In a bit of a predicament, would appreciate anyone's experience with this issue. The Y pipe on a 2008 G35x has rotted to the point where it needs to be replaced. My problem is with two exhaust studs pressed into a cat flange (there are two cats), there are supposed to be nuts on the Y pipe flange side that screw onto the two exhaust studs from the cat side. The nuts have completely rusted away, one of the studs appears to have threads but rust has formed over it and they can't be used without being tapped and I doubt that would work anyway. The remaining stud has dissolved past the threads and looks beyond salvageable.
The car is a beater and I'm trying to get this Y pipe replaced with the most minimum cost, don't care how ugly the fix looks as long as its functional. The plan I would like to go with is to somehow remove the studs and replace them with bolts. I think drilling is going to be difficult so out of the question. Hammering the studs is out of the question as well since I worry I might break the thin flange or destroy the cat. That leaves me with one last option, press it out using a C clamp and some sockets to act like arbor plates on a press.
Has anyone tried using a C clamp to press out splined exhaust studs? Is this a stupid idea? When I google it, most people say hammer it or even cut from the side or drill so I'm wondering if there's a reason people just don't do it that way. Also will heat make pressing out splined in studs easier? If so should I heat up the stud or the flange ear to ease it out?
Here's a picture of the area and the two studs:
If I can't press the studs out (though I would like to), one last alternative plan I have is to bypass the flanges entirely, by using split flanges (Nickson makes them) to make two "new" flanges rotated slightly so that their connecting bolts will clear the ears and existing studs. On the cat side this is a little concerning because the cat widens and it might conflict with the diameter of the split flange, unless I use a dremel or something to saw the round parts of the studs off to make the split flange as as close to the existing flange as possible. Something like this:
The car is a beater and I'm trying to get this Y pipe replaced with the most minimum cost, don't care how ugly the fix looks as long as its functional. The plan I would like to go with is to somehow remove the studs and replace them with bolts. I think drilling is going to be difficult so out of the question. Hammering the studs is out of the question as well since I worry I might break the thin flange or destroy the cat. That leaves me with one last option, press it out using a C clamp and some sockets to act like arbor plates on a press.
Has anyone tried using a C clamp to press out splined exhaust studs? Is this a stupid idea? When I google it, most people say hammer it or even cut from the side or drill so I'm wondering if there's a reason people just don't do it that way. Also will heat make pressing out splined in studs easier? If so should I heat up the stud or the flange ear to ease it out?
Here's a picture of the area and the two studs:
If I can't press the studs out (though I would like to), one last alternative plan I have is to bypass the flanges entirely, by using split flanges (Nickson makes them) to make two "new" flanges rotated slightly so that their connecting bolts will clear the ears and existing studs. On the cat side this is a little concerning because the cat widens and it might conflict with the diameter of the split flange, unless I use a dremel or something to saw the round parts of the studs off to make the split flange as as close to the existing flange as possible. Something like this:
