i'm going to be installing my downpipe and wondered after i sprayed the bolts with penatrating lube can i use an air ratchet on the bolts? if i can does it matter on the psi? any info will help! thanks

 

you may be able to use it on the cat bolts but i doubt you will be able to fit an impact wrench onto any of the bolts up by the manifold

 

Im sure its safe i just dont think its doable, I really cant see how youre going to fit the rachet and your hand with the airhose coming out to the compressor down to were you need to get the bolts out. Goodluck though.

 

no room

 

definitely no room. I'd soak them for a long time with the penetrating lube and go at it slowly. Those bolts are notorious for breaking.

 

The air ratchet is actually pretty small...waaay smaller than an impact wrench. I think you could fit one in there to do the upper 2 bolts, but like the others said, I would not use air tools on these bolts. Rusted/stuck bolts + air tools is a good recipe for broken off studs and lots of potential headaches.

I used a 14mm medium deep socket with no extension to reach every nut except the top rear one. For that one, a 3" extension with the said socket did the trick.

Sonny

 

yeah pass on the air tools....you do not wanna snap one off...I snapped a bolt off in my manifold..and let me tell you

THAT SUCKED HARD

 

an air rachet puts out 150ft-lbs of torque at BEST. If you cant exert that force on a standard breaker bar, u prolley shouldnt be a mechanic

but if ur going to do that, DO NOT crank the psi past 90. All air tools are designed to run at 90psi.