How to Tighten Headers on a Truck
Headers are the portion of the exhaust that are bolted the head or heads of an engine. Headers evacuate spent exhaust gases from the motor into the exhaust system, where they are then routed out of the tailpipe. Headers are sealed to the engine with gaskets. If a header is loose, it can cause vacuum leaks from the exhaust, loss of performance and unusual noises from the exhaust. Tightening your header bolts is relatively easy, and you can usually do this in a few minutes with a socket set.
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Things You'll Need
- Socket set and ratcheting wrench
- Deep sockets, extensions and swivel adapters
- Torque wrench
Instructions
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1
Open the hood of the truck to gain access to the headers. You will almost always have the most access from the top of the engine bay.
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2
Locate the headers. These are tubular and will be bolted up the head at a flange that is welded to the ends of the headers. The flanges have holes drilled in them that the header bolts go through and into the head.
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3
Slide the properly sized socket on the end of the bolt that you must tighten, starting at the middle of the headers and working your way out to the front and back of the header. You may need to use a combination of ratchet adapters, swivels and deep sockets to gain access to the headers. You also may need to remove some components, such as the intake manifold or fuel injection system.
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4
Turn the header bolt clockwise to tighten the bolt to the proper specs, using a torque wrench. Consult your owner's manual for the proper torque setting, as this will vary from truck to truck.
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5
Tighten all the header bolts to the proper specs.
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