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Hello all, I have some questions regarding the installation of a catback exhaust.

I bought a used catback off someone else and it arrived early yesterday. He included the used aftermarket gaskets but they aren't in that great of a shape (the edges seem worn and flaring like a a loose deck of cards). Okay on to my questions:

1) My oem exhaust is quite old and rusted. I tried removing the nuts off of the bolts and had an extremely hard time doing so only to give up after 20 minutes. I already tried soaking with wd-40 and ratcheting the hell out of it, but it wont budge. Any ideas on how I can remove these stubborn nuts? The nuts and bolts will be replaced, but I dont want to damage my oem exhaust.

2) Is it a good idea to get new gaskets for the exhaust? What is the worst thing that can happen with reusing gaskets?

3) Has anybody reused exhaust gaskets? Any troubles?

 
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1) Try to use braker bar. In the worst case, You might have to go to local shop and let them heat up the bolts to get them off.
Then replace with new hardware.

2)It is good idea to get new gasket. You might have leak between cat to b pipe. or B pipe to rear section muffler.

3)I reused donut gasket for Cat to B pipe and no problem at all.

 
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Is an exhaust leak dangerous?

 
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throw out the wd-40 and buy yourself a can of pb blaster. spray it on, try to remove bolts, it works really well so they should come off, if they dont then just keep on sprayin and go for a drive or somethin, they will eventually budge

 
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best bet would be to use a air gun. those bolts are torqued to high amounts.

 
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Damn, I dont have any airtools, you think I could buy one from sears or something then return it after I get them off? lol

What about those nutsplitters? how do those work?

 
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shouldnt need airtools to remove exhaust bolts. have you tried kicking/pushing the wrench with your foot?

 
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that is great, I always buy certain tools, use them and then return them. Unless I have the money, then I will keep them. Anyway, If you do buy the airgun, you will need a compressor, to power it. Yes you can return it, just package everything back up like new and make sure it doesnt look like it has been used. Best bet, honestly, if you cant get those bolts off and dont want to go through the hassle of buying the air tools, get a shop to do it.

 
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You could also use a hammer and keep hitting the wrench untill the bolts start to move and come loose. This is what I always do.

 
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Got it installed, love the deep hum......

I got my bolts/nuts loosen for free at midas, the mechanic was way cool. I did the install today and forgot to take my car out of gear when I started it (I wasnt sitting inside, I was just using my hand to hold the clutch down, started the car and let go, BAM! I jammed the two jackstands into the jack points. Hurried up and jacked up the car to yank out the jackstands out of a fresh dented hole into the jack point.