How long/how much to fit a cat-manifold fitting kit?

[ScarySquirrel]

Hello,

How long should it take a mechanic to fit one of these - http://www.northwestperformance.co....ducts_id=20&osCsid=im63lfilphmlmka0gtfck456d6 ?

I would do it myself but I know I'll screw it up, plus I hate jacking cars up for fear of breaking something (lame, I know!)

 

[Tom@JMS]

Depends if it is a Renault Original kit which retails as nearly £35.00 parts only, or a peugeot kit which is identical and only £5.00. Fitting takes about 30 mins.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

I bought the one from Northwest Performance in the link above.

 

[mr.valver]

It was a total nightmare on my car, but that was down to one of the bolts spinning and accsess was a total b**ch.

But I have hands of a bear and patience of a 3 year old lol.

Think we where on about an 1.5 hours, that was on a ramp to.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Hmmm, I was going to give it a go myself as I have axle stands and a trolley jack (I just don't like using them!), but now I'm not so sure.

 

[rensport2009]

Hi there, im new to this forum, i ve got a renault specialist garage in appleby magna many of you may no it? it used to be hill power, and now its rensport, To fit the cat manifold kit i usully charge a hours labour due to the fact that most of the time the the bolts spin! Also i would advise using the genuine fitting kit as the other non genuine ones tend to make a squeeking noise after a while of being fitted. HOPE this is some help.
if you would like any further info or a quote on any work just give me a call 07894 817962 also breaking clio sports.

 

[Riley!]

Gonig to put an end to the confusion here. Rite to fit these on a 182 is a piece of piss 20-30min job. 172 however, absolute nightmare your hitting the pain in the arse area of fitting a 172 cat or de-cat.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Well I suppose I may as well give it a go tonight and see what happens.

 

[Riley!]

assuming you've got a 182 from your name you'd be silly not to. You'd only kick yourself if you knew how easy it is on them and paid someone else to do it

 

[ScarySquirrel]

I had a go tonight but I couldn't get the bloody bolts undone, no matter what I did, it was just twisting the bolt round and round no matter what I tried. Now it's even more loose than before

What is the best way of getting it undone? Spanner on each end and then turn it? I only had one spanner the right size and a pair of pliers (which kept losing grip)

 

[Tom@JMS]

You've probably rounded the bolts. Best bet is to get a meaty set of mole gips on the engine side bolt heads, and a flare nut spanner on the other end to stop it from rounding.

 

[Dave..]

Are the nuts on one end, doubled up? You'll struggle to unbolt them if you're trying the wrong way.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

You've probably rounded the bolts. Best bet is to get a meaty set of mole gips on the engine side bolt heads, and a flare nut spanner on the other end to stop it from rounding.

Thanks, I'll give that a go.

Are the nuts on one end, doubled up? You'll struggle to unbolt them if you're trying the wrong way.

I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[markhinton]

Took me around 15mins to change over, if you've got access to a blow torch heat the bolt til it's red hot then knock it off!

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Took me around 15mins to change over, if you've got access to a blow torch heat the bolt til it's red hot then knock it off!

I don't even have the right spanners let alone a blow torch, hehe. Thanks for the tip though

I called Kwik Fit to see if they could do it quickly for me, but apparently they won't touch parts they don't supply themselves. I also called another garage and they said they would need to see it in order to quote, which I think is a bit silly really.

I'm going to pop down to Halfords and get the right sized tools for the job. I'll have another go tonight.

 

[Triki]

Mine was piece of piss !
Just undid the spring bolts, slackened the exhaust mounts to give some movement, in with the new gasket, bolts springs etc. Tighten the lot up. 20mins maximum

But from having read the above, if you dont have the right tools your screwed.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Well, I EVENTUALLY got them off, and I have fitted the new kit, however I had to use the old cups as they were not budging no matter how hard I hammered them.

The result, no difference what so ever. Any ideas what the rattling might be now then?

I am so gutted

 

[Riley!]

rattling? its a friging renault ha

 

[Dave..]

Replace those old cups. Seriously, get out there now and do it.

I'm already on freds wall of shame for it.

 

[Fred@BTM]

^pratt of the year award

 

[Dave..]

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Do you really think old cups could be the problem? I will get them sorted out this weekend, but when I fitted the kit it was almost pitch black and I just need something on there as I had a wedding in Essex to get to the next day. Being the photographer for it I couldn't really miss it

 

[Dave..]

Old cups won't cause you any problems with rattling. They'll cause you a problem when you get a new exhaust fitted, they wear through, and the bolts shoot out the other side of them.

 

[Fred@BTM]

^10pm in the NEC car park lying under his car fixing his error!

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Well I'll get them on there ASAP anyway.

Although, I still have this friggin' annoying rattle during acceleration. I'm fed up of this car now.