Things You'll Need:
- Torque wrench
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Step 1
Have your torque specs handy. These can be found in the owner's manual of your car or exhaust manifold. You may need to hunt around online or ask a mechanic if you are without a manual.
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Step 2
Use high-grade bolts to fasten your parts. Manifolds play key roles in the exhaust system, so you don't want to skimp on quality. Choose at least a level 5 bolt for your car or motorcycle. The higher level means a better quality component to trust in your car.
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Step 3
Install your exhaust manifold if it is not yet in your engine. Simply finger-tighten the bolts, starting first from the inside and working outwards. Tightening fasteners in the wrong sequence may damage your manifold.
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Step 4
Check to make sure all the bolts are in place. Manifolds must have every bolt installed to avoid cracking. You can't skip a fastener in a car just because parts feel secure when you install them.
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Step 5
Tighten the exhaust manifold's bolts using a torque wrench. Each bolt needs to be tightened according to the torque specs for your car. The torque wrench helps you tighten and loosen bolts to a set amount in pounds.
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Step 6
Work in a spiral pattern from the middle section to the outer bolts, starting with the even bolts. The outer bolts usually have a smaller torque weight for adjustment. Make sure you adjust the torque wrench accordingly.
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Step 7
Stop turning the bolt when you feel the wrench stop working. Avoid over-tightening, which can cause the bolts to break. Always fall within the proper torque range, which you should have set on your wrench.
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Step 8
Visit a site like TorqueSpecs.com to check your torque specs after 2 weeks to make sure your bolts are tightened properly (see Resources below). This site has many common specs for various car parts. Whenever installing exhaust parts or systems, it is a good idea to check to see how the parts settled during use.
