tricks of the trade to get front exhaust section off!

[djezd]

Any cunning ways to remove the three awkward to get at bolts.

I have 0.5m torque wrench, 2 x socket sets with universal joints.

how much brute force is normally required?

Presumably all threads are lefty lossey righty tighty!

cheers

[Brianmoooore]

Manifold to downpipe joint?
I can get a half inch socket on all of them OK, with a universal joint and a couple of long extensions.
All normal threads, and the maximum amount of torque to apply is just less than their breaking point!
Use plenty of WD40, and work the nuts over and back, gradually increasing the amount they undo.

[djezd]

Cheers Brian,
I'm a bit shy of bruting things as i recently sheared a large bolt...which was an ugly job to sort out.

I'll give it ago tonight if i get a break in the god damned weather.

[djezd]

Can i re-use the old manifold to front section gasket, it is pretty well stuck on and i'm not sure i'ld get all of the old gasket off clean...leading to leaks in the new one.

new gasket is ~£10!

[tezk]

Exhaust assembly paste is only £2 a tube or something like that. A thin smear on the mating surfaces should be as good as a gasket?

Or at least I hope so. The wifes Metro has a ton of this stuff sealing her exhaust

[snoops]

hermetite exhaust repair paste 6.99 from GSF

[tezk]

Hopefully a local motor factors would be cheaper than that!

[gazza]

new gasket for m20 from gsf £3 for the 4 bolt one just got one last week