Getting damn bolts off the exhaust manifold...

[rs4pro3]

I've used my Torque wrench a couple times with the Universal, I snapped one on our 528e and right now my current universal is showing signs of breaking soon, just make sur eto buy one with a lifetime warrenty. The best thing is to Make sure you have good contact between the bolt and the socket.

[e9nine]

TORCH that bolt!

....every e30 is different. some will never give you a problem on any bolt or nut and some will give you hell. Just torch it and be careful not to melt anything not meant to be torched

[AndrewBird]

Hey, Jordan, remeber on Josh's car when you blew aprt that swivle joint? THAT was crazy.

I would also sugest a torch and if that doesn't work, go with the impact.

Andrew

[Den]

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.

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...

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. . .

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

Sean, I think you missed the point when these guys mentioned using extensions(of course, they could've been a little more specific. . .)
You put your 14mm or 15mm socket on the end of an extension bar a couple of feet long(or several smaller extensions joined together), and then use your ratchet wrench or breaker bar on the end of that extension from UNDERNEATH the car, while you are lying on the ground with the front of the car up on ramps. The wrench is now below the bottom of the car. This allows you to use whatever size wrench you require to get enough leverage + you can really muscle it.
The long extension will turn your wrench into a big awkward L-shaped device. Make sure you apply plenty of vertical force to keep the socket firmly planted on the nut while you are leveraging with the wrench in the horizontal plane.(Push up on the end of the extension at the corner of the "L" with one hand while you lever the end of the wrench with the other hand.) You do not want to slip and round off a nut.

I used a deep socket for some of these nuts because it allowed me to get on it from a better angle with a wobble adapter(Be careful not to slip off the nut if using this technique.) I also recommend using a 1/2":3/8" adapter so that you can use a bigass 1/2"-drive ratchet wrench or, better yet, a nice 18" breaker bar(like a big ratchet wrench that doesn't spin.)

Don't be afraid to buy the tools you need. Just remember how much $ you are saving on labor. Sears puts most of their tools on sale at half price sooner or later. If it's a pricey item that you won't use much, just get it if you need it and return it. . .& buy it again when it's on sale. I've also found some decent stuff at AutoZone, and Wal-Mart now has some nice Stanley tools. Costco + Sam's club have some good deals on tool sets. ~$50 for a socket set at Costco. I'd start with one of these sets and collect other pieces as needed.

The best 'liquid wrench' type of product I've used is called "P.B. Blaster."
Wal-Mart + Pep Boys have it for ~$4.

Lowe's has a Bernz-0-Matic propane torch kit for ~$13, but I did not need the torch for this job.

[Sean]

Alrighty, I burrowed a universal joint from my friend, grabbed a few of my 1/2" extenders and my 1/2" torque wrnech.

IT WORKED!

I didn't understand how the joint worked, but now I do, and they frickin kick ass! I had to use a lot of force on those bithces. I also bought some PB Blaster as well...

HOWEVER, I still have one problem. The ONLY bolt that is 14mm is now stripped, from me tryin to get it off. So, my 14mm 1/2" socket won't grip is anymore, which is definately a problem.

Now, there's only one bolt holding me back... :roll: :x

My question is - can I still heat it up? I'm thinkin the PB Blaster is flammable, correct? The exhaust is nice a wet with that stuff, which doesn't evaporate, so I'm not quite sure if I want to take our butane torch to that bolt, I don't want a fire to implode on to my face. :shock: :?

My friend suggested a big ass pair of pliers, so I'll be giving that a shot. I won't have a lot of leverage though...

Help me out here guys, I want exhaust out by 6, and it's 5:20 now :P

[Charlie]

Torch it or cut it, very simple.

No, PB blaster is not flammable.

-Charlie

[Sean]

OK, now I know.

Instead of torching it, I got one of those wrenches that you can adjust, then close and it locks into place. Then i just pulled like a motherfucker.

The damn bitch came off!! It's frickin awesome! :P

So, now, whole exhaust is out and my heatsheild has been removed. FINALLY.

Turns out, it was a 14mm bolt put on backwards - because there's the part with no teeth, or whatever (like a washer right on the nut), that wasn't on the side of the manifold.

I do know for sure, that the bolt is definately stripped.

I'll have pictures up here shortly, once I got it off, i didn't want to stop. but, I felt it was time to clean up, eat somethin, and have a good night out with friends and such ;)

Thanks for the help guys. Nice to have that off now.

[elemental]

3/8 driver 24" extention, 1 flexy 1 15mm GRUNT ,, done,,