The bolts which connect the b-pipe to the catalytic converter are the ones with the springs... I have had to replace the right bolt 3 times because it has broken in two. The spring has remained perfectly fine, however the bolt has broken. My mechanic informed me that the reason this occurs is because of the immense stress which the bolt undergoes when the motor torques over during VTEC... Is this true? How many others have had broken bolts?

 

Mine aren't broken (at least not the last time I was under the car ). The motor does torque a lot, but it shouldn't break the bolts. I used to break the header/cat connection when I got wheel hop, but I've since tightened the bolts completely so that the spring is all the way compressed, and no problems since.

[edit]typo[/edit]


[Modified by Bob#455, 6:41 PM 7/11/2002]

 

The springs should only be on the bolts connecting the cat. to the header. Cat. to B-pipe should just be regular bolts. The only flex in the system should be at the header/cat. and B-pipe/muffler connections.

 

assuming you have a (2.5 collector) high flow cat or modified the stock cat, the cat flange you have was probably welded on tweaked causing stress on the bolt.

 

Yes. No springs on the cat to b-pipe connection...

 

I doubt it was the cats fault or bolts (Granted you used a good quality bolt)

Most problems are from Installation, you cannot torque the bolt the same as OEM, you should tighten it so that the coils on the spring have about 1/8th to 1/16th of an inch between them.

PS Tell your mechanic good imagination