Can't remove stock muffler
 

I bought a new axleback and I've been trying to get these two 14mm nuts off the stock muffler, but just seems impossible to budge.

I tried heating up the nuts and bolts with a torch, soaking it in WD-40, etc, still not a single budge :bonk:. Any tips from you guys that had similar experiences like this?

And would you guys also recommend me to replace these nuts/bolts?

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum, bopi ......... :clap:

First check and make sure some yo-yo didn't weld the nuts on.

Second, spray them with PB Blaster and let them soak for a couple of beers.

Make sure your socket is the right size.

Now, try to turn them counterclock wise.

If they won't budge, rap them with a hammer (don't bugger up the threads).

If still no go, hit the nuts with a torch (not the bolt, just the nuts)

Still won't budge? Cut them off with a hack saw or a cutting torch ...... that will teach em ...... :paddle:

Now, get some new galvanized bolts, lock washers and nuts of the proper size from the hardware store.

OR ....... do it the "humfrz" way.

Toss the new muffler in the back, drive up to your local automotive/muffler shop, have a cup of coffee and they will have them swapped out before you get half way the first article in the car magazine.

Pay them about $30, drive around and enjoy the new sounds and then go home and take a nap.

No busted knuckles, dirty hands, hurting knees or sore back ....... :D


humfrz

Meh. Exhaust fasteners are practically disposable. I don't remember offhand if their positions on the axleback flange lend themselves to breaking with a nut splitter or grinding with a cutoff wheel. Last resort is nice and slow with a hacksaw blade.

Just replace with the same length hardened nut & bolt. I think they're 8 mm but don't take my word for it.

Thanks for the warm welcome, always been a lurker here :D

Anyway, I'll try everything you suggested. If all else fails, I'll try out your method.
I actually live in the Tacoma area; what shop do you go to that will replace your muffler for $30? :cheers:

Haha... :popcorn:

For the past 20 years I've taken all my vehicles for all kinds of service to these fellows at SeaTac Goodyear in Puyallup.

https://seatactireandautotech.com/

They are knowledgeable and honest. Ask for Jerry or Bob.

Actually any muffler shop should do it for about $30. Just tell them it's just an axle back muffler, with two bolts & nuts hanging on four rubber hangers.


humfrz

What's so funny .......old man ...... :confused0068:

You will get old some day too ........ :D


humfrz

Oh, I'm well on my way. :(


Wait. What about Bubba? :D

Well, Bubba would just chop the nuts off with a large cold chisel and a BFH and cut off the rubber hangars with his pocket knife ......... then just use baling wire to install the new one.

Since I wouldn't be there to stop him, it's best to ask Jerry or Bob to do the work ....... :D


humfrz

I remember a long time ago when I was in first grade or so I came to grips with my mortality. I realized for the first time that I will one day die. Took me a few days to get over it but boy was I scared for a while. Thanks - or not - for reminding me

I was about to say what kind of baby hands you guys have, then I remembered you "people" deal with snow and rust. Lol. Do what humfrz said.

I'm just going to go ahead and save this quote to use for just about everything. :lol:

Had the same problem. I drove to the dealership to buy some new bolts because I was positive I'd have to just cut mine. They offered to try with their impact gun (apartment life, no access to power tools) and they actually came off. Was quoted $70 at every shop I asked just for the privilege of being on their lift but Subaru did it pro bono.

I have probably changed 100+ exhausts over the years. I think maybe 2 of those were done by actually unscrewing the nuts.

Yep, I was about that age when I lied to my father, for the second time, about watering the hogs.

During the beating he gave me ....... I thought I was going to die (be killed).

That was the LAST time I lied to my father ........ :bonk:


humfrz

@Tcoat with his main muffler shop tool ...... :eyebulge:


humfrz

Nope. Too advanced.


http://www.flamingsteel.com/resource...C0s534x400.jpg

If you soak them in penetrating fluid PB blaster let it soak then bang them with a hammer and spray again it will aid the capillary properties to penetrate deeper. Tighten a tad then loosen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I reckon the handle and frame just gets in the way ??........ :D


humfrz

I'm a minimalist.

Is that the same tool you used to saw your way out of the brig ...... back in the day .......... ??

:confused0068:


humfrz

I made E-6 in 5 years, skipping testing for both E-5 and E-6 until my command threatened me with NJP for dereliction of duty. That was the most trouble I ever got into in my military career. :rolleyes:

Well, ya ....... maybe that was all that was on record.........:eyebulge:

Reminds me of the time when I was a young army officer and got beat up by an Asian lady.

