Basic Exhaust Install Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 230
Likes: 5
From: Westerville Ohio
Basic Exhaust Install Question
I think it has to be fairly easy to change out the factory system from the cat back assuming the bolts all come off so I want to do it myself but I want to make sure it is safe and that there are no surprises.
Any advice on lifting the car:
I have four jack stands. Do I just need to raise the back or raise the whole thing (saw a video of someone lifting just the back and putting stands between the rear wheels of a C5)? What’s the best spot for the stands either way?
Is there anything to watch out for?
Thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts,
Any advice on lifting the car:
I have four jack stands. Do I just need to raise the back or raise the whole thing (saw a video of someone lifting just the back and putting stands between the rear wheels of a C5)? What’s the best spot for the stands either way?
Is there anything to watch out for?
Thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
define "fairly" then define "easy"
when I put my car up in the air, I start by driving it up ramps; often this is all that's needed to slide my plus sized body under the front end of the car. the only thing to watch for is that older ramps may be too narrow and pinch the front tires.
with the front on ramps I then jack up the rear of the car placing the jack under the indicated jacking point on the rocker panel. Care must be taken as brake lines or fuel lines (depending on the side of the car being raised) also run in this area, so place the jack to avoid pinching these lines. You can then place the jackstand under the rocker panel rail this area (again avoiding the lines), or farther back under the frame.
the most important thing is to make sure the jack or jackstand contacts metal...not fiberglass ...the threads are full of stories of floorboards with holes in them, usually attributed to improper jacking.
if necessary you can then go back to the front and raise it an additional amount and set it down on jackstands.
removing or replacing the exhaust is definitely made easier if you have a second set of hands to help.
when I put my car up in the air, I start by driving it up ramps; often this is all that's needed to slide my plus sized body under the front end of the car. the only thing to watch for is that older ramps may be too narrow and pinch the front tires.
with the front on ramps I then jack up the rear of the car placing the jack under the indicated jacking point on the rocker panel. Care must be taken as brake lines or fuel lines (depending on the side of the car being raised) also run in this area, so place the jack to avoid pinching these lines. You can then place the jackstand under the rocker panel rail this area (again avoiding the lines), or farther back under the frame.
the most important thing is to make sure the jack or jackstand contacts metal...not fiberglass ...the threads are full of stories of floorboards with holes in them, usually attributed to improper jacking.
if necessary you can then go back to the front and raise it an additional amount and set it down on jackstands.
removing or replacing the exhaust is definitely made easier if you have a second set of hands to help.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
i removed my 96's exhaust solo, by backing the rear up on ramps and jacking the front and setting it on jack stands. even with jack stands, i use large wooden blocks under the front cross member as a little fail safe measure if working by myself. (you can see one of those blocks in the lower left side of the photo). my ramps are long, heavy duty aluminum, and i can get the bottom of the tires up approximately 12 inches off the ground. i had enough room to get under the car and unbolt the system and drop it down in one piece. when i unbolted the rear hangers, i supported the mufflers with jacks and jockey'd the whole system from the cats. one side is flange mounted to the cat, and the other side is a conventional slip fit with a muffler clamp. overall, it was a bit tricky, but not a bad "one man" job. probably spent 4-5 hours for the remove and replace effort, including a little extra time getting the muffler alignment dead on. BTW, i installed a corsa cat back system.
Last edited by Joe C; Apr 27, 2012 at 04:50 PM.
