HELP!! Rounded PITA top CAT bolt

abakja1 · 01-19-2010, 12:02 AM

I actually spent the time to do the install in my garage today and started at about 1030am...I was at the finish line at 1pm with the last bolt to break loose and it stripped..PB Blast or not, it is stuck and its hexagon shaped head rounded...

I really dont know how anyone can get a torch in on the driver side since the steering rod is close by and are there some fuel lines too? Anyways,..Im going to take it to an exhaust shop next Saturday to get it off...

It's time like this I like working on my Subie,..exhaust all acccessible..+1 for boxer engines...

Trips · 01-19-2010, 12:13 AM

try a short extractor socket 1/2'' and bang into the sripped head of the bolt and use a high impact universal with long extnsions with a 3/4'' adapter with a 3/4'' breaker bar you need help one to keep the socket from slipping out and the other to break it free... I mentioned high impact universal swival due to regular ones snapping even the 14mm socket should be high impact I broke two craftsman sockets trying to break the top bolt free.... if too much trouble have a muffler shop deal with it..

abakja1 · 01-19-2010, 06:33 PM

I was using a 3/4" sockets and extentions, but at the top I used a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter to 1/2" breaker bar. That way I can get more torque and leverage to get the bolt off.

I have a Sears stripped bolt extractor and taped it to the socket and used the method above. The extractor socket just slipped and came off, but after watching some youtube videos, they also banged the extractor socket over the stripped head. When the socket slipped, i noticed it was the tip of the socket and banging it onto the head might get more surface area. Problem is, if this doesnt work, hopefully the socket wont get stuck to the nut head as i don't see a way to get it off and one would have to drive around with a socket on exhaust bolt head.....

Worse case too, if the nut head totally breaks off, how does one separae the 2 flanges with the threaded bolt stock joining the header flange and cat,...this would seem worse IMO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

try a short extractor socket 1/2'' and bang into the sripped head of the bolt and use a high impact universal with long extnsions with a 3/4'' adapter with a 3/4'' breaker bar you need help one to keep the socket from slipping out and the other to break it free... I mentioned high impact universal swival due to regular ones snapping even the 14mm socket should be high impact I broke two craftsman sockets trying to break the top bolt free.... if too much trouble have a muffler shop deal with it..

Trips · 01-19-2010, 06:39 PM

Do you have another person to help! this is the frustrating part, you need someone to keep their hand on the socket so it doesn't slip off, that's how I got mine off. I held it in place while someone else cranked on it with a ratchet with a breaker bar.. mind you they are a pain in the arse to remove..

edit: in the event the bolt head snaps you can remove the cat at that point and from the hole thats left you use the bolt and nut to retighten it back up. since part of the bolt is now stuck on the cat you can extract it easier off the car so you can reuse in the future.

abakja1 · 01-20-2010, 01:49 AM

Have a question,..

If the bolt head shears off, isnt the threaded part still in joining the header flange and cat flange together? Can someone verify this? Not sure how one can separate the cat from the exhaust manifold flange at this point....

I will try your method as well and ask my cuzn to hold the extension and socket in place as I torque it off...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

edit: in the event the bolt head snaps you can remove the cat at that point and from the hole thats left you use the bolt and nut to retighten it back up. since part of the bolt is now stuck on the cat you can extract it easier off the car so you can reuse in the future.

Trips · 01-20-2010, 03:12 AM

the thread is not on the header flange so if it gets broken off the threaded part will be left stuck on the cat which if you removed the screws on the other end towards the rear you should be able to work it loose damn I wish I could just be there to help...argh...
here are some pics of what I finally used 1/2'' size deep 14mm

KEVTEX · 01-20-2010, 10:43 AM

Why is there a 9/16th socket in the picture? A 6 point 14mm is the socket you need to use. 9/16=14.3mm

abakja1 · 01-20-2010, 05:54 PM

probably the 02 sensor remover?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVTEX

Why is there a 9/16th socket in the picture? A 6 point 14mm is the socket you need to use. 9/16=14.3mm

Chris@FsP · 01-20-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abakja1

probably the 02 sensor remover?

o2's are usually 7/8", or 22mm.

Trips · 01-20-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FailsafePerf

o2's are usually 7/8", or 22mm.

speedoflife · 01-20-2010, 07:02 PM

I heard these work fairly well for removing stubborn bolts:

Trips · 01-20-2010, 08:11 PM

I was in a hurry at a local auto parts, and thats the only socket close to what I needed was a 9/16 and thats close to a 14mm just like a 1/2 is close to 13mm and so forth... the long socket made it possible for it not to slip...

abakja1 · 01-20-2010, 11:53 PM

Just took a guess..
Btw,..White 370z's is another color that looks great next to red.
Red too flashy and attractive to cops.
I already have 2 black cars,
I think PG is the nicest color for me for a Z....

01-19-2010, 12:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,733 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	try a short extractor socket 1/2'' and bang into the sripped head of the bolt and use a high impact universal with long extnsions with a 3/4'' adapter with a 3/4'' breaker bar you need help one to keep the socket from slipping out and the other to break it free... I mentioned high impact universal swival due to regular ones snapping even the 14mm socket should be high impact I broke two craftsman sockets trying to break the top bolt free.... if too much trouble have a muffler shop deal with it.. __________________

01-19-2010, 06:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,733 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Do you have another person to help! this is the frustrating part, you need someone to keep their hand on the socket so it doesn't slip off, that's how I got mine off. I held it in place while someone else cranked on it with a ratchet with a breaker bar.. mind you they are a pain in the arse to remove.. edit: in the event the bolt head snaps you can remove the cat at that point and from the hole thats left you use the bolt and nut to retighten it back up. since part of the bolt is now stuck on the cat you can extract it easier off the car so you can reuse in the future. __________________ Last edited by Trips; 01-19-2010 at 06:56 PM.

01-20-2010, 03:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,733 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	the thread is not on the header flange so if it gets broken off the threaded part will be left stuck on the cat which if you removed the screws on the other end towards the rear you should be able to work it loose damn I wish I could just be there to help...argh... here are some pics of what I finally used 1/2'' size deep 14mm __________________

01-20-2010, 08:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,733 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	I was in a hurry at a local auto parts, and thats the only socket close to what I needed was a 9/16 and thats close to a 14mm just like a 1/2 is close to 13mm and so forth... the long socket made it possible for it not to slip... __________________

01-19-2010, 12:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
abakja1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 351 Drives: STI, MDX, Titan Rep Power: 305	I actually spent the time to do the install in my garage today and started at about 1030am...I was at the finish line at 1pm with the last bolt to break loose and it stripped..PB Blast or not, it is stuck and its hexagon shaped head rounded... I really dont know how anyone can get a torch in on the driver side since the steering rod is close by and are there some fuel lines too? Anyways,..Im going to take it to an exhaust shop next Saturday to get it off... It's time like this I like working on my Subie,..exhaust all acccessible..+1 for boxer engines...

01-20-2010, 10:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
KEVTEX Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 119 Drives: 2010 370Z 7at sp pg Rep Power: 16	Why is there a 9/16th socket in the picture? A 6 point 14mm is the socket you need to use. 9/16=14.3mm

01-20-2010, 07:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
speedoflife Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MS/TX Posts: 268 Drives: '06 Pontiac G.P. Rep Power: 16	I heard these work fairly well for removing stubborn bolts:

01-20-2010, 11:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
abakja1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 351 Drives: STI, MDX, Titan Rep Power: 305	Just took a guess.. Btw,..White 370z's is another color that looks great next to red. Red too flashy and attractive to cops. I already have 2 black cars, I think PG is the nicest color for me for a Z....