Has anyone else had problems with the spring bolts that connnect the downpipe to the O2 housing stripping out very easily? What have you done about it?

I considered replacing them with standard bolts, but I am thinking that the exhaust may need to "flex" (for lack of a better term) at that point, thus the springs. Any thoughts anyone?

 

I stripped a few, couldn't get replacements in time, so I got some long hardened bolts from home depot, a whackload of washers, and I have new bolts.. I worry that the hardened bolts aren't good enough for long term, but I did use one in my mainfold to turbo for 3 years before, worked fine, but broke pretty easily when I took it out later... I hate spring bolts

 

God those bolts are so anoying. Hard bolts will be fine, most aftermarket downpipes come with them, and i have never really heard of an outright problem with them; I'm sure people have had them, but i have never blatently heard of a problem.

 

Mine got stripped a bit too. But they still had enough thread to hold up. I have seen those bolts for sale in autozone with the springs on them. They are made by a brand called HELP!. They have about 6 different models. Good luck.

 

Try using anti-sieze on those bolts, it makes installing/removing them much easier!