bolt on muffler

[fairlady_z]

I just bought a bolt on muffler for my 99 civic. This morning I was trying to take off my stock one when I saw these two springs in between the nut and bolt where the piping is connected to the cat. I didn't think much of it until I tried to take it off. I used a rachet and a wrench and I couldn't get it off. I tried until I heard a slight crack and I backed off. Need help! What the hell is this thing? I sprayed wd-40 everywhere too. Help!

[TheCamel]

These are whats known as expansion joints. Soak it in WD-40 Overnight and if you have a small propane torch heat the bolts. Make sure to watch where you point the torch ie. fuel lines, wiring etc. On extremely hard to remove bolts they will make a lot of noise, you have to remember they have been heat treated by the heat of the exhaust and become brittle. When reinstalling them make sure to put a coat of anti-sieze on them so the next time you have to do this job you don't go through the same hassle. If anti-sieze is not in your tool box, then check your medicine cabinet, yes thats right your medicine cabinet for a bottle of Phillips Milk of Magnisia, works exactly the same and a heck of a lot cheaper.

TC

[DK]

Or instead of WD-40 and dangerous fire, there's this stuff called "PB Blaster" that looks really really old school, comes in a can like WD-40 and literally looks like it's from the 1940s. It will loosen any bolt in a matter of seconds ... the factory exhaust bolts that had been on my FD for 7 years before I changed the exhaust came right off with it -- and they were super-seized because the FD exhaust runs hotter than most any other out there.

[fairlady_z]

Okay thanks. I got my stock exhaust off with wd-40. Having a small problem putting the bolts back in though. Any suggestions or just use brut force.

[chingoner]

the crack is the nuts and bols breaking loose. that one sweet sound after using alot of muslce!=)
for those spring loaded bolts jsut muscle them back on, works for me

[CFourDX]

just pull hella hard and the bolt should come lose, make sure you pull on the correct bolt, on my car it is the one closest to the back, but dont worry about the noise, you can tell just by looking to where it threads in, it is kind of a pain to when you have to put the bolt with the spring back on, but dont not put the spring back on though

[CFourDX]

on putting the bolt back on, my friend couldnt get his back on and he didnt have a spring clamp, so he ended up just cutting of i think 1 or 2 coils on the spring, it didnt do anything becasue you can still tighten it down tight on the spring, but just gives you enough room to start the thread