Is a catback install possible with just jacks?
 

I am debating to try and install it myself since I want to learn to maintenance etc... for the car, but I don't have access to a lift. Or should I just a pay a local shop to install it?

If you are a little mechanically inclined it is not that hard. Good jackstands at least on both rear sides. The exhaust is mounted by a couple of bolts and some slip on hangers. Not too hard at all really. Just make sure the jackstands are set up right.

yep with scrap t-shirt since you will be laying on your back lol

If you're willing to do the reading and research I say go for it! Soon enough you'll be wondering why your wallet is so light

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yeah it would be pretty easy, just as easy as being on a hoist..

I did it with just the rear on jack stands, not very difficult. Use jack stands, do NOT just use a jack.

Yup. Use the jack and slide the jack stands under. I wish I could go back and edit the post title. Looks like 100$ at harbor freight for a jack and 2 jack stands.

I've pulled half a car up on a curb in front of a house to swap an exhaust. It's tight but doable.

With jackstands, yes, it's very easy. Getting those annoying hangers off the OEM axleback is the worst part IMO, that's without the proper pliers for that purpose anyways :)

A couple of quick tips: lube the hangers w/ some dish soap to make slipping the exhaust grommets off & on, a much easier affair.
Also, make sure you scrape the flange where the new exhaust gasket will go, to be sure it's a good fit.

It's really a piece of cake job, even for those of us that are not the most mechanically inclined.

i did my Invidia with jacks

took me 45 minutes

Thanks for all the comments guys. Going to do it. Probably wait for this weekend so I can plenty of room in the garage (share it with someone else)

New car with new nuts should be a cinch. Not so easy with a 15-20 year old toyota with a drive shaft and rusted bolts. Make sure you do well with corrosion prevention (use bolts and hardware that has the least chance of rusting; stainless steel bolts etc, bolt grease where necessary) as bolts start to rust-seize after 5 years or so.

I started to do mine with just the rears lifted up on a ramp. I would have completed it had I had a smaller torque wrench. Due to its size, I had to put the front up on stands to get more clearance for the length of the wrench to get it properly torqued.

Either way, easy peasy.

Work Gloves, regular vice grips and lots of lube, I used some triflo or something I had in garage. Lots of lube seems to be the secret, lift the exhaust up a bit to unload the hangers. Dish soap is a neat idea too. Will try it sometime

I did my headerback with the front on ramps and the rear on jack stands. Just hit the rubber hangers with a little bit of WD40 and they'll slide right off without a problem.

I also agree do not use just a jack. That's only asking for disaster.

Also, only using jack stands on the rear would be dangerous and possibly deadly without wheel chocks on the front. As a last resort I would also throw a wheel under the car as well.

Many people recommend using ramps in the front with wheel chocks and jack stands in the rear. I personally use jack stands on all 4 corners. Just make sure all 4 jack stands are actually touching the car, since a lot of cheap jack stands aren't equal in height.

Do you mechanically-savvy gentlemen extend the jack stands all the way up? I haven't done an exhaust install before, but am keen on trying it.

Much thanks in advance.

No need to get it up very high. Depends on the jack stands but mine are only on the 2nd or 3rd level from the lowest.

If you're unsure please don't risk your life to save $40.

I did mine but must admit had the vehicle not been garaged for the winter Id have taken it to a muffler shop.

I've done entire exhaust swaps on jacks.

Just get a floorjack and some jack stands, and see the DIY on how to jack up the car and you're set! I recently just installed my Perrin catback, I did it myself and I've never done this before, but honestly its better to have a friend to help you out since the stock exhaust was such a #$%^# to take off, and connecting the resonator and S pipe was a bit hard.

Edit: make sure you have some WD40 or some sort of lube for the hangers and the bolt connecting the muffler, and channel locks to get it off the hangers.

Just make sure you jack the car up safely with proper stands. Nothing scares me more than people under cars using only the jack as support.

If you have to ask if you can install this caback with jackstands it sounds like you lack the ability to even turn a nut in the right direction.

Ouch, that's harsh dude.

I'm sure the OP was just concerned if there would be enough clearance with jackstands as opposed to having to bring it in to a shop with a lift.

yeah like everyone said. jack stands should be fine. or Ramp should work as well.

Sorry for the bump- plan to install my catback and not sure whether to go jackstands or ramp.

Going the jackstand route, including the jack oil, stands, and jack it'll cost me $200 at the cheapest, also being new to working on my car I feel pretty sceptical about having 2 stands supporting the weight safely and not falling over as the car would be lifted on an angle.

