liquid wrench on the bolts, I would try to take off the bolts that hook up the Y-pipe to the Cat because if you can't take them off then you should just have it installed professionally.I lossened all the bolts and O2 sensors and when I got to the Cat the Bolts were so rusted and oxidized that I actually stripped the nuts, eventually I had to get it professionally installed. I think they used a blow torch to lossen those bolts off. It was only $50 but if those bolts were able to come off, it would cost me just been a couple of scratches on my hand... Good luck

 

Yea, Spray works, but it can still suck. All I use it a tourch. It is a mechs best friend.

Really though. Go rent a torch and and heat the bolts until the get pretty red and and let it cool down. Than go for it again. It will come off in no time. You mostly have to do this when you get towards the engine, and not really towards the rear of the car.

 

Spray every bolt heavily with WD-40 before you start and let it soak. When i put exhaust on my Civic, i soaked them all with WD-40 and gathered all the tools i needed. By time i was ready to start disassembling, (most) the bolts came right off. i had trouble with the ones connecting the header and downpipe, but i just hacked it off with a sawzall. shouldn't be too much trouble. I'll probly be diving into exhaust on mine pretty soon

 

Some folks have gone to the exhaust shops in advance to have them break all the bolts loose, then go home and take verything apart. Just a thought. It could cost a lot less in the long run.

Otherwise, PB blaster, heat, and breaker bars (or air tools).

 

PB Blaster >> liquid wrench, WD-40 etc....

 

ok, i got the ypipe half off, the only part holding it is the end of the cat(Im taking both the ypipe and cat off) there are two 14mm bolts I'm having difficulty with, I've been spraying it with WD-40. Maybe it should be better tomorrow morning, or Ill get some PB Blaster.