I know the topics been brought up over and over, but this questions a little different. Most the threads on the downpipe install address the PITA bolts/nut being removed. I actually got them off pretty easy. Now the whole piece is loose, but it doesn't want to come out from the top or under the car.. I've been following the MAP Install guide and it didn't say anything about removing the spring bolts that connect the O2 housing to the downpipe. Just trying to see what everyone else has done.. thanks

 

I removed the o2 housing to get mine out. I did the same thing, and realized there was no way I'd get it out.

 

The spring bolts connect the down pipe to the turbo adapter (what some people call the O2 housing, but on the X the O2 sensor is actually in the downpipe). You must separate the two and the dowpipe will go out through the bottom and the turbo adapter through the top, you just have to try turning it about 180 degrees. Comes out fairly easy if you removed the strut brace and the heat shields.

 

thats what i was afraid of.. just wanted to see if anyone got it out any other way. Thanks!!

 

ive run into a similar problem.. i got one of the spring bolts out, but the other one is practically impossible (driver side). tried from the top no luck, just feels like its rounding off the bolt.. tried from the bottom but couldnt get on it from any angle or get any leverage.. ughhh wtf

 

Are you talking about the bolts with the springs in them that holds the downpipe to the turbo adapter? It's been a couple of years since I took mine off but I remember those to be the easy ones. Did you remove all the segments of the plastic tray? Use penetrating oil like PB blaster or WD 40 and let it sit for an hour.

 

I took the whole thing (downpipe and 02 housing together) out through the top, although it was a mighty tight fit and i did scratch the ABS Module on the way out, purely cosmetic.

 

What plastic tray? On the firewall or turbo adapter?

 

I just did mine last week, used a ton of swivels but I was able to get the dp out without pulling the o2 housing. Def a pita!

 

good thing is once you get the stock dp out, it's easy to pull the aftermarket ones in and out!