So after viewing the video on youtube showing the install of the Berk HFCs and how "easy" it was and also having installed cats on my old Acura Integra I figured installing these things wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Well I was horribly horribly wrong. This was probably the most torturous hellish experience with installing something on a car I've ever experienced.

I spent almost 8 hours trying to get those god forsaken bolts off from the engine compartment using a combination of PB Blaster, 500 and 750 ft/lb air guns, breaker bars you name it. We finally managed to get the passenger side bolt off but the drivers side bolt finally just rounded off so we couldn't even get a good grip on the thing.

I finally took it into a shop and they had to discharge my AC system and unhook it to get to the thing and had to cut the bolt and break the thing off and then drill out the rest of the bolt.

The 150$ quoted me to install exhaust and high flow cats at a shop in town looked so freaking cheap after this that I was kicking myself.

I must say I am never ever ever going to be doing any of this crap myself again.

Lesson learned car install gods!

P.S.

Somebody needs to send a nasty gram to the guys who made that install video on YouTube for suckering folks.

 

I feel your pain. Well not really. I knew this bitch was going to be a beast to install because of that one damn bolt on either side. I took it to my dealership and suckered them into installing it for $200. The service writer told me afterward that it took a lot longer than they had estimated and they broke on of my stuck O2 sensors that they had to replace at their expense.

For most of us, even those hand with tools and with some mechanical skills, its worth it to pas someone else to do it. But then again, some have had an easier time of it.

 

In my case the O2 sensors were really easy to get off for me so I guess I had one small "win" there . I've never in my life had so much trouble getting a bolt off. I mean how the heck would the dealer replace a factory one if they needed to without a 4+ hour ordeal?

Ahh well, I've learned my lesson though

 

I think it's just a poor design on Nissan's part for that particular bolt. They should've used 3 stud type bolt rather than having 1 screw type bolt. The screw melts into the metal due to the extreme temperature of the cats. During my HFC install, one of the screws came out with a long breaker bar and elbow grease. One of them was stuck like it was welded in. Took it to a muffler shop and it took them 2 hours and 3 guys to break off the bolt. They charged me 15 bucks.

 

Cross-threaded from the factory... it's a feature!

 

Holy crap 15 bucks? You got lucky. I haven't gotten my bill yet, but I doubt I'll be getting that lucky

 

So it ended up being 3 hours worth of time at 60$ an hour. So you can do the math. Ahh well I should have found the 15$ guy and taken it there

 

i got my HFCs installed for 40 bucks


a simple search on this forum wouldve shown you dozens of threads saying theyre the biggest PITA to install.

 

I'm w/ Stoof on everything. Mine were done for $40 (by a dealership nlt) and searching can eliminate a lot of pain in the DIY/pay decision but at least its done now and you can enjoy them!!!!

 

My experience was hellish too... and i didn't even do it! The shop i went to took like 5 hours, and they couldn't get that one bolt on the drivers side to move. I was initially quoted 160 for the install, but i when i came back another day they charged me another 180 or so.

Shady if you ask me. They underestimated the job and then once it got hard they were like hmm, we should charge the customer more!

 

it's not hard but i'm with you, it's like the G really was seriously designed so that you won't mess with your emissions......

all exhaust system installs are easier with a lift.
I remember one time I installed my exhaust in my garage using jack stands and hand tools, 2-3 hours.
different car installing my exhaust at the shop using a hydraulic lift and air-tools, 30 minutes.

i'm all for taking it to a muffler shop and getting exhausts installed. it's like a no brainer for them and they do it for pretty cheap.

 

mine were a PITA b/c the sensors were just stuck in there. I had to get new o2 sensors

 

Well unfortunately I read the horror stories on the boards after I had already unhooked my exhaust and tried to get the bolts out so I was already at the "point of no return". I'll never make that mistake again.

I think we need to sticky a massive warning post saying "Don't do HFC's yourself"

 

how did u manage that? share your secret....im going to be doing the install soon