well, searching didn't show any specific trick. i know it's pretty straight forward. i actually had a shop replace the converters with some bosal converters. that fixed my problem and tech advised they fit well. but the converters didn't come with gaskets. bosal only made the rear gasket. walker makes both, but neither the bosal or walker gaskets were right. dealer wants about $80 for all 4 gaskets. i needed to have the car back, so i had the shop just use whatever gaskets were best and some muffler cement to try to seal things up. but i still wanted to replace everything correctly with the correct gaskets. i ended up finding some gaskets that will work (test fitted them on my old converters).

fast forward to this morning, i jack up the car. i think it's going to be a pretty easy job. the hard part was the old rusted bolts that were already either replaced or came off with no problems when the shop replaced the converters. i start on the driver's side and get all bolts off with no problem. but there isn't enough room to get the converter out. is there a trick without removing the rear y-pipe? i didn't have the rear gasket, so i didn't want to remove the rear y pipe/converter today. do i have to remove that as well in order to get the front converters down? i have a feeling that i know the answer, and i'll have to get a rear gasket & remove the pipe. but i didn't know if there was a trick or anything to get those front converters out (for those of you that have done it already). thanks.

 

The converters on my '01 came out with no problem after removing the front and rear bolts. Just an fyi the front and rear gaskets are different sizes.

 

yeah, i know they are different sizes. i just ended up ordering the gaskets from the dealer to be 100% sure that they will fit, lol.

 

$142 in gaskets & clamps later.....this better seal everything up, lol.

 

Could you post part #'s for the gaskets & clamps?

I'm looking to replace a leaking/corroded gasket/connection on the passenger side exhaust at the front side of a cat. I purchased (from Ebay) what I thought was the correct gasket, OEM/Toyota, but it's a circular metalized FOAM type of circular ring, not a flat gasket, and no idea what it's even for. (And I wasted $14 during this process.)

Thanks!

 

yes, i will post them once they come in (which unfortunately) probably won't be until monday.

 

what sucks is, i think i had the correct gaskets that i got from work (i work @ Napa). but since i wasn't able to get the cat down and replace the gaskets i brought them back to work and just returned them. had the dealer "special order" them in since they didn't stock them, and the 2 they sent so far are exactly what i had. so i really think i just wasted the money getting dealer gaskets. but since they didn't stock them, i can't really return them. so this is turning out to be an expensive lesson for me.

 

these are the gaskets on the back side of the front converters (where the 2 bolt flange is)

these are the gaskets on the front side of the front converters (where the 3 bolt flange is)

bolt for the back of the y pipe/converter

clamp for the back of the y pipe/converter

gasket for the back of the y pipe/converter


i can get the other gasket numbers and take pictures of those too so people can see that the aftermarket are almost identical to the OEM. i wish i just stuck with my gut and saved over $60 by sticking with aftermarket. there is a difference, but i don't think the difference is worth over $60. the OEM gaskets seems to be "more tightly woven". and i will add, that the rear clamp & gasket for the back of the y pipe is definitely better than aftermarket. the aftermarket does not list the gasket and the part # for the clamp is just a regular u bolt exhaust clamp. so that i don't mind spending the $66.

 

just in case anyone wants to compare......this is the FelPro aftermarket v/s the OEM in the previous.



this is the gasket on the back side of the front converters (where the 2 bolt flange is)