Catalytic Converter Bolts

[leonidasb22]

My catalytic converter bolts are in bad shape and I want to replace them. These bolts seemed to be welded onto the cat.

 

Have any of you ever removed these? Do you know how I will get these off without damaging the cat?

 

 

Edited April 5, 2018 by leonidasb22

[Porschedane]

I do t believe they are welded onto the flance.  Just hit them hard with a hamme that should know them out. 

[leonidasb22]

See below

Edited April 6, 2018 by leonidasb22

[leonidasb22]

On 4/5/2018 at 7:56 PM, Porschedane said:

I do t believe they are welded onto the flance.  Just hit them hard with a hamme that should know them out. 

The replacement Porsche bolts now have a hex head.

Edited April 7, 2018 by leonidasb22

[RFM]

The bolts are pressed in, you have to burn them red hot with a welding torch, and than tap with a hammer if you do not have hydraulic press. When using a hammer you have to remove the lambda probes, they can easily fail by the vibrations of the hammer.

[leonidasb22]

4 hours ago, RFM said:

The bolts are pressed in, you have to burn them red hot with a welding torch, and than tap with a hammer if you do not have hydraulic press. When using a hammer you have to remove the lambda probes, they can easily fail by the vibrations of the hammer.

Wow okay RFM. Thanks for the info. Seems like you removed these bolts before.

 

Is a hydraulic press easier or the torch and hammer is the preferred method? 

 

I may try to find a machine shop that would do it for me if the torch method is still difficult. Do you think a big steel C clamp could do the trick, without torching?

[JFP in PA]

1 hour ago, leonidasb22 said:

Wow okay RFM. Thanks for the info. Seems like you removed these bolts before.

 

Is a hydraulic press easier or the torch and hammer is the preferred method? 

 

I may try to find a machine shop that would do it for me if the torch method is still difficult. Do you think a big steel C clamp could do the trick, without torching?

Another pathway is to spray the flange with a quality penetrating oil such as Kriol, then put a suitable socket over the flat end and use a large c-clamp to manually press them out.  Doesn't always work if they are severely rusted, but many just pop out.

 

[leonidasb22]

12 hours ago, JFP in PA said:

Another pathway is to spray the flange with a quality penetrating oil such as Kriol, then put a suitable socket over the flat end and use a large c-clamp to manually press them out.  Doesn't always work if they are severely rusted, but many just pop out.

 

I bought a heavy duty large c-clamp and tried it. It didn’t work on my bolts.  I then went to a machine shop and they heated and hammered them out for $20. 

 

Thanks everyone for your support on this issue. I'm so glad I got this resolved quickly.