Getting damn bolts off the exhaust manifold...

[Sean]

I've been spending some time under my car. I got 21" jackstands on the max height they'll go, so it's up on jackstands in our third stall of our garage as I type this.

Anyway, I got pretty much all the other bolts on the whole exhaust system loose, and ready to come out. But, the damn bolts holding the front part of the exhaust on to the exhaust manifold WILL NOT come off. I've gotten one loose, but that's because I had enough room to use one of our sockets. The bolts are 15mm, so I don't have any of those size sockets for anything, or even a 15mm wrecnh. We have one 15mm socket, and it's a 1/2 inch size, and fits on to a ratchet that is probably 8 inches long. TOO LONG.

So, i'm thinkin I'll go buy a 15mm wrnch, slap it on there and pound it with a rubber mallet.

However, any other ideas?

AND YES, I have sprayed both WD40 and Rost-Off on the bolts. The stuff definately helped down below, with getting all the other bolts free.

Thanks!

[e9nine]

TORCH that bolt!

[rs4pro3]

15mm 1/4 drive socket-Universal-24 inches of extensions-ratchet. In that order it's worked on every E30 for me so far, didn't work so well on the 528e, but the bolts on it are harded to get too. You can do the rear 5 from wroking up along the down pipe, then the front bolt I ussualy loosen from the Oil filter side of the motor mount.
Oh and go to the dealer to buy Brand new bolts, there deffinatly worth it.

[Jordan]

Last I checked those were 14mm holmes.

[rs4pro3]

stock there ussualy 14mm but the new ones are 15mm

[Sean]

Yeah, they're 15mm.

Cool, I'll look into that, rs4pro3.

New bolts will be coming, I'm almost sure of it.

I actually got the front bolt off with my 1/2 ratchet, that's it so far though.

[Jordan]

I've never had much trouble removing those. And I've done it on 5 different e30's

Have you tried a impact gun?

[Sean]

I could, but will that strip the bolts?

I have an impact socket wrench too, if I wanted to try using that. It's 1/4 inch.

[808BMW]

I could, but will that strip the bolts?

I have an impact socket wrench too, if I wanted to try using that. It's 1/4 inch.

Buy new bolts and cut the old one off with a cutoff wheel :P
Exhaust bolts are usually pretty stuck, I've broken 3 bolts at school because everyone just says "Try your hardest". My hardest is stronger than an old brittle bolt :P

[Sean]

I could, but will that strip the bolts?

I have an impact socket wrench too, if I wanted to try using that. It's 1/4 inch.

Buy new bolts and cut the old one off with a cutoff wheel :P
Exhaust bolts are usually pretty stuck, I've broken 3 bolts at school because everyone just says "Try your hardest". My hardest is stronger than an old brittle bolt :P

I could, but aren't the parts the bolts are on part of the exhaust manifold/headers? And, if I cut em off, I would need new headers?

[808BMW]

I could, but aren't the parts the bolts are on part of the exhaust manifold/headers? And, if I cut em off, I would need new headers?

Oh yeah :P

Dunno what to say, mine have come off hassle free at least 4 times.

[Sean]

Well, I'll pick some things up tomorrow, or burrow some from a friend, and see what I can do.

Thanks, I'll keep you all posted.

[DaN]

You won't be able to accomplish much with a 1/4" rachet, air or human powered.

[E30godz]

yea i had one hell of a time getting mine off...i had to use several extensions and a 1/2 inch socket wrench with some flexi joints and a lot of force to get em off...as well as the torch....we just used a little propane torche though and held it against if for a little bit....might wanna invest in another 15mm wrench as we fucked up the temper on our socket by torching it so much (torquing the bolt off while torchin it)

[Sean]

I'll have to see if I can burrow my friends butane torch, and heat those baby's up.

I tried some more today, dammmmn, no luck whatsoever.

Yeah, I know, I need leverage. Would the flexijoints allow me to use a really long wrench/ratchet? Cause my problem is that I cannot use any wrench if it doesn't fit.

I think i will buy a 15mm wrench. I was able to get my friends 15mm 3/8 (that's what I meant when I said 1/4), it was a deep socket.

What's really strange is ONE bolt is 14mm, the rest are 15mm. I think it's time for these to come off, just for the sake that it's time, it has probably been SOOO long.

My friend also reccommended some type of compound called "Liquid Wrench." I'll have to give that a shot too.