How do I remove these bolts?

I’m working on my car and need help figuring out how to remove these bolts. Any advice?



Try using a hammer. Sometimes a good whack does the job.

They might be spot welded. You can either grind the heads off or use an air hammer.

Grind off the cap side. They’re welded to the exhaust. I found that out when I did my own exhaust work.

Did you have to drill them too? I just did an oil change and saw mine are pretty much just nubs. Gonna put in a new catalytic converter next week.

Nope, they fell out on their own. I just replaced them with new hardware after.

Give them a good hit on the thread end with a hammer. They should pop out like wheel studs.

Yep, that’s exactly how you get them out.

If you have a torch, heat will make it easier. If not, hit them with PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench and let it soak. Then use vice grips. If all else fails, drill them out. In the shop, we’d hit them with an air hammer and they’d be out in seconds.

You could try using an outer tie rod arm puller, a C-clamp, or just drill them out and replace with new bolts and nuts.

Just grab a BFH—Big Freakin’ Hammer.

Soak them in penetrating oil, heat, and hit them. The exhaust hangers will absorb a lot of your hits, so getting the exhaust solid will help. Air hammers also make this easier.

Try an adjustable hammer (just kidding).

Use an angle grinder to make a side cut and slowly remove the bolt. That’s how I did it on mine.

You can’t take those off, unfortunately. I had the same issue on a Ford Escape’s catalytic converter. Ended up having to leave them.

Those are press-in studs. You’d need to heat the flange area and then maybe hammer them out, but no guarantees.

Put a nut halfway on the thread, then hit it. The joint will move a little, then remove the nut and knock it through. Heat helps too.

Hit it with a hammer. You’re lucky not to have to saw them off since exhaust bolts usually rust out completely.

I had to drill mine out. It took a while, but it worked.

Grind the stud anchors flat with the flange, then use a hammer and punch or air hammer to knock them out. Replace them with bolts, nuts, washers, and lock washers.