Compared to getting a set of 2 ramps for $110- which i've heard are safer and will be quicker to use.

I know jack stands are more flexible for overall maintenance, but I really don't see myself having a use for that other than for my exhaust install.

So- are ramps safer, and will the ones I want to buy be sufficient?
https://www.ebay.com.au/i/2536434748...QaAgrfEALw_wcB


The specs are 600mm length, 215mm width, 185mm height- will 7 inches of height from the wheels be enough?. My car is stock ride height so assuming my wheels are on the ramp I should have a minimum of around 320mm (12.6 inches) working space at the lowest end of the car- assuming my stock ride height is 5.5 inches with stock suspension and 17inch wheels which should be the same spec as stock wheels and tyres

Also may seem dumb but will the little lip in the ramp for the wheel to sit in cause any issues when i'm trying to drive off the ramp since it's rwd or am I just overthinking now
Thanks

You have pretty much answered all your own questions. They both will work just fine. The ramps are a bit faster and remove any doubt that they are in the right place though.

You may well find jackstands more useful than you realize. If you are planning to flush your brakes, replace the pads and/or rotors, mess around with suspension mods or anything else that you may need or want to have the car elevated with the wheels off, ramps just won't do it. You'd be surprised how convenient it is to get the wheels out of the way for many other things.

I use these jack stands.

https://www.amazon.com/ESCO-10498-Ja.../dp/B0019JVIPM

Each stand has a three ton capacity and they are rock solid.

I top them with these pinch weld protectors.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They are machined aluminum with a slice of delrin in the channel and a couple of magnets to hold the protector to the pinch weld while you lower the car.

Yea I just want more specific clarification for the ramp/s i'm looking at.

ie
- Is that height even enough for me to be able to get down to my midpipe,
- will the angle of that ramp be too steep to avoid scraping the front bumper when it's on the ramp
- Does that specific ramp look 'safe'?- I'm sceptical of it being made of plastic and the 17000kg weight limit claim


https://www.tradetools.com/renegade-...m-height-186mm
This ramp looks more reliable to me but I don't know whether the 250mm (9.8 inches) will be too steep of an angle for the front end of the car

Well the height would depend on fat you are but should be fine for most.
The angle could indeed be as issue. There isn’t a whole lot of leeway.
It probably has a capacity of around double it's rated one. There are some tough plastics.

Like the Capt said jack stands have a more all around use.

My car isnt lowered, but I have a lip on front which makes it too low to drive the front up on ramps. I could probably back up onto the ramps, but haven't tried. With lowered cars ramps can get to be a pain - you need some cheater board to get you on them. A low profile jack and stands will do.

I did mine with race ramps and jack stands. Never use ramps for front and jacks for the rear, on a rear wheel drive car, as the car can roll down the ramp. Use ramps on the rear with e-brake on then jack up front and use jack stands. Plenty of room to change exhausts. Still a pain with some angles but you will figure it out.

the only problem with ramps is how low our cars are. In stock form, our front bumpers won't even clear the rhino ramps. You may need cut a few pieces of wood to drive up on so you can clear em, or pay a premium and get those race ramps that are available for low clearance sports cars.

pros to ramps = quick and easy, safer as long as you don't drive right over the top cons = takes way more room storing if getting race ramps, more expensive, and limits what you can work on (cannot work on brakes/suspensions with ramps.

Quickjacks are an option as well but even more pricier, may take as long to set up as jacks + quickstands but I liked the quickjacks because they have optional pinch weld blocks

They are expensive but I bought raceramps that allow low profile. Although with my lip it still hits a little.

Wow thread necro!! I have commmmeeeee along way since posting this wow.

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I use four of these low profile ramps to get the car off of the ground enough to do any work. Up on the ramps and then jack the car up to put it on jackstands. You won't need them for stock height but if you lower the car, they're a life saver.



Tomioka Racing Super Slopes - Low Profile Car Ramps ($70/pair)

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg




Exhaust is totally doable on jack stands.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d3c14dc5_b.jpg

Oooo... look at all those shiny clean fasteners.

Easier to work on when she's new :lol:

The last time I did an exhaust I needed a drill bit (or six) and some serious patience. This time? Nope. Everything unbolted like buttah. :happyanim:

I just installed my exhaust on jack stands before the holidays. I only had 2 jack stands but definitely recommend using 4.

After removing the muffler, I actually had to remove the jack stand from passenger side rear to driver side front so I could get to the mid-pipe.