A fellow officer and I had duty officer when we got a call from the NCO club manager saying that this sergeant E-8 from our unit that was drunk and out of control and unless we came and got him, they were going to call the MPs.

So, Lt Miller and I went over the NCO club and collected up sergeant Vorhees and drug and dumped his body into the back of out jeep.

We had already looked up where he lived ....... yep on the 4th floor of the NCO housing quarters (no elevators). Now, he was a BIG man and it was all we could do to drag him up 4 flights of stairs.

We got to the apartment and knocked on the door and his Asian wife "attacked" us, literally yelling nothing but Korean at us. Lt Miller contained her and I drug the good sergeant inside the apt. Lt Miller explained to me that the reason why the wife attacked us is that she thought WE were the ones who got him drunk.

Just another night as duty officer ..... ;)


THE END


humfrz

Well, not that week at least. You were on duty. :slap:

1) soak in PB Blaster or WD40 overnight. then hit them in the morning too.

2)make sure you have the right size socket. Exactly.

3) use a breaker bar and hammer/dead blow

If that doesn't work, you're kinda fuckled. Then you start heating it up. If that's doesn't work, then you have some work to do either drilling the bolt out or cutting stuff up

Thre OEM muffler isn't worth much, you may just want to replace the mid pipe too and just remove that pipe and the muffler together.

I just swapped front pipe and overpipe last night.

Use wire brush to clean the threads before anything. This way the nut doesn't get jammed on the rusty threads when removing it.
Spray pb blaster the night before.
Put a wrench on it and use dead-blow to tap and work the nut loose.
One the nuts and bolts are out, either replace them or soak them in varsol before putting them back.
Use some anti-seize on threads when assembling

or

if everything fails, whip out the dremel with cutoff wheel
https://www.dremel.com/documents/208...=1492807907000

Yea I remember when my grandma would use the wooden spoon on my older brother when that broke my grandpa would use his hand that did not break and my brother could barely walk and that was the last time anyone was disobetant or rude to anyone. It should take one incident and you learn the proper respect. Now child services this and that and soft rude mediling kids. I took the direct approach with my kid. Simple on the wall you draw an out line of a hand, stick, paddle with holes, gun, grave stone. Punishment starts at the hand and explain it goes up from there. I was always partial of using a paddle but my boy was so good I never had to use any of it. Lol.

[QUOTE=humfrz;3019273]Well, ya ....... maybe that was all that was on record.........:eyebulge:

Reminds me of the time when I was a young army officer and got beat up by an Asian lady.


Lol usally people had to pay for that kind of action back then and at least got a happy ending :bellyroll: thank the internet it’s all free now and you don’t have to go to your post in the morning with some bruses.

[quote=Zentec;3019807]Well ya, but the difference is ...... NOW, it just hurts .......:cry:


humfrz

I think we have sunk to new lows. I wonder if OP got his muffler off?

Oh, I don't know ........ I had forgotten what this thread was all about ...... :confused0068:


humfrz



@bopi how about an update .......?????

In the corner of the barnyard, we had this big willow tree ........ Mom would make unruly kids go cut their own switch .........:eyebulge:

I wonder what CPS would have to say about that today ..... ??


humfrz

Ya and you stupidly grabed the smallest one thinking o that won’t hurt as bad as a big thick one. O how wrong you were. Grab the medium one on the ground that was dry not green.

I don’t know about the op but I think few people got there rusted nuts off with that pic humfrz lol:bellyroll:

Oooo squirrel o wait matlock is on ZzzzZzzzZzzz what he still hasent gotten the muffler off get a beer and take to humfrz shop drink 2 more beers go home enjoy :cheers:

Sounds like you have been switched a few times .............. ;)

Yep, I like her eye glasses ...... nice touch ....... :drool:


humfrz

True vary nice touch although I like the thinner smaller rectangle frames. Would give her more the librarian I’m really smart but really bad I’m going to make you pay bad for that late book:drool: lol

As for an update, I tried all the suggestions you guys made; soaked the two nuts in WD-40 two days prior, heated it up, etc, but eventually just gave up because life started to get busy :iono:. So took it to my dealer and asked if they could loosen the 14mm bolts for me and they did. Went back home and they easily came off and swapped it out myself.

I will definitely keep the other things everyone here mentioned for future reference. Thanks a bunch guys!

Well, that's good. The dealer most likely used a rattle wrench on the nuts.

Good show!

How do you like the sound .... ??


humfrz

Yeah that's what I was assuming.

I like the sound! It's not too loud, which makes perfect for an entry exhaust. Pair it up with some headers+tune I'm sure it will sound louder and amazing.