I attempted to replace the centre bearing over Xmas.Trying to get the Z high enough off the floor was the first prob,its a very heavy car and very low.With 3 jacks and 2 axle stands I got about 18 inches clearance underneath,still very arkward to work under.I then soaked the exhaust bolts in WD40 and tried to remove the 6 bolts holding the pipes to the turbos but even with a 1/2 inch air impact driver only 1 stud came out.Rather than face the nightmare of the bolts snapping off I replaced the the 1 that came out and shelved the project.Has anyone else experienced these problems?

yeah, oxy-acetelene is the best way with these little puppies!

 

you could try a blow lamp, but the heat output is nowhere near the same. may be worth taking it to a garage just to loosen them if you dont have access to gas bottles.

my mate had to use an acetyline torch to loosen up some bolts around the centre section of the pipe!

my mate had to use an acetyline torch to loosen up some bolts around the centre section of the pipe!

 

We nipped around to a small exhaust & tyre place where he gave them a wee heat, rattled them off and tightened them back up. Drove home and removed them no probs, bunged the guy a fiver and he was quite happy. Go around lunchtime as they will do it on their break if they have an arsey boss.

 

Originally went to Kwik-fit, but they refused on the grounds that if it leaked and poisoned somebody they could be held responsible !!!

 

Alan......

I attempted to replace the centre bearing over Xmas.Trying to get the Z high enough off the floor was the first prob,its a very heavy car and very low.With 3 jacks and 2 axle stands I got about 18 inches clearance underneath,still very arkward to work under.I then soaked the exhaust bolts in WD40 and tried to remove the 6 bolts holding the pipes to the turbos but even with a 1/2 inch air impact driver only 1 stud came out.Rather than face the nightmare of the bolts snapping off I replaced the the 1 that came out and shelved the project.Has anyone else experienced these problems?

 

I have just changed the c/bearing mate, rather than attempting the manifold bolts, I just took of the centre x tube of the exhaust. You can get to the carrier bolts dead easy! HTH. :D

my turbo was that f@cked it had shaken all the bolts to finger tight lol

 

steve

I have just changed the c/bearing mate, rather than attempting the manifold bolts, I just took of the centre x tube of the exhaust. You can get to the carrier bolts dead easy! HTH. :D

 

Agree with this, found out the hard way after removing one cat-downpipe. Fiddley bugger

I have just changed the c/bearing mate, rather than attempting the manifold bolts, I just took of the centre x tube of the exhaust. You can get to the carrier bolts dead easy! HTH. :D

 

After taking off the centre x tubes there is a heat shield behind the cats that obscures access to the centre bearing carrier.Did you get the shield off OK with the cats inplace?

After taking off the centre x tubes there is a heat shield behind the cats that obscures access to the centre bearing carrier.Did you get the shield off OK with the cats inplace?

 

Yep-a bit of pulling and wriggling it will come out mate! ;)