Muffler impossible/difficult to remove?
 

So my buddy and I tried to remove my FRS muffler last night to install my new Nameless Axleback. There are 2 bolts you have to take off and we couldn't get a single one of them to budge, not even slightly. I felt like if I could even pull any harder to try and get them to loosen I would have pulled my car off the jackstands.

Has anyone had this issue? We don't have any power tools, just hand tools. Any tips for removing them? Since we couldnt even get the first easy accessed bolt off I dont know how we would ever get the second one which isnt as easy to get too.

I know I could take it too a shop, but I kinda wanted to do it myself and I would rather not pay someone 40 to 50 bucks to, for the most part take off 2 bolts :/

lots of PB Blaster

WD-40 and a breaker bar. There's been a few posts with people having the same problem. Mine was easy though. Didn't even need a breaker bar.

lefty-loosey righty-tightey :P

WD-40 and good ratchet. I ran into the same problem but WD-40 freed it up. Still required a good amount of force with just a ratchet

Suggest loosening while not on jack stands if you can...leave it on the ground until you break them. PB blaster will probably all you need though...stuff works magic.

Damn, perfect thread to view at work before I head home to install my Nameless AB. Question to the OP, what was the mileage on your car?

also loosen the bolts while car is planted sounds like a good idea, ill try this.

good luck to OP

I had to use a breaker bar and my car only had 4800 miles when I was installing the exhaust.

There's no reason to lift the car at all for an AB. Even my 300 lb friend did his without lifting it. Keep it on the ground, use a breaker bar. If you don't have a breaker bar. Rip a fence post out of the ground and use it.

WD-40/PB BLaster and MAP Gas torch.

Seriously invest in a map gas torch. Can't tell you how many times it's saved me with broken exhaust bolts. Best 50 bucks ever spent. Especially if you like to burn things LOL

Also 2 Piece Floor jack handles make excellent breaker bars.

Or if possible use the double wrench method.

My exhaust came off at 22miles, so i had no need for any of that -- but wd-40 and pb-blaster is very useful.

Had to use PB Blaster and a torch for mine as well. This is after only 5 months too. I replaced the bolts with SS ones and used some anti-seize.

If the car is lowered, it can get impossible to do it without lifting car.

My old man used to rag on me about using anti seize all the time. It took a few knuckle breaking moments that could have been easily avoided had I used anti seize... I now use it religiously.

haha I had this exact problem yesterday while changing my exhaust. I had my dad help me the key is to loosen the nut NOT the bolt trying to loosen the bolt we be much harder trust me I felt the same way. I thought I was going to break the exhaust trying for 15 minutes then my dad got it off in a matter of seconds. Oh and use some pb baster or liquid wrench it should also help

It will come off, I don't need to say what's already been said. As others do, I as well use anti-sieze on exhaust bolts. Enjoy the new exhaust.

hit the gym

you need breaker bar. ratchet is not long enough to break it

I couldn't budge mine either....impact gun took care of that :D

Impact gun or breaker bar pretty much.

I used a breaker bar and rubber mallet on mine but I was also half drunk and had bet a friend that I could swap exhaust in under 15 minutes by myself(start to finish, nothing prepped).

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Big help, very new to working on my car instead of having someone else do it so this is all gold!

Good to know about loosening it while its on the ground, and about this break bar thing. Will douse the sucker in WD40 and try out some of your suggestions.

I'm at just over 6k miles.

Bringing this thread from the dead. My car had only 4000 miles when installing the muffler delete, those two bolts were a pain, a spray of pb blaster on both and a breaker bar literally took car of them in like 2 minutes, I'd hate to see what it takes for the other ones. The exhaust hangers were easy for me with an exhaust hanger removal tool.

I'm in this boat. Question. As I'm turning from behind the nuts. Do I turn to the right hand side wheel or left hand side wheel. This freaking nuts and bolts are killing me.

PBBlaster or SeaFoam works better... a LOT better.. than WD40. Spray and let soak. Tap lightly after spraying with a metal tool to penetrate. Let soak. Overnight if necessary. Repeat if necessary.

Also, just in case this isn't common knowledge, impact wrenches work so well because of the... ummm.. impact. That impact breaks the bond of the rust. When trying to move a rusted bolt or nut, apply force suddenly, not gradually. If you don't have a long breaker bar, hitting the handle of your ratchet with a ballpeen hammer can help. It's the opposite of tightening a bolt or not properly... that should always be done with gradual smooth application of torque.

If you dont have a breaker bar, take the handle off your floor jack and slide it over your ratchet. Hopefully you're not in love with the ratchet though.

1/2” air impact with a reducer and an impact swivel socket will do the trick guaranteed. Might need new hardware afterwards, but it’ll come loose. Alternatively find a lift you can use and go for a 3-4 foot long breaker bar and put your body weight into it.

imho, in prepping for any exhaust work, new fasteners are a must. cut the bolts and move on.






reusing rusted fasteners will give a false torque reading when it comes time to reinstall things.

You will always turn to the left to loosen, assuming you are looking at the top of the nut (or bolt if you are turning that one).

Also, when dealing with rusted parts, this is what you deal with when you don't have air tools. Anyway try turning the nut it may be easier than the bolt since the bolt is longer and likely has more resistance. Spray with PB blaster as others have suggested. I recommending getting exhaust hot, spray heavily with PB and let sit for a while and cool then come back and try.

Also, make sure you use a gasket or it will leak that sounds like crap.

I've never had an issue removing the exhaust from my car, however I bought a used Berk muffler delete from someone and it came with the stock mid pipe. I was just gonna use the Berk pipe and the mid pipe that was already on the car, but separating the pipes I bought was a huge PITA. Bolts wouldn't turn at all and I thought they were seized. Used WD-40 and bought a propane torch - still BARELY worked, and not before stripping a nut and having to use an extractor, AND bending a Harbor Freight ratchet. The bolt threads were all messed up, crossed, etc. Not sure if that was due to the previous owner over tightening or cross threading the nut, or me trying to take it off.

Sounds like it was cutting torch time - :thumbsup:


humfrz