Stripped demon bolt, need idea

[Gauge]

Dunno what to do.

Firstly the passenger side snapped on the first twist. Took like 3 seconds. I was like heh this is easy.

Went to driver side. Wow. **** you nissan. **** you hard. It boggles the mind why someone would do this to a bolt. There are so many things wrong with this.

First, the location. Did they want people to remove the entire steering column to replace the cats? WTF were they thinking.

I got the bolt to turn around several times. I almost wish I didn't. I wish it would have snapped. Would have been easier. But a bolt can only take so much. It eventually rubbed down and now I can't turn it. I must have gotten it around 3 times. Once you turn it, you ain't done.

Now I don't know what to do. I'm incredibly anti-shop. I don't want other people working on my car, especially where I live, because they don't give two ***** about your car. They just want in and out.

Can anyone give any ideas as to how to get it out... I've thought about turning it the other way and trying to snap it tightening it, but I've already got it 3 to the left so I don't know.

Why why why why Nissan. There are just so many things wrong about this I don't even know how they missed all of them. Did they think one set of cats for the entire life of the car would work... jesus.

[nogoodname]

Might be worth to torch it out. That's how mine came out. Heated them up and it just unbolted freely.

[Gauge]

That's the thing, I don't know how you can get anything down there. I could dremel it out but how do you get a dremel in there....

Is there enough room from the bottom?

[MJB]

You can buy bolt extractor sockets. That should work. Were you using a 6point socket? For bolts like that you should use a 6 point impact socket.

[SS_Firehawk]

I'm laughing at your pain right now Gauge, it's like watching people get hurt. ROFL

[Nut_N_Much]

Man, I'm sorry that happened to you. If you have a small air drill it will fit in there, then just drill it our, hit it with a torch and use a bolt extractor in the hole you drilled. The heat should let it brake free..

Man that's a pain..

[Gauge]

Bought a bolt extractor socket set. Completely worthless. Those things are honestly worse than regular sockets, even on rounded bolts. Complete gimmick and waste of money IMO.

I suspected such at the store so I bought a dremel and steel cutting attachments. Going to try to jack it up and get under the car to cut the heads off. Wish me luck.

Also yes, I use a 6 point 1/2 drive impact socket. There is just only so much a bolt can take.

[MyKindaGuise]

Had a similar issue on a Z i worked on...we ended up cutting the cats and flanges off. Junk yard took the chopped cats for $130

[Gauge]

I take back everything I said about these bolt extractors. Went down to garage ready to cut the night away. Decided to try again.

This time I went real slow and rocker it hard back and forth to dig the teeth in and used a hammer as well to get it as far down as it could go.

Little by little it creaked and turned until, SNAP! the glorious sound. So so glorious.

Both bolts are out, time to jack it up and get the easier ones off and install my test pipes.

I feel like I am in a very small crowd of people that has successfully done this. 4 hours into this install so far and I've just taken off 2 bolts lol.

[SS_Firehawk]

CG's! I would grab a cold one and celebrate.

[MJB]

Originally Posted by Gauge

I take back everything I said about these bolt extractors. Went down to garage ready to cut the night away. Decided to try again.

This time I went real slow and rocker it hard back and forth to dig the teeth in and used a hammer as well to get it as far down as it could go.

Little by little it creaked and turned until, SNAP! the glorious sound. So so glorious.

Both bolts are out, time to jack it up and get the easier ones off and install my test pipes.

I feel like I am in a very small crowd of people that has successfully done this. 4 hours into this install so far and I've just taken off 2 bolts lol.

I was goin say what are you talking about? Those bolt extractors have came into handy so many times I can't even count. Glad it worked out for you

[chrischhorn]

Originally Posted by MJB

I was goin say what are you talking about? Those bolt extractors have came into handy so many times I can't even count. Glad it worked out for you

Bolt extractors saved my *** too. Took it to an exhaust shop and said they couldn't get it off with the first few tries so they didn't want to do it and strip the bolt. A couple days later, me and some friends went to tackle it and sure enough.....1 rounded off bolt.....damn shop. Bolt extractor popped that sucker free in about 10 mins!

[JARblue]

Love your signature Congrats on slaying the demon bolt

[Gauge]

Originally Posted by JARblue

Love your signature Congrats on slaying the demon bolt

IMO it's a rite of passage.

Got them installed. All in all it took 8 hours, and 4 trips to various stores and about 200 bucks in new tools. I didn't need 200 bucks in tools, but when I went to the store the last time I wanted to be damn sure those bolts were coming off, so I bought tools for various methods. I don't mind really as now I have the tools for later use.

I will NEVER do that again. I wanted to do it just because I like working on my own car, but no way am I doing that again without a lift. And I'm never tackling anyone else's demon bolts.

I will post a video tomorrow but I am just beat right now. Way to tired to deal with that mess.

In case someone searches on google, here are some tips.

As most people have said use a 6 point impact socket. Apparently (as others have noted) on the newer models they have two bolts facing towards the engine (they are easy to see). The other bolts (not the demon bolts) are not hard to take off, but they can be a challenge to get to. You will need a U joint adapter for various spots. I used half inch drive for the entire operation. 3/8's would have been easier, but I didn't want to risk ruining my tools. The driver side second bolt might seem impossible to get with half inch drive, but you can do it if you snug it in there and have some luck.

Putting it back together, you absolutely can have two bolts facing towards the exhaust. I only put the demon bolt back facing to the top.

I found the O2 sensors on the cats to be easier to take off with the cats on the ground. Form a triangle with the 22mm wrench and the cats and the ground, then just sit on it, or use your knee and it will break free pretty easily.

Once you have the thing apart, putting it back together is a breeze in comparison.

Best tip I can give is to not do it. Take it to nissan and make them do it. The money you pay them is worth the time and frustration.

Also, have bolt extraction kit. Last thing you want to do is take a part your car and be like, well ****, now I have to get these. I live i a big city, so I was lucky enough sears had everything I needed. But if you don't, def def order the bolt extraction kit in advance.

[chrischhorn]

Depending on the cats you get, for shops that are not performance shops, it will most likely not be able to be done by them. It is illegal for them to remove emissions equipment. Midas refused me as soon as they saw "Off-Road use only" on the Stillen HFC's. Reason the demon bolts are there is to stop us from removing the cats. Performance shops don't have to abide by these as technically they work they are doing is suppose to be for non-street use.