Taking out Catalytic Converter

[98 A4]

98 a4 1.8 The flange on my cat came off and i don't have enough money to buy another cat so i'm going with the test pipe. the problem is that i have succussfully taken off the broken off flange from the turbo and i am having troubles finding enough room to take off the other bolts from the lower part of the cat. I took out the airbox and wheel on the passenger side to give myself more room but it doesn't seem to be enough also the bolts on the lower part of the cat are all rusted out and no matter what size of socket i use i just seem to strip the bolt all to hell. So i've tried everything on how to take off the bolts so i think my last choice is to cut them off. My question is what else can i take off the car to give myself more room to work with and what do u think i should do to get off the bolts. Thanks

[kb277]

the best thing you can do for this is to take off centre section of exhaust and drop the whole thing and then you have as much room as you like to grind off the old bolt heads. i would suggest putting on new ones with some copperslip grease (Not normal grease) as this will allow easier removal of bolts for putting cat back on for mot. once you have done this bolt bottom section on first the middle section of exhaust to rear and then bolt back onto turbo under bonnett.

Hope this helps, it seems to be the best way not to trash your hands doing the job.

[98 A4]

thanks for the reply, i will definitely do that because that sounds like the best way to gain more room to work with.