Removing stock cat backs 2000 GTS.

[DAMN YANKEE]

Yes, I read the whole Corsa guide in the Illustrated Upgrades, and was appreciative to have it. That thread starts to get "thin" right when the work begins. Can you help with a few quick questions:

1. When all four clamp are loosened (2 behind the cat, 2 after the O2 sensors) should the clamps be so loose that they slide down the pipes? Mine are loose at the bolt (very) and appear to be loose at the pipe, but they won't slide forward. Are they tacked in place?

2. Do we remove the two bolts that hold the rubber isolators to the frame that hold up either of the mid pipe hangers? Do we remove the two bolts at the tail that hold the rubber isolator to the frame for the tail hanger? In other words, do we struggle with seperating the hangers from the rubber isolators ON or when they are OFF the car? Any best lube?

3. What gets seperated first. Looks like (reads like) its where the mid pipe enters the tail pipe. Is a rubber mallet best? Hammer with a wooden block? Strike where to do as little damage as possible? Many thanks.

 

[Stephen]

Hi Yankee, I did mine last fall, took the hanger and rubber off, loosen all clamps and slide them down the pipes, dont forget the muffler hanger. Spray some lubricant (WD-40) on all pipe joints, then take a 15 minutes break... : Use a rubber mallet and start tapping at the muffler/tail pipe junction, move the pipes back and forth it should come out, then do the same thing for the resonator/cat pipe (sidesill).
P.S. Off course also take the 02 sensors out (spay them with WD 40 before).When you will put them back in twist them conterclockwise several time so the wires are strait.
Good luck
--------
2000 GTS ACR Black/Silver strp
2005 Hemi Ram

 

[kcobean]

I used a sawzall and those puppies came right off!

We had the stock exhaust including the cats off the car in about 15-20 minutes.

 

[FE 065]

1. My 1999 clamps are tacked to the pipes..

2. You have to take the bolts out that hold the rubber isolators at some point. Certainly the ones in front of the back tires if you are going to try and separate the cat/resonator first by pounding. If you don't have a rubber mallet, a hammer and 2x4 will do. Just don't hit the front of the resonator super hard expecting it to come off in a few blows.

3. You might try starting at the back leaving everything else tight so you can try and wiggle the rear muffler free after loosening the clamps behind the rear O2 sensors. Even if it won't come out of the car after you get it loose, you'll still be in better shape to remove the resonator section.

Once you loosen the mid pipe clamps and remove the 4 bolts by the back bumper just start pounding on the front of the rear muffler. Being careful of whether the muffler is getting too close to the bumper as you pound. Maybe stuff an old towel up in there to protect the area where the tips stick out of the lower valance etc.

 

[DAMN YANKEE]

That about covers it! I wrote to the Illustrated Guide editor and asked him to ammend the Corsa guide (removal of stock cat-back) with these recommendations.

Thanks to all.