How to Remove The Rustiest Exhaust Bolts

2 easy ways to remove rutsy exhaust bolts. If it is super rusted, you may want to just start with the angle grinder!

[PatL]

Sometimes getting confirmation on even the most basic tasks is all it takes to motivate someone to start a repair. Good video

[lepsycho]

More time? No way, just start with the grinder and you would be saving time as you need to change those bolt anyways 😂

[nathangant]

The problem with bad exhaust studs on some Ford cars and trucks is that the bolts are pressed in and made of harden steel. Once you grind off the rusty bolt, you still have to punch out the other half of the stud which is still inside manifold. Drill bits won’t go very far, even a cobalt drill bit. Normally you would use an oxy-acetylene torch and burn it out (while protecting the O2 sensor).

The easy fix with Fords is Dorman P/N 23755 exhaust flange repair kit which fits over manifold shoulder and holds the exhaust pipes in place.

[jddonaldson]

An old mentor of mine introduced me to heating it up and touching it with beeswax. The heat melts the beeswax and the natural oil in it creeps through the threads. Been using that trick for years on old steam flanges and pipe unions!

[Jamarkus_Delvonte]

I just use a sawzall to remove catalytic converters. In and out in usually 5 mins with trucks and SUVs. Maybe 7 with lower cars like the Prius.

[grahamholmes]

Heat will help immensely... Even a propane plumbing torch wool help

[slonison]

Forget these guys jumping striaight to the acetylene torch. Sure, if i had a garage where i could store it i would. For my old F150. I cant store the extractor nuts right under the seat and be good to go. Same with the angle grinder.

Thanks for the video. Sometimes you need a precision surgeon. Something you just need a bandaid.

[shark]

Yea, that's not how you do that at all. In either example shown, you would just cut the bolts off with an acetylene torch and replace them. Takes seconds in the shop. Otherwise, you heat the nut up red hot with a torch and zip it off with a 3/8 air impact. Signed, guy that did exhaust work for living once upon a time.

[qalas]

Propane heat will just loosen the bolt or drive the car until exhaust heats up.

[j.robertvillarreal]

PB Blaster and an adjustable air hammer. Dial the air hammer down to a steady reasonable rapping and hose the bolts down. Maybe 2 minutes of rapping and the bolts will either vibrate loose or snap off easy.

[YABTAY]

will this help with old rusty welded bolts too?, i have a stock exhaust that is welded in and need to get it off asap, including the header is looking like it’s welded in or maybe it’s just old and rusted, can i get some tips, or even better get the link where you got those

[youtubebros]

Mine is a pipe with studs so i cannot cut it off or screw up the threads on the stud. Its very rusted and when i remove the rust the NUT looks shiny like its molded together. Any tips, The Nut it self is okay, fits 17 socket but like i mentioned the back side of the nut to the stud looks molded together from the heat, my guess.

[charliematt]

NEVER bang on your tools, especially ratchet, with a hammer. 😖

[paulhare]

What? No air chisel? In the right hands, an air chisel is a precision instrument.

[driskolestateshow]

Need to do something for my o2 sensor bolts. They look melted.

[MaybachDay]

What do you do if the bolt is in a bracket? Can't put them out. (Rusted out bolts on electrical fan mounts 98 XJ)

[oneninerniner]

Oxy acetylene torch heat the crap outta it, red, and itll come right off. Or put a cutting tip on and snip er off!

[awesomeness]

I literally spray them with pb blaster, walk away grab my impact gun and they come off every time, i see people at my work struggle all the time with this and i just seem to never have a problem with them, until them come in smashed lol

[MattKurkowski]

Yeah im just cutting mine and its a huge PITA.

[joeyoungs]

The only win here was the first one breaking. I just cut them off since I replace them anyways.