downpipe to centre pipe exhaust gasket experience required

M

Mr.Shanahan

Member
Hi All,

I've discovered a blow on my exhaust. When I investigated it it looks like the nuts have fallen off because the threads have gone on the join between the manifold and centre pipe.

Has anyone ever had this issue and drilled the captive bolts out and replaced with a nut and bolt combination.

Manifolds are fine, so I'd rather not spend £300 plus fitting if I can just replace the nuts and gaskets.

Cheers
 
I had this happen earlier in the year, no threads left on all bolts.
Kwikfit ( :oops: ) fixed it for £60.
 
It's doable. Mine were the same 3 were rusted with no threads or nuts and one had the nut seized on. I had to cut the rusted nut off and then the centre exhaust. I then cut all 4 studs off and drilled them out. It took me over 4 hours lying on my back under the car on axle stands.

If you can get kwikfit to do it for £60 then do so but make sure they drill them out and not try to hammer them out otherwise they may damage the downpipe sensors or worse still crack the manifold (or damage the cats).

Good luck!
 
From RealOEM they don't look to be captive as they're just listed as M10x40mm bolts... so in theory should just push out?
 
Cheers for all the responses. I'm at a friends garage on Saturday as he has a pit.... and a roof for that matter.

It will be interesting to see whether they are captive, or just nuts and bolts. Just trying to figure out which gasket in need now. :?
 
Mine is in the garage today. I don't know yet if they've drilled or heated them out, I'll ask when I pick it up. They quoted £165 to remove the bolts, fit new stainless ones and a new gasket.
 
All done and dusted. I literally picked the car up 5mins after the garage was meant to close so didn't get much chance to ask about the work, but the invoice states, and the chap confirmed, they burnt the bolts out and replaced with stainless. I'll see if I can get a pic at the weekend but nothing much to see really, and there's plenty on internet of various DIY tools and such people have made to extract the bolts.
 
This shows better than I ever could: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=894389
 
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