How difficult to change an exhaust at home?

[R1 CKY]

Is it do-able with just a trolley jack and axle stands?

Its on my my 2001 Ford Focus, it has a large hole on one section near the cat and the whole thing is generally in bad shape, so I plan to replace everything from the cat back.

Am I best saving myself the hassle and let someone else do it?

[sunbeam alpine]

Add some spanners/socket set into the equation and it should be OK.

You should be able to do this without too much trouble.

[chrisgtx]

You can try,but sometimes things seize and you can't get the leverage lying on you're back.worth a go,then if you can't then go to you're friendly local garage.

[Agent 1]

I do them a lot for folk on the road side, but as said you can get seized parts, these need an angle grinder to remove, this makes things easyer to remove, just make sure you have all the clamps to replace the cut ones, dont forget a little assembly paste for the split joints, but done add any before the CAT, this can damage it.
Oh and if you get a garage to do it you will even find it cheaper to do it yourself if you have to buy an angle grinder.

Edited by Agent 1 on Friday 5th August 21:26

[R1 CKY]

Thanks guys.

I already have a small grinder and a decent amount of tools. Think I'll give it a bash. Just hope I don't get stuck halfway through, that will be one noisy journey to my local garage!

[AARONM3]

When I was selling my car my friend swapped the Milltek exhaust for a standard one in about 20 mins. Admittedly it had only been on there two years rather than the 10 yours presumably has, but with a decent set of tools and perhaps if you get some penetrating fluid on the key bolts the day or two before it should be doable.

That said, it shouldn't take a garage long at all up on a ramp so it might be just worth paying a local place £40 or so for an hour's labour (which is what it cost me to get the stainless system put on in the first place).

[Steve_D]

I work on cars all day and have a ramp.....but I'd find any other job to do than mess with and old exhaust system. If you are replacing the whole system then not so bad but replacing individual sections is a pain.

Steve

[anonymous-user]

2 things to be wary of when doing exhaust changes at home on modern cars

1) sometimes you need to drop things like subframes/stiffner plates to get it out, or use a proper ramp where you can get the car 6 feet in the air so you can drop the exhaust down at a large angle to get it out (don't think this applies to C170 focii actually ;-). Also, you may actually need to cut the system, as original systems are now increasingly one piece from front to back

and

2) don't let the misses catch you with an exhaust system in the sitting room.......... ;-)

[Justin S]

You will find on the focus, you will need to cut the pipe that goes over the subframe to the rear of the car and also you will have to cut the bolts off at the cat, as they will be rotten. Changed the system on my ST at a mates garage recently and did this. System was too loud, so changed the system for another at home with axle stands and trolley jack in under 30 mins, but everything undid easily.

[Nick3point2]

Engine size is crucial: 1.8 or 2.0 and it's easy, 1.4 or 1.6 and it's a massive pain in the arse.

[sospan]

Done complete system changes and partial myself using jack/stands basic tools. Well rusted clamps needed cutting with grinder. Basically play it as you see it. Sections solidly stuck together can be separated when off the car so try taking combined sections off to do this.
Space to work can make it awkward sometimes but if not refitting sections don't worry about cutting them to ease removal.
Its a good feeling to do the job yourself too.
Safety tip - use stands and safety goggles/gloves - you are underneath so all the crap falls onto you and sharp edges can cut!
If using grinder take your time and be careful.

[r4dcu]

Fitting full cat back systems in the past cost me £30. Generally i'd rather pay than have the ball ache of replacing parts such as that as things are never as simple as they seems to due seizing bolts etc and i wouldn't like to be under a car in all honesty.