OT: need a suggestion for perhaps a wrench..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
OT: need a suggestion for perhaps a wrench..
Greetings,
I have an issue -- I have been doing some restoration work on my 944, and started to work on the exhaust. I came to find that the nuts holding the catalytic converter to the manifold had two sets of pipes, 4 nuts/bolts each. Of those 8 nuts, 5 of them were rounded off, but not entirely. They still have some shape left, but I'm afraid to go at it with a pair of pliers, since the nuts are on so tight (up to 15 years of corrosion and such).
So, does anyone know of a tool that is made for getting rounded nuts off, but also allows for a great deal of torque to be applied? I remember seeing something on one of those TV advertisements, but can't remember what it was called or anything. Preferrably a socket-type deal would be best, since I can't really get a wrench up in there (too small of an area). Cutting the bolts is also not an option (due to the space restrictions in there), and drilling the bolts is also not an option.
I'm looking for any help you guys might be able to offer, rather than taking the thing to an exhaust shop. I fear that as an option.
I have an issue -- I have been doing some restoration work on my 944, and started to work on the exhaust. I came to find that the nuts holding the catalytic converter to the manifold had two sets of pipes, 4 nuts/bolts each. Of those 8 nuts, 5 of them were rounded off, but not entirely. They still have some shape left, but I'm afraid to go at it with a pair of pliers, since the nuts are on so tight (up to 15 years of corrosion and such).
So, does anyone know of a tool that is made for getting rounded nuts off, but also allows for a great deal of torque to be applied? I remember seeing something on one of those TV advertisements, but can't remember what it was called or anything. Preferrably a socket-type deal would be best, since I can't really get a wrench up in there (too small of an area). Cutting the bolts is also not an option (due to the space restrictions in there), and drilling the bolts is also not an option.
I'm looking for any help you guys might be able to offer, rather than taking the thing to an exhaust shop. I fear that as an option.
Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,278
Likes: 1
hhhhmmmm...I know you mentioned that cutting or drilling is not an option but...
I have seen a tool that will work in tight situations (I actually saw it at home depot) If you can get a wrench on he nut, then you could get this cutter in there
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
Hm, I thought about that, but (more)
I couldn't get a pair of vice grips in there. There's just not enough room with the surrounding stuff in there to get a wrench of normal size in there. A socket works fine, but anything else is nearly impossible to fit in there, and once in, you can't turn it..
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,757
Likes: 0
The TV ad you're talking about is 'Robo-Grip' perhaps. Bob Villa swears by it...lol
You could probably get it from a Sears but I don't think it's going to do what you need. Whatever you try, make sure to soak those bolts in some good penetrating lube for a day to free up some of the rust and corrosion.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 0
Oh man, it sounds like a war is about to start...
..I have had the same issues with other cars, and have had what could have been a 5 minute job turn into an 8 hour one. I wonder if you can drop the whole exhaust? I have found this to be helpful but it may not be an option on a 944. I had to cut the cat bolts off most of the time when they are rusted and rounded off; I know of the extractor socket you are talking about but can't recall who makes them. I'm sure you can win in the end if you are persistent and can take what ever time you need, and it sounds like you can.
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,278
Likes: 1
lol....no it was almost like an closed wrench but....
it has a nut on the top
You put the *wrench* over the nut to be split and then tighten the nut on the *wrench*, this will start the spitting process
Did that make sense?
You put the *wrench* over the nut to be split and then tighten the nut on the *wrench*, this will start the spitting process
Did that make sense?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
Yes, that's the beauty of this whole ordeal, I've got about
3 months to get this car to snuff, so time is not of urgency. If this were my daily driver, I would have already taken it to an exhaust shop to have them take care of the problem. I figured, since I have the time, why not take my time and save some money doing everything myself. In time, I'm sure I'll find a solution.
As a side-note, dropping the whole exhaust would be fruitless. Can't do it without getting the cat out first. I had thought about that at first (hey, why not just do the whole exhaust while I'm down here), but found very quickly that I'm stuck getting the cat off first.
Thanks for the input Jim!
As a side-note, dropping the whole exhaust would be fruitless. Can't do it without getting the cat out first. I had thought about that at first (hey, why not just do the whole exhaust while I'm down here), but found very quickly that I'm stuck getting the cat off first.
Thanks for the input Jim!