Sups everyone! I will be getting my FI HFC this week. And would like any input from other that have Installed these thier selves or watched a shop perform the removal of their OEM Cat. As I read so many horror stories about getting to that one damn "TOP BOLT" that is a B$itch to remove! I pretty much did most of my mods myself to save myself $$$, so I'm pretty handy with tools. But want to know if I should shoot that bolt down everyday with penetrating lube to loosen it up? not sure that will work? LOL. then use a big Braker bar to buss that bolt loose? I also have an Air compressor and Impact gun? would that also work better?

And almost forgot, should I remove all 02 sensors from the OEM cat before banging and hammering at this bolt? Since I have read that these sensors are very sensitive and may get damaged if I use the Impact gun with it still on? Hope there is room to get to the sensors? anyone know?

Aiight well I would appreciate any helpfull tips before I tackle this Nitemare Bolt! HAHA.

 

Sup mike. I have berks HFC, tried a few times to install these myself, here is what i learned and experienced. First try, got under the car and remove 4 of 6 bolts at the bottom of OEM cat where it meets the exhaust. Failed. second try, with better tools got 5 of 6 bolts off. failed. Third try, this is when i found out about the "top bolt" being a pain to get off, so i figure to tackle that first, with a breaker bar and two man power, wouldnt budge. failed. So i took it to a pro.

Not to scare u away, here lies my problems, didnt lube it enough, didnt have air comp or an impact gun, and some of the right tools. It seems like u know what u are doing, so yes lube all the bolts very very well, remove the 02 sensors BEFORE impact gun, and for the top bolt, get at least a two foot extension to go from top of the engine to the top bolt.

 

Mike! Bring it to a Pro!!! Don't DIY. It's very difficult with the top bolt which had one of it facing down the engine and two of them facing up.You also need to torch the O2 in order to take it off.take it to the shop!! Recommended!!

 

I took mine to my infiniti dealership, I figure i'll let the infiniti tech deal with it hahaha.

 

Hey Lucky_One,
Sorry to bring up an old topic but was the difficulty due to the fasteners being seized/frozen or the access/angle to the fasteners with the wrench? Would you say that if we can get that driver-side top nut loose, then the rest is doable? I can be a cheap SOB when it comes to paying someone to install a new toy. I beleive you about this being difficult, I just want to know what I am getting myself into while I still have a chance to talk myself out of it.

 

 

You can do it yourself. Take your time and know what you're doing before installing them.

 

Hey Mike,
I brought my car to RadMotorsports in Waipahu to have my FI HFC on. Can't exactly remember because it was almost two years ago, but I think it was $150 to install.

 

Thanks guys for answering my questions. The video was great!

I guess this thread was dead so I am not really stealing it at this point...do you guys prefer Berk or FI? I don't want loud, I prefer quiet quality and no cell. I fully intend on keeping the stock muffler but I am also thinking about the Magnaflow Tru-X muffler mod to replace the Y restriction.

Anyway, thanks everyone.

 

They are all going to make it deeper and louder. In fact my exhaust was quiet until i installed the cats. Then it roared.


Btw i did mine in 30 minutes. Its a pretty straight foward swap. Use elbow grease no need for lube penetration. If it doesnt bleed your not trying.

GL.

 

I hear what you are saying. I am still debating if I want to chance a volume increase . Deeper is great but I had the Borla cat back earlier and it had way too much drone and was a little louder than I wanted. Thanks for the added perspective regarding the install.

 

HAHA, this thread is back, Well I never tried it myself, after all the Horror Stories I heard about theose Top Cat Bolts! So I took It to my Local Infiniti Dealer, and they Installed it, for $160! No Questions asked! But in the process they broke the Upper 02 Sensor! That damn senors are very sensitive to Impacts! it broke frm them tryin to get the bolts off! LOL.

Gave me some Grief about it being my fault, and said it was on before I brought my car in. But they replaced it under wareanty, so all was good after!