hey i just got an exhaust and plan to install it soon. what tools do i need. i have a 94 gsr so the bolts will probably be bad. what do you call that chemical that loosens them? what problems did you guys run inot so i can be prepared. thanks

 

Here you go take notice of all the pictures, especially teh cat studs. and use PB spray go get some at your local auto store. https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=304827

 

You should be able to get by with the usual wrenches and sockets, PB Blaster. A couple things that would make it easier would be an O2 sensor socket, torch, and an extra set of hands. You may want to buy new bolts and springs for the cat. Check the condition of the rubber hangers before you start too.

 

what does pb stand for? i'm installing a cat-back. will i need the o2 wrench for that? what would teh torch be for?

 

I have no idea what screwloose is talking about with the o2 sensor wrench or whatever, I think he may have a few of those in his head. Anyways you don't need to be worried about an o2 sensor. All you really need to worry about is the top bolt to the cat and getting that thing off without stripping the stud too much. I'd recommend starting with that one and then doing the two lower ones.

 

PB Blaster and a cheater bar, go slowly though, spray a couples days ahead. and even when your taking the bolt out spray some more. i didnt do this and i snapped the lower left bolt right off.... OH and this was on a 2001.

 

He should have said, "Since I'm such an expert that I've never heard of an O2 sensor socket he must have a skrewloose in his head. Don't listen to him he has no idea what's going on, listen to me - Mr I Think I Know It All."

Ok then. First, I didn't say that you HAD to have one, I said "one would be nice", you can use a box wrench, cresent wrench, whatever. For those of you who don't know, an oxygen sensor (O2 sensor) socket is a special deep well socket made to remove O2 sensors (and some oil sending units), that has a slot cut up the side of it to allow the wire to pass.

Oh ya, the original post said "exhaust" not "cat back" so I was assuming the whole system (Header, cat., cat back) that is why I said o2 sensor socket.


[Modified by skrewloose, 7:37 AM 10/15/2002]

 

you'll need a 14 wrench, and a 14 socket.... only hard part on changing my cat back on my 94 gsr was getting the rubbers off the hooks...i had to hammer/bend the hooks in position to slide off the rubbers. good luck tho...i didnt have to remove the o2 sensor cause i didnt even bother taking off the cat! so dont sweat it, easy task

 

really all you need is a wrench, cheater bar and a can of pb blaster. cresent wrench is not the best tool to be using with this job, it will strip the nut

 

Do you have to have a lift to do it or can u do it with jack stands and a regular jack?

 

i plan on puttin on an exhuast in the next 2 weeks too... so this is pretty helpful for my clumsy a$$. How did you guys get to that top cat bolt? Did you guys take the heat shield off first??? Any tools u guys recommend to do this??? I can always buy it then return it.... lol.

 

that top bolt is HELL. especially if it is practically "melted" on there cause of heat. lotsa wd40 or whatever loosener spray you're gonna use. get about 2 or three guys to each take turns

 

Only hard part of the exhaust is the top bolt. I hammered the bottom 2 off easily.

 

YEP!

 

hahah so pretty much i think we've covered the fact that its the most difficult nut to remove, so any body got anything constructive to say like a proposed solution to make the task a bit easier for us?

 

exhaust suck too take off. i removed mine off my 88 RX7 and it took about 1 hour

 

now that i think about it i didnt have any trouble with the top bolt. just unbolt the heat sheild and move it around. and with a cheater bar it was extremely easy. just go very slow, and spray as you go. having the car high up will also help when ur using the cheater bar.

 

so the top bolt is just tough b/c it is hard to reach?

 

for me it was

 

It's not that hard. I reccomend removing the heat shield during the install (the one above the cat) to held give some room to work with the wrench. Or you could remove the cat from the header, unplug the O2 sensor and work the bolts off while the exhaust is off the car... either way.

 

I hate those rubber hangers.

 

you can just put the plug/wires through a box end wrench and slide it down the wires and over the O2 sensor. I did that all day long when I was working on cars. a lot cheaper than buying some tool that you will use once every few years, if that.

BTW, for you guys using hammers on your exhaust to get them off the hangers, just use some silicone lube or some other liquid spray (wd40 will even work) spray the rubber grommit where it is poked through the metal hanger, and wiggle it a bit, it will pop right off, no need to go sweating or anything.


[Modified by samagon, 11:57 PM 10/15/2002]