Evening all.
Quick question the 2 10mm bolts that screw into the exhaust u bend heatsheild . Do they come undone or are mine just seized solid?
I have play in the front washer which is the source of my vibration and wanted to put a bigger washer in to fix but the bolt won’t budge .
Yes a common problem, I’ve had this on both my previous S2’s and now on my current car. I’m about to take my rear clam off, which might make access a bit more easy, but it’s a case of drilling them out usually.
IIRC what they screw into is a threaded tube, if there’s space between exh and shield you may be able to grab this with a pair of mole grips to reduce risk of pulling it off the shield
It’s the 2 lower ones that you see when you remove the diffuser.
I was wondering if they screwed into a bracket weled onto the exhaust itself.
They do exactly that. Easiest fix is to break off the bolts, throw the metal heat shields in the bin and use some decent heat wrap instead.
It may come to that I think. I just looked on devoure and saw. I guess constant heat cycles and water does nothing to help removing them in the future
Thanks guys, I’ve had a few spare hours this afternoon so had a go.
A few grased knuckles later I managed to get the 3 seized bolts out and re-washer /pop rivet.
Good job
Cheers Jonny, I was going to remove them but I thought this time they can be repaired.
Rewarding work!
Wow well done, a good job indeed 
Cheers all.
Hopefully diffuser back on tomorrow and a test drive.
New rad on order and all booked in for the 260 in March
