CV boot Heat Shield

[mosnet99]

Hey AZers,

So the removal/installation for the Catalytic converter supposedly requires removing the CV boot heat shield with those godforsaken hex bolts torqued down way too much. The last one is stripped so after trying some YouTube tips I started to get ideas besides taking it off. I jacked the car up more reangled the CAT with flex pipe attached and pulled it out of the engine bay from up top. I'm fairly certain I can install the new one this way but I started to wonder will this prove to be a headache later on for anything else? Maybe I should ask AZ and see if I should deal with this ungodly hex bolt in the CV boot shield now to save work later. However, if there's no other job calling for removal of the shield I'mnjust gonna leave it stripped in there & carry on. Thanx

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

[mosnet99]

Scratch this. IRWIN makes some great tools, used their bolt extractor 13mm. Hammered it down & came right out. Heat shield out the way!

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

[old guy]

Those heat shield bolts can be a bitch. Especially if you try loosening them from underneath (as you found out). If anyone is replacing their cat or downpipe from the top it would be a good idea to break them loose. Then whenever you have to replace a drive axle it's a lot easier to remove them from underneath.

Sure glad I did.

[MikTip]

I have mastered the cv heat shield removal to a fine art! After 12 years of owning my B6 and swapping out the test pipe several times!

Ya have to be resourceful and have a good set of tools.

The most important thing is make sure the allen is in the bolt head all the way and turn it without deflection.

Ya have to be smarter than what your working on!

[tHatOne guY]

Those can be a pain, esp after you strip them. Lol.

These guys help.

http://sunextools.com/index.cfm?s=de...=101&item=1516

http://sunextools.com/index.cfm?s=de...=101&item=2041

... but I am one who loves to buy tools.

[mosnet99]

I found out another tip is making sure none of them have oil & gunk built up inside them. That's what caused mine to start to round out. So for anyone in the future get some BrakeKleen and clean them out good before you even start. Like Miktip said making sure its fully seated, and when you start to put torque on it making sure the hex doesn't lean to the side.

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk