I am having a hell of a time getting this thing off the catalytic converter. I sprayed some liquid wrench, and I have the special o2 sensor socket. It absolutely will not budge.

I have not tried a breaker bar yet, but I fear I may damage the sensor if I get too forceful.

Has anyone successfully done this on an Evo IX? Any tips?

 

i had a hard time with mine too... but with patience and time it will come out

 

Yes Actually, well I was underneath the car while a friend was having the same difficulty while putting a full exhaust on my car. He basically did what you did but ended up using a long pipe or something attached to the wrench on the sensor. It took some time though, but it finally cracked loose. No damage whatsoever.

By the way if you don't want a cel after you change your exhaust, save money and spend 8 dollars on 2 18 mm spark plug non foulers. I did it and it works perfectly. Hope it all works out. l8er.

 

I have the non-foulers already.

I just can't get the **** sensor off the cat! It's starting to get stripped, too....might have to leave it on, and get a new universal one from autozone....

 

Hey man breaker bars are your freind

 

Oh well...breaker bar was attempted, but I rounded off the hex on the sensor.

Stuck on there real good now. I will have to go with plan b and get a generic sensor.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys!

 

Might be too late now but it helps if you run the car and get the exhaust real hot before hand. Heat makes bolts come out 100 times easier.

 

Yeah the O2 sensor was a pain in the *** for me to get out, i had a friend over and we were both pushing on the wrench, then it came out in the end.

 

Mine left some of the threads in the CAT.. It's like it was welded in or something.

 

Heat it up!

 

Not sure how this thread got resurrected, but let me post my results:

Basically just soak the hell out of the sensor for a few days in liquid wrench (drench a few times a day).

After a few days, get out your o2 wrench and give it hell. It came out for me with a breaker bar and some elbow grease.

 

I have had the same problem with both the front and rear o2 sensor on my IX. Seems like the 02 sensors on the IX are cross threaded from the factory. I had to just muscle both of the sensors out using a big breaker bar. Wound up stripping a thread on each of the sensors. Fortunately they still thread in pretty well.

But yea, liquid wrench, a good 02 socket, and a big bar are your friends

 

I just did my exhaust and the sensor came out no problem. Keep in mind my car has 8k miles and never sees rain so I am probably not the norm. I did turn the car on before but just to pull it up on the wraps so the exhaust was alittle warm. Good luck.

 

I stripped the hell out of mine, will a generic o2 sensor from autozone work as a replacement?

 

I used a o2 sensor socket with lots of PB blaster today and all it did was strip the freakin thing . I think my only option now is to take it to a shop and have them loosen it for me. anyone know if they can do that and what they do?