- Joined
- Mar 12, 2017
- Posts
- 556
- Reaction score
- 537
- Location
- Washington State
- Ram Year
- 2013
- Engine
- Hemi
So, I've extracted and replaced broken exhaust manifold screws (technically, they're screws, not bolts or studs), in 3 ram trucks. In my previously owned 2010 bighorn 2wd, and in my current 2013 sport 4x4, and a friend's 2014 Sport 4x4.
The trucks weren't that hard. I accessed the manifolds through the wheel wells. Removed the manifolds, center punched the broken screws, drilled and extracted them. Easy! A couple had to have a nut welded to the screw because the space was too tight for a drill.
The wife's 2011 Durango Citadel was a whole different beast! I would classify this job as torture. Hell's nightmare.
I'd rather sandpaper a wildcats ass, in a phone booth, than do that again.
I wasted my time removing the wheel well liner. Nothing behind it but sheet metal. They must be accessed from above, or below. Mostly below.
So, everything's a tight fit. By tight, I mean no way-no how is a drill getting anywhere near a broken stud. Your gonna be holding a nut on the end of a telescoping magnet, with a helper reaching down from above with a stick helping hold the nut in place, while you attempt to maneuver a mig torch into place.
Ho-lee-****, that sucked. Id rather catch ******.
Next time, I'll pull the engine!
.
The trucks weren't that hard. I accessed the manifolds through the wheel wells. Removed the manifolds, center punched the broken screws, drilled and extracted them. Easy! A couple had to have a nut welded to the screw because the space was too tight for a drill.
The wife's 2011 Durango Citadel was a whole different beast! I would classify this job as torture. Hell's nightmare.
I'd rather sandpaper a wildcats ass, in a phone booth, than do that again.
I wasted my time removing the wheel well liner. Nothing behind it but sheet metal. They must be accessed from above, or below. Mostly below.
So, everything's a tight fit. By tight, I mean no way-no how is a drill getting anywhere near a broken stud. Your gonna be holding a nut on the end of a telescoping magnet, with a helper reaching down from above with a stick helping hold the nut in place, while you attempt to maneuver a mig torch into place.
Ho-lee-****, that sucked. Id rather catch ******.
Next time, I'll pull the engine!
.
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