I feel dumb

Kinja'd!!! by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 01/27/2017 at 21:26

Tags: Helpmewrench
STARS: 0


I’ve been wondering why my stock exhaust was so incredibly loud, turns out it sheared completely off an inch from the catalytic converter (on the muffler side).

Now, my car has been loud for awhile. Ever since I entered an off the books rallyx race and hit a rock six months ago. Obviously I inspected my exhaust after the significant bump in volume... But I was looking for holes. Didn’t find any holes, so I just assumed there was no damage and the powers that be decided my Miata should be louder. Nope, it was that damn rock. Cut clean through, the catback was still mounted pretty solidly with the exhaust hangers so I didn’t realize what happened until today when I tried removing one of the two nuts on the cat’s flange and the whole thing moved except for the catback.

So, I stripped one nut, and sheared the other one. Great. Not that it matters because all I have is hand tools and I should have realized there was NO WAY those were going to cut it to remove the nuts, even after soaking everything in pb blaster for a few days.

Ended up going to Firestone to get the studs cut flush with the cat and drilled out. It actually wasn’t expecting them to do this, but they lifted it up, removed one stud with a torch and some kind of socket (?) and managed to take off the other nut without having to remove the stud. Simple. Didn’t charge me either. First positive shop experience in a loooong time.

Despite the fact that it hasn’t been doing anything for months, I’m leaving stock catback on so I don’t get pulled over. New catback is waiting to be put on, I just need to replace the stud (how does one do that...?) and find new nuts.

So how was your day


Replies (6)

Kinja'd!!! "If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
01/27/2017 at 21:30, STARS: 0

I have to go fix the addition I made to my sound system because I cannot wire correctly to save my life.

Kinja'd!!! "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/27/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 0

Oh man. Don’t say that. Wiring is something I have to start doing this next month... Just put Bluetooth speakers in your headrests, problem solved.

Kinja'd!!! "If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
01/27/2017 at 21:37, STARS: 0

Every time I hit a big bump the audio cuts out for a split second. I tried those self stripping T-taps for the first time but I think I’ll have to redo it the normal way.

Kinja'd!!! "RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z)" (redline350z)
01/27/2017 at 23:42, STARS: 0

Kinja'd!!!

My exhaust decided to part ways with my car 2 days ago on my way home from the gym. I now drive with earplugs until I can drive to my parents house and get my ramps and jackstands

Kinja'd!!! "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/29/2017 at 22:11, STARS: 0

Yikes, hoping the midpipe is still on at least. Of course it would be raining too haha

Kinja'd!!! "RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z)" (redline350z)
01/30/2017 at 00:11, STARS: 0

Yea it fell off at the slip joint to the mid pipe. It hit against the swaybar due to poor fitment because it’s not actually made for the 350z. Got a new sway bar coming next week to hopefully solve the issue