Last week my exhaust system sprung a leak. I was happy, since I could now easily justify an aftermarket system and not worry about effecting my warranty (that ran out a few months ago). 
I jacked up the 'ol Tour for a peek. It sounded like the leak was from up by the engine, so I started there. Hmmm, y-pipe looks ok, cats are good...why do I have a gasket hanging out of the cat to cat-back flange?? I slide back to the flange to quickly notice that there are no nuts on the backside of the joint, WTF?? Is this this joint riveted permanantly or what, no it isn't. The ends of both of the studs broke off, some time ago based on the rust on the end of them and the nuts were MIA, doh! It is no wonder the gasket couldn't hang tight. Damn, I can easily fix this w/o a new exhaust. :sad
Well, let's just say that it wasn't that easy of a fix. This is only because it took me a good 45 minutes with a hammer, torch and other bench items to get the damn pressed in studs out of the converter pipe. What I would not have given to have had a benchtop press. Anyway a new Ford gasket and two new SS bolts & nuts and I was on my way quietly again.
Has anyone else ran into these studs breaking on ya?? Just wondering since it was strange that both popped. Guess someone didn't check the torque on the air wrench that put the nuts on that day at the plant. Later.
I jacked up the 'ol Tour for a peek. It sounded like the leak was from up by the engine, so I started there. Hmmm, y-pipe looks ok, cats are good...why do I have a gasket hanging out of the cat to cat-back flange?? I slide back to the flange to quickly notice that there are no nuts on the backside of the joint, WTF?? Is this this joint riveted permanantly or what, no it isn't. The ends of both of the studs broke off, some time ago based on the rust on the end of them and the nuts were MIA, doh! It is no wonder the gasket couldn't hang tight. Damn, I can easily fix this w/o a new exhaust. :sad
Well, let's just say that it wasn't that easy of a fix. This is only because it took me a good 45 minutes with a hammer, torch and other bench items to get the damn pressed in studs out of the converter pipe. What I would not have given to have had a benchtop press. Anyway a new Ford gasket and two new SS bolts & nuts and I was on my way quietly again.
Has anyone else ran into these studs breaking on ya?? Just wondering since it was strange that both popped. Guess someone didn't check the torque on the air wrench that put the nuts on that day at the plant. Later.
