I have been searching for a DIY to replace the Cat on 2005 RX-8 but am unable to find one, just see one that says to remove a few bolts and no pics.. are there any good Cat removal DIY's?

 

If you need a DIY, you should probably not attempt it.

 

Its not my car, haven't even looked at it and she lives in Dallas, I live in Houston so I want to see why they are charging $1400 to change her cat out..

If I could get a DIY then I could tell her if I could do it or not for her for free

 

The cat itself is like $1200.00 I think. Swapping it out is five bolts.

This is my midpipe that replaces the stock cat pipe.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4968876181/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4968876181/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

 

Yea I just talked to the dealership and they said it was like $1271 for the part itself, holy jeez!! Something about it having gold, platinum and other precious metals in it... jeez

 

Cats are covered by emission warranty for 80K miles and she still is inside the time limit....

So how many miles?

If you do change it yourself you just have to unplug the O2 sensor, remove it and place it somewhere safe before you drop the pipe.
Breaking bolts is likely so get some spares. Use penetrating oil to prevent damage. Oh, and it's really hot after driving...

 

Yep, but that is any cat converter, they are all expensive that is why people are cutting them out of cars in the parking lot. My father head of a Jeep club and a lot of them have been getting hit recently since it's easy on a lifted truck to cut it out with a sawz all.

 

She is over the 80,000 miles so that sucks.. I will tell her to go ahead and buy that one after she checks the part number.

Thanks a lot!

 

That is her best bet, if she is in Dallas check out the NTXrotary lounge in the Gulf Forum, I bet one of those guys will slap in on for her. But she will probably get leg humped pretty bad too

 

She is coming back down to Houston next week so I will do it for her..
Does the below sound okay? I need to get 14mm and 12mm sockets if that is the case.. does it need to be deep socket or anything special Ima need to do this? I dont exactly have a full set of metric tools


1. Take off your cat.
Taking it off is very straightforward.
All you neet is to disconnect the oxygen sensor from the connector jst above it.
Unscrew three 14mm nuts on the front joint, two 14mm nuts on the back joint, detach the 2 horizontal support panels by unbolting 12 mm bolts that hold them in place (4 in each) and finally pulling off the rubber mount.
Even after you take off everything that holds your cat, the pipe will remain in place. To get it off grab a large screwdriver (carefully not to damage the metal ring in there) jam it between the flanges on the front join and using the screwdriver as a lever separate the joint. Once it is out, Just pull the whole pipe out of the rear joint.

2. Take out the Oxygen sensor:
Remove the sensor guard by unscrewing two 10mm nuts.
Unscrew and remove the sensor.

 

you might need deep sockets iirc for the spring bolts

 

If her cat is clogged I would not advise her to make a the drive from Dallas to Houston. A clogged cat on a rotary can cause extreme EGT's and ruin the motor.

 

If the cat is already dead, and not under warranty, you could just bash the clogged material out and leave it empty - voila, free midpipe. Or not, it's your car.

Tip for removal, the header joint 'bolts' are mounted into the midpipe - they won't loosen, you'll just break something. Undo the 'nuts' on the front of the joint.

 

I'm in Dallas and will be happy to change it for you.

Otherwise be sure to put high temp anti-seize on all the threaded bolts before reinstalling it to avoid any future issues removing those parts again

TX is an OBD2 emission compliance state.

.

 

wow - people are stealing them now off Jeeps? The world is upside down now it seems...

Why not find a totalled RX8 and but a used midpipe? You should also replace the front crush gasket.

 

I have a new gasket too

 

Alright I'll tell her that someone is offering to do it for her and see what she wants to do lol

 

Alright man she is all excited lol now she dont have to drive to houston..

can you PM me phone number / address and name and stuff so i can get it to her?

she is a lil hottie so dont be humpin her leg like 9krpm says u guys like to do and ill let u know her name and what not

 

I think she is safe with Team, he is a little abrasive at times but I doubt he would be disrespectful to a young lady.

 

+1 for team. he'll be able to knock this out in under ten minutes.

 

so I was talking to her and she wants to know "soo.. should I take him out to dinner before or after he takes a look at my 'cat' lol ? "

 

, ,

 

hi guys

 

thank you guys for all the advice it really has helped me out alot.....sorry i had to send someone else to do my dirty work for me ...thanks morketh

 

Better hope he still does it after you talkin' about your 'cat' the way you do
You might make him nervous !