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Hi Guys,
Read all of the Fister sound and install reviews and got myself a set of stage 2's last year.
Finally got around to installing them a couple of weeks ago and after dealing with the rusted out bolts and getting the flu I finally tried to install ithem this morning.
I have Bischoffs and am having a ridiculously bad time getting the donuts that are attached to the cats to slide over to the Fister end so I can tighten it down.
Car is on stands and wheels are off. Right now the cat and Fister are together but moving the donut just pushes the muffler away from the cat.
Hopefully I'm just demonstrating my lack of automotive mechanical abilities and doing something dumb.
What do I need to do...
Pry open the donut?
Get another set of hands?
Just keep working at it?
bobby,
Those clamps need to be spread, otherwise its a battle...
I used a piece of 1/4" threaded running stock, thru the fastener portion of the clamp, with 2 nuts threaded onto the stock, threading the nuts away from each other, to open the clamp. Hope you can picture this.
Yes, it was a PIA getting the left clamp to slide over with my bare hands. A corner of the clamp would keep catching on the muffler, and prevented it from sliding over. Took me twenty minutes and then it suddenly popped on at the right angle. For future install, like nine9six suggests, I purchased a clamp spreader that can spread the clamp properly to slide it. I also found it VERY helpful to loosen the muffler strap to allow some more give while stretching the clamp over.
Another vote for the lock ring pliers. I've done this at least 2 dozen times and can't imagine doing without it.
Looks like your donut is in place. All is needed is to spread the clamp to cover the lips on the muffler and cat.
This leaves both hands free. The snap ring/retaining ring pliers will work as well and are a must for any tool box. Get a good set; China crap is just that!
P.s. Don't tighten anything, keeping things free to move, but not free enough to separate from the clamps. Also assure the muffler is still in its hanging slot, prior to tightening the muffler band clamp.
If that doesn't work, the retaining ring pliers look like something interesting to add to the tool collection.
Just go buy the snap ring pliers. After you've put the clamps on in 5 seconds, you will go "WOW that was money WELL spent..." I had bought some "just in case" (and I like buying tools...) and was damn glad to have them when I removed/re-installed mind muffs.
Now I feel all macho, because I did my install bare handed...pried those clamps apart with my fingers. Was tough and hurt my fingertips like hell, but managed to make it work.
:Yup, I picked up one of these Sears Craftsman lock ring pliers. Gives you an inch spread and leaves the other hand free to set the clamp in place. Hoping one inch spread is enough (ok, here come the jokes). Fister II's arrive tomorrow!
Another tip, start with the clamp on the muffler that has the flange. Much easier to slide that down over the cat than the other way around (although you can still slide past it like I did, which is what cost me twenty minutes while prying the darn thing apart bare-handed).
And BobbyP the edge of the clamp does appear to be jamming into the muffler flange which is why the muffler is moving, and the clamp won't go any further. Precisely what I was dealing with, and damn frustrating.
04-11-2016, 02:14 PM
Fister frustration
