TRE_

So heres the deal --> I constantly check my exhaust bolts, vacuum lines, spark plugs, etc and about a month ago i started to hear an exhaust leak, so i checked the bolts that hold the downpipe to the turbo and it turns out that they were loose. so i tightend all of them up so they were nice and snug. stayed that way for about a week, then they were all somewhat loose again. So every 5 or so days I find my self tightening the bolts that hold the downpipe on the turbo. Tightened them all 3 days ago, and I go to check them today and to my suprise one is tottaly gone, one is halfway out, and the others are all fairly loose. What could be causing this? I have no idea how to remedy this problem... maybe the bolts are too short or something? Has anyone else had this problem, and do you have any reccomendations??
Thanks guys, sorry if the post is confusing...

gritsak

vibration is prolly causing them to work themselves out....try putting a tab of locktight on them (im not sure if theres a temp limit on it? ide check that out)

Mr. Softee

id make sure you are using the right size bolts... sometimes the metric/standard can be close in size. also make sure you are using a decent grade bolt, lower grade ones aren't always cut as close to spec. finally id make sure they are really as tight as you think... i know when i am in ther ei am using like a 5" long wrench.. tightening real tight with a 5" long wrench when you are in there at a shitty isnt always as tight as you think.

sam

boostaholic

Combination of heat and vibration will cause them to start backing out. Try using some high temp locktight or using some studs with some lockwashers instead of bolts.

TRE_

thanks for all the suggestions.... it seems like the gasket inbetween the downpipe and turbo is to thick and its not letting all of the bolt thread in. a friend of mine reccomended that i take that gasket out and replace it with a thin layer of high temp silicon.... you think that would work?

DIRep972

iTrader: (1)

you don't need a gasket right there. Do u have a flex pipe? are all of ur motor mounts good? Try putting in studs w/ nuts and have a muffler shop make a bracket from the downpipe to the motor for support.

quikB18B

* Pull out the stupid bolts
* Replace with studs/nuts
* Use lockwashers/Locktite
* Use atleast grade 8 bolts
* Tighten them and you should have no probs.

Im using studs/nuts and i havent had any problems .

Tony1 also told me that using the nuts from honda( exhuast manifold) will also help because they have that flange on the end


Modified by quikB18B at 2:02 PM 9/25/2003

JDMCRX

iTrader: (2)

2 opions

use Honda exh studs and nuts

or use hardened lock washers and nuts but make sure they are hardened steel

JDMCRX

iTrader: (2)

Oh and also make sure u have ur rear downpipe brace mounted that makes a big difference alot of people are too lazy to put them on

Teg4e

this used to happen to me all the time. one, two, sometimes three of the five bolts would come off. Solution: put on lock washers. i haven't had one fall off since.

TRE_

awesome, thanks for all of your help guys, its REALLY helpful. yes i have a flex pipe.... which i plan on getting a bracket for extra support. how hard is it to replace the bolts with studs?

quikB18B

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by glowing_turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> how hard is it to replace the bolts with studs?</TD></TR></TABLE>


Just screw in the stud use loctite and make sure its tight and then mount up downpipe once studs are secure, and then slide on lockwashers, screw on nut and tighten away.

Heres a thread on everything you wanted to know about bolts, thread sizing, ect....
It doesnt have exact sizes on lenght of stud you need, but just get something that will give you enough room to tighten the nuts. For example thread shows 20mm needed for lenght of bolt, i used a 30mm stud

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=373905

boosted_dc2

what i did was take off my mani and everything on a bench, use lock washers and hig temp loctite, tighten the fock out of them on the bench, then reinstall everything. you cant really get them that tght when its on the car cause you have no leverage...

Trac226

I used to have that problem as well, having a flex pipe helped.

TRE_

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by quikB18B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Just screw in the stud use loctite and make sure its tight and then mount up downpipe once studs are secure, and then slide on lockwashers, screw on nut and tighten away.

Heres a thread on everything you wanted to know about bolts, thread sizing, ect....
It doesnt have exact sizes on lenght of stud you need, but just get something that will give you enough room to tighten the nuts. For example thread shows 20mm needed for lenght of bolt, i used a 30mm stud

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=373905</TD></TR></TABLE>

awesome; thanks for the info and link.

PrecisionH23a

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by quikB18B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">* Pull out the stupid bolts
* Replace with studs/nuts
* Use lockwashers/Locktite
* Use atleast grade 8 bolts
* Tighten them and you should have no probs.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree. But make sure you use the JDM loctite

0xenocron

Where is the best place to pick up these bolts?

NAPA, Autozone, Sears, Home Depot...?

I figure their stuff is pretty cheap and wont last. Are there any high quality bolt/stud manufacturers of mention?

quikB18B

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xenocron &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where is the best place to pick up these bolts?

NAPA, Autozone, Sears, Home Depot...?

I figure their stuff is pretty cheap and wont last. Are there any high quality bolt/stud manufacturers of mention?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I got mine from Ace hardware, my suggestion is pull out the phone book and start calling. Not all places carry the sizes we need, let alone in a stud. So dont waste yor gas driving around town searching for them. Ace hardware's are independently owned so the one by my house only had the correct thread sizes in bolts, not studs. I had to go to a different ace to pick them up.