i cant get the bolts off of my stock exhaust because theyre rusted to hell and halfway stripped! now i have no choice but to take it to a shop. you wouldnt believe how pissed i am! im going to try one more time before i have to take it to a shop because i really want to do this myself. any ideas on how to get off rusted nuts and bolts?

use some wd 40 and if it is stripped, there is a tool you can use to still get it out just forgot what it is called though. Or you can get some rust remover and hopefully that would help loosen it.

use some wd 40 and if it is stripped, there is a tool you can use to still get it out just forgot what it is called though. Or you can get some rust remover and hopefully that would help loosen it.


thanks man i know that was common sense lol but i was too pissed to think straight. has anyone here actually put the exhaust onto their s14 by themselves before? any tips are appreciated. about how many bolts will i need to take out and should i buy new ones?

Hack saw....enough said???

Use a acetlyine torch after you WD-40'd the HELL outta it (and cleaned off the WD of course.) Use a breaker bar after you get it nice and hot (2 mins of heat) and if that doesn't work after a few tries, it's time for the shop.

thats happened to me on my civic, i just cut that crap off with the saws-all and got new bolts at the dealership.

Buy a small can of Kano Kroil. That stuff is amazing at rusted bolts. A set of robogrips are handy as well. Make sure you are using a 17mm socket or wrench. Quality tools are recommended like Snap-On or Craftsman(much cheaper). Use quick snaps and don't just pull with brute force. That is what breaks bolts. I broke one that way.

Buy a small can of Kano Kroil. That stuff is amazing at rusted bolts. A set of robogrips are handy as well. Make sure you are using a 17mm socket or wrench. Quality tools are recommended like Snap-On or Craftsman(much cheaper). Use quick snaps and don't just pull with brute force. That is what breaks bolts. I broke one that way.

would wd-40 work just as good as the kano kroil? or would it even work at all on rusted bolts?

when i changed the exhaust on my friends s14 i just used wd40 and my legs. just soak the bolts in wd40 for a bit and then use all your strength on the ratchet to break them. if you jack your car up high enough then just use a breaker bar and you should be able to do it with your arms then.

i changed mine after i did my friends and didnt feel like waiting for wd40 to work again so i just hooked up the air compressor and used the impact gun on it. if you have access to one then it will come right off.
500 lb/ft torque > rusted bolts.

if all else fails, screw it, take it to a shop and make it someone elses problem. no shame in that. at least you tried right?

It would probably work. The kroil is just much more synthesized. Either or just let the bolts soak for a while in whatever you use. A good sized piece of metal pipe may also be help for leverage.

Sea Foam Deep Creep...... This Is The Greatest Penetrating Oil I Have Ever Used. The Lubricity Is Awesome And I Used It On My Exhaust And It Worked Like A Charm.

I have to reply to this one!
Use all of the above!
When all else fails, get pissed and break stuff, but not your hands!
Buy a set of mechanics gloves, if you don't already have some, and vent your anger.
I have chopped too many finger and hands to not advise gloves!
And those kinds of wounds hurt forever.

Oh yeah!
When you break off the bolts, and you will at least 3, don't go to the dealer to get bolts, that's stupid & expensive!
Goto Lowes and get grade 8 standard bolts!
Penny's on the dollar!

Oh yeah!
When you break off the bolts, and you will at least 3, don't go to the dealer to get bolts, that's stupid & expensive!
Goto Lowes and get grade 8 standard bolts!
Penny's on the dollar!


thanks all, but i think im just going to take it to my mechanic and watch him do it. but thanks again.