how in the name of zeus's butthole do you un-bolt the catalytic converter? my estimate is as 20mm ratchet bit but i cant seem to find anything with enough torque to break the nut. im sure if i took it to a shop they could air wrench it or something. i dont want to spend that money tho. has anyone else had a problem with unbolting their cat? seriously the bolt supports my weight. added to that, the front bolts are almost unaccesible due to the rubber hangers. just asking for a suggestion on maybe a solvent that would make turning this god-bolt a little easier.

 

you do need an impact gun

 

i need an out-of-shop solution because $$$ is in short supply...

 

use 2-3 ft. of pipe as a pry bar

 

spray with wd 40 warm it up a lil let sit then hit it a again till rust wears off

 

This happened to me when I tried to take mine off when installing my test pipe. I had to use WD-40, actually some military penetrating liquid, but you have to spray it and then wait for it to work. I used a mallet to help me break the bolts/nuts loose.

 

The two near the front are acesible with a regular combination wrench (17mm as I recall). And patience. For the two near the rear I used an electric impact wrench that I bought at Harbor Freight Tools for $70 (they have a web site of the same name). and a 19mm impact socket. If you REALLY want to work on this car yourself you'll need one- it's invaluable. For the *******ED!!! (sorry, still bitter) O2 sensor I had to use some "PB lubricating spray" and a torch to heat the bung around the sensor. Screw the sensor socket. Buy a craftsman 7/8" line wrench (it looks like a box end wrench with the end cut out). And be prepared to PUSH up on the wrench until you're just about ready to say f-it and drive your car off of a cliff just so you don't have to deal with the sensor anymore. Then it'll budge just a little. If you're like me you'll think you broke something, but won't care and you'll keep pushing until it screws off. Good Luck, PM me if you have any problems with the cat replacement that I didn't cover.

 

dont fill bad im am doing the same thing right now and i almost bent the pipe wile trying to lossen it wd-40 or liquid wrench help you just hve to spray it every day and keep tryink

 

yeah when i put my exhaust on the bolts at the cat were a pain in the ***. it felt like i was gonna pop my shoulder or something trying to get it off. it took alot of wd40 and and even more yelling of obsenities, but they finally came off.

 

For the bolts, use as long a pipe you can to get leverage. My gf's stepdad did it like the **** wasn't even there. We were using a pipe damn near 3 feet long though.

And as for the o2 sensor, I got mine off with an o2 sensor socket and an impact wrench. Not an air tool, but one you bang w/ a hammer.

Best of luck to you. Removal of the 2nd cat has to be one of the worst experiences I've ever had. But it's also quite rewarding once you get that test pipe on there.

 

it will come off someday i hope

 

i tried doing it myself, and had all the same probs but i said f-it and had gabe over at road race do it. **** still took him awhile to do had to bust out blow torch, impact wrench, and just about everything else but the kitchen sink. But yeah the test pipe rules once you get it on there

 

that's weird, i didn't have a problem with takin mine off, just the o2 sensor took a little cussin at it before it finally got loose

 

I put mine up on blocks, busted out the lithium grease sprayed the hell out of the bolts let it soak in ran the car to get the pipe hot re-applied the grease then proceded to push the wrench upward using the ground as my support hence making all force and momentum to go upward also, only downside is I racked the hell out of my knuckles doing so it seems that all the bolts on this animal are going to be a pain in the ***

 

Yeah, I did mine with silicone lubricant, a hammer and a bit of patience. WD 40 didn't cut it. Spray, soak, tap, spray, soak, tap, turn. All good advice, but I'd be careful of running the car to heat up the cat just because you're going to be working near it and don't wanna burn yourself.