Clamp holding cat to turbo exhaust digging into steering column knuckle

[LewBon]

The clamp that connects the cat to the what I guess is the turbo exhaust has rotated, and the tightening bolt of it is just a couple mm away from the steering column knuckle. Accelerating torques the engine enough to make the bolt dig into the knuckle, creating the god awful grinding when I steer — and stops me steering under particularly heavy acceleration or braking.

I cannot get any socket I own on this nut — jacked the car, turned the steering — can’t make enough clearance to undo the bolt and reposition. I can get the circle side of a spanner on, but then no lateral movement available to undo it—- the nut being on the underside of the bolt in the area circled!

Has anyone experienced this??

[B21]

No but that looks bloody dangerous..

[R.E92]

The clamp that connects the cat to the what I guess is the turbo exhaust has rotated, and the tightening bolt of it is just a couple mm away from the steering column knuckle. Accelerating torques the engine enough to make the bolt dig into the knuckle, creating the god awful grinding when I steer — and stops me steering under particularly heavy acceleration or braking.

I cannot get any socket I own on this nut — jacked the car, turned the steering — can’t make enough clearance to undo the bolt and reposition. I can get the circle side of a spanner on, but then no lateral movement available to undo it—- the nut being on the underside of the bolt in the area circled!

Has anyone experienced this??

You need to access it from above, just get your arm down the side of the engine. Should be able to get a socket onto it, loosen it a bit then give it a few sharp taps to break it loose then reclock it and tighten it again.