I am currently in the process of changing my o2's on my 96 T/A. I have been able to get the drivers side before cat, and pass side after cat with the special sockets for it, but I can not get the other two sensors. I thought it would be easy to get to them it I removed a piece of my Y-pipe, but I let the manifold bolts soak in liquid wrench over night, and then just broke a bolt off trying to undo it. Is there an easier way to get to the drivers side after cat and pass side before cat? Oh, BTW, I have stock manifolds with a stock Y-pipe.

 

Anybody have any clue or ever done this before?

 

After-cat O2's don't really do anything, so you can leave the old ones in there. You can try getting the passenger side pre-cat O2 from the top.

HTH,

 

Just make sure you use liquid wrench and soak those puppies, especially if you can see oxidized buildup like mine were. I very lightly tapped around the housing of the 02 to break away any deposits and used a medium brisle brush to clean it up some, just take your time since 02's are expensive. Dont hit the 02 at all tho, very fragile.

I used a breaker bar to get leverage so I could get them off. With the Y-pipe off, you can get a breaker bar in there when you use the 02 socket to remove the 02's on the exhaust manifold. It make take a lil while since access is limited but it works.

If your exhaust work is on the ground and taking off the 02's, just step on the exhaust manilfod and crank that breaker bar but take it easy and give it a tugg and spray it in between tugs, you don't wanna break it.

 

If you are able to get to them a tourch is the perfect thing.Heat the base of to sensor and it should come off pretty easy.If you heat them up you shouldnt have to go through the trouble trying to use a breaking bar if you are working in a tight spot.

 

Hey, thanks for the input, I will go out and try those things today and see what works.

 

You will need to replace the broken bolt that holds the Y-pipe to the manifold. That's one of the worse places for an exhaust leak. It can screw up tour O2 sensor readings and cause it to run rich.