Spring bolt kits for 2.3 et al

[Mark_88]

Today I was about to replace the gasket between the cat and the extender pipe on my truck and as I was picking up the gasket I remembered that long ago in a galaxy far, far away...this connection had spring bolts. So I picked up a set of two for a mere $20 (probably why I didn't buy them before).

So I get everything and head back to the garage to put in the new gasket and the spring bolts and just as I'm pulling in the driveway I heard a rather familiar sound...sorta like an airplane from the 1940's taking off...so I get dressed in my warmest work-on-truck in freezing wind clothes and crawl under...

The extender pipe had just severed all ties with the cat~! I guess it was a wonky relationship due to the fact that I didn't put the spring bolts in about five years ago. I realized what the importance of those bolts were when I saw that the pipe broke off (mostly due to rust) just behind the flange...and it was probably due to the excessive sheer on the pipe that would normally have been minimized by the spring bolts.

Anyway...I was wondering if someone could give a better reason for two $10 bolts with springs attached being needed at this particular joint...

Appreciate any input...and especially appreciate a good answer...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

AFAIK it allows for engine movement without stressing the pipe, much as you are seeing now. Basically I'm agreeing with your surmise without any authority.... If that sentence makes sense. If you don't use the spring bolts, then you would have to use some type of flex pipe, which is probably more expensive anyway. How come my 60's and 70's era v-8 engines didn't need such stuff?
Have fun,

Richard

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks for the input Richard...that makes sense about the engine movement...I've seen my engine twist up pretty good when it wasn't timed properly...

 

[Mark_88]

Sooooo...got it all put together finally...took me about 3 hours to complete due to rusted bolts that I put on about 5 years ago...but I think I put the bolts on backwards...at least it will only take me about an hour to turn them around and tighten them properly...dang!

But I took it for a run and it was nice and quiet...turned left three times...then one right...and my steering felt like it was wonky...stopped to have a look...my egr tube had fallen off and was rubbing against the steering knuckle...thought it was something from jacking it up so much on the passenger side...wheew~!