Take exhaust off and put back on

[djXternal]

Hey guys I'm getting my new high-flow cat and cat-back on friday, I need to install it as quick as possible once I get it because I need to get it down to my mechanic to get the hangars for the cat welded on, so my plan was to take my stock exhaust off and put it back on, that way i kno the best way to install it and it should break loose all the bolts...

My question was would I have to replace the gaskets if I do this? I really dont want to have to replace the gaskets for this, and then again on friday....

Thanks for the help

EDIT:
Also could anyone tell me offhand the wrench sizes i need to unbolt the front of the cat, the flange between the front of the cat-back and rear pipe, and for the O2 sensor?

 

[djXternal]

alright well i already got all the wrench sizes, just went over to a friends house with a bucket and grabbed all the craftsman wrenchs that couldve possibly fit....

Does anyone know about the gaskets?

 

[dr1665]

No idea what the specific sizes are on those bolts. I just know that they're a royal PITA if they've never been apart before unless you liberally saok them with PB Blaster starting a couple days out. Do this when the pipe is cold so you don't start a fire.

I don't see any reason why you would need to take it off and put it back on before having the catback installed. Even the cheapest on eBay comes with proper hangers.

Don't know what else to tell ya.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Does anyone know about the gaskets?

My gaskets have been squished between exhaust flanges for about 12 years, and when I replaced the muffler, I was able to re-use the gasket that was there.

I got one of those "universal" mufflers, so it didn't have hangers either. I used some small gauge steel cable through the rubber connector to hold the new muffler up. Maybe you could install the new exhaust and hold it up with cable until you get it to the mechanic. It'll definitely hold; plus, you won't have to repeat steps.

Out of curiosity, which exhaust did you get? Like DR1665 said, even the cheap eBay exhausts come with pre-installed hangers.

 

[djXternal]

i am getting a greddy evo cat-back with a pace setter high-flo cat, the cat doesnt have hangars, because I am buying this stuff used and the person before me had to use the hangars from this cat for his new one, so my mechanic should just be able to take the hangars off my stock cat and weld them onto my new one....

I'm actually not going to take it completely off seeing as its getting late here, but im un bolting everything just so the bolts are much easier to deal with on friday speeding up the process, none of them have been a real PITA besides the O2 sensor so far, still havent been able to get it out

 

[VelocitàPaola]

i am getting a greddy evo cat-back with a pace setter high-flo cat, the cat doesnt have hangars, because I am buying this stuff used and the person before me had to use the hangars from this cat for his new one, so my mechanic should just be able to take the hangars off my stock cat and weld them onto my new one....

I'm actually not going to take it completely off seeing as its getting late here, but im un bolting everything just so the bolts are much easier to deal with on friday speeding up the process, none of them have been a real PITA besides the O2 sensor so far, still haven't been able to get it out

I understand your reasoning. Good forethought actually.

Just to clear things up though, the only hangers you're missing are the ones on the cat? I don't remember, but does the stock cat even have hangers on it?

I wouldn't worry about that at all. If you bolt up your whole system, cat included, you should be fine until you get to the mechanic's.

 

[djXternal]

it has two little handle looking thigns that come out both sides and bolt to an l-bracket which inturn connects to the rubber mount, and yea since the mechanic isnt real far away and there arent any real bumpy roads between here and there i thought it should be fine

 

[VelocitàPaola]

it has two little handle looking thigns that come out both sides and bolt to an l-bracket which inturn connects to the rubber mount, and yea since the mechanic isnt real far away and there arent any real bumpy roads between here and there i thought it should be fine

Yeah... that's right; it's been a while since I screwed with anything down there.

Like you said though, you should be fine. There aren't any brackets on the test pipe I have down there, although, that's a little lighter.

 

[djXternal]

well got all the bolts loose except the two at the front of the cat and the o2 sensor, just picked up some PB blaster gonna let that sit a lil while and try again.... the PB blaster will be ok after I wipe it up to run the car right? the heat wont cause a fire or anything correct? just want to make sure i wont light up tommorrow on my drive to work

 

[djXternal]

well that PB blaster works wonders, let the o2 sensor soak for about 5-10minutes and with a little force it came loose... the front two bolts on the cat took two sittings of PB then finally came loose, and looks like everything will be ready, except I might need to replace a bolt unless this exhaust comes with bolts, cause one of them got bent with the breaker bar.... oh well...

Thanks for the help guys

 

[VelocitàPaola]

except I might need to replace a bolt unless this exhaust comes with bolts, cause one of them got bent with the breaker bar.... oh well...

Consider yourself lucky. I stripped a bolt (didn't use PBlaster... just a breaker bar); had to drill it out.

 

[djXternal]

yea, very glad That didnt happen, i even soaked the bolt in pb blaster once they were all out a lil bit to make removal even earsier tommorrow

 

[baxsom]

alright well i already got all the wrench sizes, just went over to a friends house with a bucket and grabbed all the craftsman wrenchs that couldve possibly fit....

Does anyone know about the gaskets?

if i remember correctly the bolts that held everything together were 9/16

i wouldnt quote me though

 

[avw0516]

Consider yourself lucky. I stripped a bolt (didn't use PBlaster... just a breaker bar); had to drill it out.

Consider yourself lucky, I broke 2 wrenchs and ended up using a jigsaw and a dremel with a cutting wheel. (Wasn't reusing my stock downpipe )

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Consider yourself lucky, I broke 2 wrenchs and ended up using a jigsaw and a dremel with a cutting wheel. (Wasn't reusing my stock downpipe )

Haha. You broke two wrenches? That sucks! I actually had to bust out the Dremel too for a little bit, but man, drilling out bolts is such a b*tch.

 

[avw0516]

Haha. You broke two wrenches? That sucks! I actually had to bust out the Dremel too for a little bit, but man, drilling out bolts is such a b*tch.

Agreed, luckily for me sears is literally 2 minutes away and both the wrenches were craftsman. Good luck to the original poster with your exhaust bolts.

 

[djXternal]

woah u broke craftsman wrenches? how hard did u pull? the pob blaster is what got mine to come off otherwise i woulda broke more than just the one crappy wrench, oh and the bolt sizes were almost ALL different.... I dont remember the sizes off-hand but i have them downstairs.... I'm probably gonna write a how-to on removing the stock exhaust and installing a new one since I couldnt find one anywhere... If anyone knows that there is one please let me kno so I don't post another

 

[napkinthief]

I broke a size 14 long socket taking out my radiator, it was craftsman and when I went to return I got a whole ratchet set in exchange for mine. Craftsman is the shizzle when it comes to tool replacement. Another thing about craftsman tools, if you use one for something its not meant to be used for (hammering with a wrench etc), and it breaks bends or w.e its replaced not that I do any of that

as for the exhaust hangers, you might be better off renting a mig welder, in my area they go for 35-45$ for a day. It will probably be cheaper than your mech and you get to mess around with welding aswell.

 

[djXternal]

my mechanic alrwady said he could do it, but ill have to use some cable to strap it up til monday (he isnt in tommorrow) im guessing that IF he charges me it'll be very minimal, probably less than the 35-45$.... besides its not the welder i dont have access to its the lift that the car needs to be on