Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Steve Brookman]

Hello all,

Am going to change the exhaust on the better halfs Elite estate.  Looking at it the exhaust is joined to the front pipes with studs. More than likely I'll have to cut and drill them out.

Are they relatively easy to drill out?
Will have the car up on car ramps at the front.
Any tips appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

[Marks DTM Calib]

Never had to drill one of these studs out yet!

[ScottieMV6]

Mine came off fine. Liberal application of Plusgas always helps!

[cruisetopoland]

Mine were a total nightmare.

The previous owner had snapped three off in the head (amateur did not use plus-gas) and just fitted the manifold with the remaining bolts so it blew the gasket and leaked like hell.

They had to be drilled out and replaced with new VX ones; total cost £190 inc studs and vat.

See sig link 

Best advice-ask someone who has done this before to help, use plenty of plus-gas long before removal, tighten carefully 

[Steve Brookman]

Thanks.

It's not the manifold studs but the ones that join the cat to the centre silencers.

[Gaffers]

Thanks.

It's not the manifold studs but the ones that join the cat to the centre silencers.

Tunnie is our resident expert on these 

[ians]

They are bolts that screw into (or rather shear off at) the front cat section.  Its worth using Plusgas on them, heat and being very very careful winding them out.   Even so they may well still shear. 

Ironically, despite their willingness to shear, they are bloody hard. I used a cobalt bit (8mm) last time and that did the trick.
eg http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PACK-OF-3-COBALT-DRILL-BITS-8MM-MADE-IN-GERMANY_W0QQitemZ180341195686QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item29fd2c43a6

[Steve Brookman]

Cheers!!

[Elite Pete]

When drilling them, start off with a small drill bit and work up in size

[JasonH]

I was as careful as I could - penetrating oil, heat, ground off the tip, etc. Two still sheared...

Just be ready to drill them out and don't bother tapping the hole just put a bolt through and use a nut.

Next time if the bolt shears it will just fall out.

[dbug]

Mine came off OK with plusgas - removed cats to swap autobox.

[neonomega]

hi m8 i did what elite pete said if they do shear off like mine did i used small drill bit and worked up a few sizes but once u got the pipes off there will be part stud hanging out i had the flattern them with a grinder being carefull just to get them flat so u can drill easier mine went back to gether no blowing at all good luck .

[Steve Brookman]

Thanks yet again!!