So today i woke up nice and early to install my megan racing headers thinking it would take an hour or two.. I cannot believe how insane those two spring loaded bolts are that tie the headers to the cat... i ended up cranking with a 3/4 14mm ratchet for about 3 hours and neither of them budged.. i ended up putting it back stock until I can figure out a better way to get those suckers off. anybody with a similiar experience? i really don't want to pay labor for 2 bolts somewhere else.. i need a buddy with an impound asap ..lol...

also i drove the xB minus the headers today to back it up..... sounded like i should cut the grass with it instead of drive it

 

Soak them with WD40 repeatedly, it's a pain.

 

Check out the tech section!


John

 

lol the tech section doesnt really touch on how nasty those bolts are trust me i already peeped that out earlier

 

It took me between 1/2 hour and an hour to bust mine loose, and i am not a small guy.
If you could get an impact gun it would make it alot easier.

 

Cool, thats why I have not done mine yet. Also out here in CA most shops won't do the header unless its a DC which is smog legal.


John

 

I soaked the bolts with PB Blaster, you can find it at just about any parts store, for an hour or so and the use of a breaker bar mine backed out real easy.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

is pb blaster stronger than wd 40?
'

 

I only use WD40 on parts that squeak, I've used PB Blaster to tear down every engine I've worked on, so I believe it to be better for breaking bolts free.

Just my thoughts on the product.

Also as others have posted, soak the entire assembly, header flange, springs and bolts, repeatedly and be carefull with the donut gasket so you can reuse it on your new header.

 

PB Blaster is awesome.

We got my header installed in about an hour. Removal of the old was the longest part. Putting the new one in only takes a few minutes.

Keep in mind that if the Megan header isn't threaded, you'll need new exhaust bolts.

 

i think i use the biggest breaker bar they made to loose them, bigger than a finger

 

deo you know what size bolts ill need?

 

I thought I read in the parts section that the new version of the megan headers is threaded now?

 

here are some quotes from a page on this site stating that the new version have fixed the bolt problem.

https://www.scionlife.com/parts/?part=10486

"The install is straightforward, fits up nice and tight to stock downpipe. The only complaint I have is that the 2 stock bolts could not be used because the header was not tapped to accept them. I used a nut and bolt to hold it together, not a problem really, but should not have to do this. I understand the newer version takes care of this problem"

"Loving it. best deal for the money, came with nice gaskets, earlier pieces needed to use nuts to attach to the down pipe newer pieces are tapped to accept the stock bolts no problem Picked mine up for 130 shipped off of ebay."

 

i have one thats not tapped.... must be why i got it so cheap... would an electric impact be strong enough to break those bolts free you think?

 

If you use a breaker bar with a long extension you should be ok.

 

pb blaster is your friend and i did mine on the ground with a breaker bar as well. just make sure you let the pb blaster penetrate it it will work its way in.

 

i just bought an electric impact and they came right off.. its not like i wont get some use out of that thing anyhow

 

well if that info is incorrect that the new ones aren't threaded does anyone know what bolts you need to put them on b/c I was thinking about getting them too.

 

Just take the original exhaust bolt to the shop and get one of the same length, but fully threaded. Then get either locking nuts or threadlock for the ends.