pistonbroke Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Some of you may be aware that my car failed it's MOT the emissions. So I took the car away to put the second CAT in. I've just found out that my second decat rear 2 bolts are too big. They are 17" nut and bolt which have no gap between the side of the bolt/nut and the actual pipe. I've just done this to a spanner trying to get the buggers off. Now I'm stuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony tt Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Will heating the bolts up make it easier to come off if you have a torch mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 The problem is getting something onto the bolts in order to get enough purchase without rounding them off. That was my only 17mm open end spanner. I have slim non impact sockets, but even they won't go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Ring spanner and a hammer, soak the threads in WD40 or a penetrating fluid first. You may need to get a socket on a bar on them to shift them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplavery Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Ring spanner and a hammer, soak the threads in WD40 or a penetrating fluid first. You may need to get a socket on a bar on them to shift them. And dont use Tesco's spanners lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Is it worth going to a import friendly MOT centre? Seems like a massive amount of work, just to take it off a few moments later. Plus no guarantee it will pass its emission on one cat being on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Ring spanner and a hammer, soak the threads in WD40 or a penetrating fluid first. You may need to get a socket on a bar on them to shift them. Thats the problem though, there's not even enough room for a ring spanner. And dont use Tesco's spanners lol All my stuff is snap on Is it worth going to a import friendly MOT centre? Seems like a massive amount of work, just to take it off a few moments later. Plus no guarantee it will pass its emission on one cat being on. Mate, if I knew one, I'd be going there. The one I took it too was supposed to be BPU freindly, but he went all legit on me when I got there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgeer Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 You need heat, as already mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Thats a bit drastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) Thats a bit drastic. I was being serious If you can't get a socket or ring spanner on them you could spend hours swearing and scraping your knuckles trying to shift them. Alternatively, if you can get access, you could spend 2 minutes grinding the buggers off. You'll have to replace the bolts anyway by the sounds of it. I know which option I'd choose Edited January 24, 2010 by Nic (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 http://www.icesculptingtools.com/Angle%20grinder%209554NB_LPS.jpg I was going to suggest this too. I've had a similar experience in the past and just grinding straight off the nut or bolt head end and tapping the rest out with a punch works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobD Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Thats what i'd do! You've got to change the bolts anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hacksaw or angle grinder, you could have had them both out in less time than it's taken to post about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 ...They are 17" nut and bolt... WTF?!? You'll need a beast of an angle grinder to cut a 17 inch bolt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 17mm I don't want to damage the decat pipe. I'm gonna get the MOT guy to do it, much to my annoyance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 get a strong set of maul grips on it. Make sure they are the right grip though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 get a strong set of maul grips on it. Make sure they are the right grip though. Maul??? Perhaps a tomahawk, but not a maul, far too vicious. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splitting_maul MOLE grips,,,,,, Trade name, locking adjustable grips for the butcher lurking inside of mechanics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 And dont use Tesco's spanners lol agreed dude spray on a lot of wd40 allow it to sink in and then try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnHandy Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Get the grinder out!! you know it makes sence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackso11 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 If I were you I would find a friendly MOT place. You are in London, there will be one somewhere. I am sure someone on here will pipe up with a place within an hour......at which point I will write the name down ready for next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 I have ahad a PM off one member suggesting somewhere, albeit a bit far out. My problem is weighing up whether putting the CAT back in and then putting the DECAT back in, will cost more than a new MOT test somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackso11 Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 what did you do in the end for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraHuman Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 At least you'll get your spanner back from Snap-on with their warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon5698 Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I fitted my decats last weekend and had the same problem but from the 2nd decat to the back section, i just removed the bolts to the second decat removed the exhaust and used an angle grinder to remove the bolts. As long as you cut at the back of the flange you wont damage them. Also invest in some plusgas or the freeze your nuts off sprays, they are amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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