Exhaust fell off! Exhaust flange bolts on SRT4

[Shadowjake]

I was driving home from work Saturday and my exhaust came disconnected from the turbo/manifold where those 4 bolts hold it on. I limped it to the local mall and it has been parked there since.

I know on the older dodges, they sell "Help!" brand replacement bolts with the springs but this is different.

I have no idea where to get replacement bolts/nuts to reconnect it. Do they sell them at autoparts stores or is it normal hardware I could get at a hardware store? I looked on rockauto.com and didn't find anything.

Parts 3 and 4 in the picture on the top right of the attached page is what I need. What should I buy?

Thanks again guys!

[Keito]

Did you ever upgrade the 02 housing to a 3"?
I installed a 3" housing and it came with new fasteners.
As far as I could tell they were just M8 x 30mm(they look to be just over an inch)bolts and nuts.
Use new washers on top and bottom and a lock washer under the nut.
You could use 5/16" bolts if you had to, I think 3/8" bolts would be too big.
I have my origional catted downpipe at home I could check it out if you want.

[Shadowjake]

Yes. I have the 3" Perrin cat back exhaust so it is all 3" from the manifold back. I was looking on a mopar parts list and it said the nuts are M8 x 1.25. Until you posted, I didn't really know what that meant.

So an M8x1.25 30mm bolt would do the trick? Should I use a specific grade of hardware? I am not very familiar with the sizing and grade terms.

The exhaust falling off probably explains why I got a check engine light and "O2 Voltage Low" code and horrible gas mileage recently. Must have been air going in to the downpipe.

Thanks for the washer tip.

[Keito]

A cat back exhaust does not make it 3" all the way.
There is a pipe that the exhaust system bolts to thats called
and 02 housing.
Here is a pic of a housing.
http://www.modernperformance.com/3in...er-p-1247.html
This bolts between the turbo and the downpipe.
Might as well upgrade while it's halfway out.
Grade 2 or 5 is OK, make sure you get something that has a coating on it
that will help with rust, and use antiseize if you ever plan
on having to take the exhaust off again.
30 mm long should be plenty, I think the flanges are about .25" thick,
don't know how thick the Perrin is.

[Shadowjake]

I meant turbo back exhaust. Not cat back. Here's a pic of what I have:



It's been a few years since I installed it but I am pretty sure it bolts directly to the manifold/turbo assembly.

Thanks for the advise on the hardware. I was surprised it vibrated loose considering these usually glue themselves together after a few rides in the rain/snow.

[tryingbe]

My local Ace Hardware carried metric bolt/stud/nut.

Don't use any English stuff in there.

[Shadowjake]

After looking closer at it last night, it didn't come un bolted. The pipe cam unwelded from the flange! I had to jack it up, tie the pipe to the undercarriage to keep it off the ground, and drive it home that way. I'll have to try mating them back up and welding it again.

I have only welded about 3 times in my life and I am skeptical that if Perrin's welding didn't hold, mine probably won't either. But it's either this or buy a new pipe. Anyone have any welding tips for me? I'm using a used MIG with flux core wire and without any inert gas.

While welding, is it best to "push" the wire forward as you go or drag it so the welding point is at the back as you move the handle? I'm going to have to search youtube for some how to videos. I don't care if it's ugly as long as it holds.

[tryingbe]

Take a it to a muffler shop, bet they can fix it with $40. They got the knowledge, experience, car hoist, and tools.

[DodgeZ]

bad wheel hop has been known to bust exhausts.

[karlak]

No cat in the system. Shops around here will not let you bring it in their shop unless your wanting to install one.

[Shadowjake]

If wheel hop can do it, I am sure my jarring tein lowering springs are probably to blame. There have been a few pot holes I've hit that I thought the wheel was going to get ripped off. It's pretty rough sometimes.

They are not too strict about emissions here in Wisconsin so hopefully he turns a blind eye. The exhaust system is stainless steel I just remembered so I wouldn't be able to weld it anyway. I am going to drop it off tonight at the muffler shop and get an estimate tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys.

[Shadowjake]

Well they replaced the gasket and welded the exhaust back to the flange. 95 bucks and guaranteed for a year. They used a MIG welder so they said they said if it doesn't hold, they would bring it to a place with a TIG welder and wouldn't charge me. They were pretty confident it was welded well enough though. What a relief. I thought I would have to buy a new exhaust system for a while there. . .

Thanks for the help again guys!