Removing my downpipe to check out a nasty exhaust leak. There was soot all over the DP-O2 connection. I PB blasted the bolts started removing, and snap, bolt broke off clean into the O2 housing

Im guessing Im going to have to remove the o2 housing, figured I would check around and make sure theres not a better alternative.

(its always the little things...)

 

sure it was threaded right??

 

I was removing it, so who knows. I think all the nasty build up from the leak in the same location siezed it up.. Thought about drilling it out, but not to fond of sparks under the car. It's soaking in PB blaster right now, then Im going to go look at it I guess.

Any good ideas?

Oh yeah, and my drill is in Orlando where I was drywalling some property.... I doubt my dremmel is up to the task, great timing!

 

Drilling it will not cause sparks... A dremel will though... Don't ask me how I know this...

Might be time to do an upgraded o2 housing?

 

Its an upgraded o2 housing already,

Hey bud, how'd your exhaust nightmare go?

I was thinking about dremmeling a slot in the stud and turning it out with a flathead? Sounds logical, I suppose sparks are going to happen...

 

I had the same thing happen. My bolts were SS so I really hope yours are NOT because after many hours with a drill press and many more broken dull bits and bolt extractors I finally had to take it to a machine shop to have it removed. I hope you have better luck than I did. Good luck!

 

My exhaust nightmare was fixed by me untorquing the **** out of those bolts (the shop torqued this spring bolts so hard I had to get my life saving 3 foot pipe out). I then dropped the downpipe, did 2 turns per side, grabbed the torque wrench and torqued them to 37 ft/lbs.

Exhaust quieted down, my idle afr is spot on, and I can live happily till I install my cams and ***** all over again...

 

^-good to hear, I think I have(had) the same issue, only I probably over-torqued them trying to fix my leak and thats what broke them.
(at least the o2 housing isnt stripped out)

Well, it's the bolts qtp supplied, they dont appear to be stainless, Im going to reinstall with the factory spring bolts, they should fit I think(hope). About time for another coat of pb.

 

Bah... if that doesnt fix it...

Get the Mother of all fixes out... "Big Mama Hammer"

 

Correction: The bolts are SS!! Nnooooooooooooooo!!

Mabye I can get some vice grips on it....
Otherwise, looks like Im getting a new O2 housing next-day delivery, the SouthEast Evo meet is Friday, I really want to go, but cant be the only guy in a bmw.

 

carbide bits are your friend...

 

Show me a lowes/home depot open at 12:30am??

 

I feel your pain man! I'm really hopin they'll bust loose for ya. You could try a screw/bolt extractor. It's kind of hard to get a nice little pilot hole for the extractor to get a bite in, but I'm really hopin your luck is better than mine. I'd suggest for any kind of drilling you do on them, try using reverse drilling bits, so every time it gets a bite, it's trying to loosen the bolts. Pure bees-wax is a penetrator, don't ask me how or why it is, but it WILL help. That's what this shop uses and they have been around a long time.

 

Correction:
Show me a lowes/home depot or bee farm open at 12:30am??

Appreciate the input everyone, I know it's a pretty straight-forward fix, but sometimes people have some creative ideas.

 

I didnt read if this was mentioned yet, but you could try that easy out drill bit system. Oh yea, your thread title FTW It made me