So i replaced my catless downpipe today with the stock one to pass smog, in the process there was 3 THREE of FIVE nuts that siezed up and i had to cut one an snapped another bolt and stripped the last bolts threads clean off, i didnt cross thread anything puttin it on i know 100% for certain. Is this a common problem with subarus? I replaced 2/3 bolts and all the nuts with newer ones. My car has 38k miles on it so theres not so much wear and tear on it. Its an 05 wrx. Anyone else have this issue?

 

on the turbo? one of mine backed out and the other is messed up.

 

yeah its pretty common. turbo/downpipe bolts seize a lot due to the heat cycles they endure

 

Gotta soak those suckers in PB Blaster (or something similar) for hours before taking them off

 

Yeah on the turbo, its really annoying

 

even then sometimes.... lol

 

Glad to know it not just my car hehe!

 

It happened to my car when I had 15k miles!
Your not alone lol next time when you replace add some kind of anti seize before tightening them down. And when you remove them soak them pb blaster or something

 

If you had put anti-seize on them when you installed the downpipe you wouldn't have run into this problem.

 

one of mine broke half way. 90k miles 06 wrx.

 

I was doing my up pipe and did the same on the down pipe side really sucks but when i get a new down pipe for stage 2 i will make sure to put some anti-seize.Here is a link to the bolts if you need them.Only thing i cant seem to find is the nut/bolt for them?

Exhaust Gaskets and Hardware at RallySportDirect.com

 

It's especially odd that you had this much trouble considering they must have already been removed at least once since you have an aftermarket downpipe.

When I installed my downpipe and loosened these bolts for the first time they only required a minor amount of PB Blaster. When I touched them again to put the stock DP on a couple months ago the bolts were cake. I wonder what factors other than heat cycling contributes to the seizing that happens on some and not others.

 

Moisture. Garage kept cars have less issues overall.

 

PB blaster, or aerokroil, and map gas torch flame fiya!!!

 

Can't advocate anti-seize enough if you make it the first downpipe swap.