kboehme

iTrader: (1)

so just struggled for hours installing my 20g xtr. im having an exhaust leak i think its coming from the uppipe to turbo area. does anyone have any tips for tightening those bolts down? im having a hell of a time getting anything other than an open end 14 in there and turning 1/16th at a time. i cant get any torque on the bolt.

wrx_sti_turbo

Lots of patience from my experience but hopefully someone else has some better advice so we can both learn haha

hipnotyknick

are you sure the exhaust leak is coming from that area? what leads you to think its an exhaust leak?

Island Style

iTrader: (66)

Make sure you use new gaskets...you can refresh old ones by scraping a small screwdriver between the layers...but it's always good to go new when putting on a new turbo. (uppipe to turbo, uppipe to Header, 2xheader gaskets)

In my experience...here is the way I tighten things up...and I've done at least a half dozen or more header/uppipe changes.
1. Tighten the header to uppipe connection
2. Tighten the uppipe to turbo connection
3. Tighten the Header nuts last.

My first experience made me do the job twice...I reused the uppipe gasket...leaked bad.

BTW...get good gaskets and you won't regret it...I personally like the Grimmspeed extra thick gaskets...easy to order, fast shipment, great service...

Good luck...

spinplay01

iTrader: (12)

Do not tighten anything until all bolts on header and up-pipe are barely snug.

Get everything hand tight (no ratchet or anything), then slowly tighten things down more using the sequence posted above.

^If you don't do this you risk cracking things or breaking welds with normal use.

kboehme

iTrader: (1)

theres an odd noise when idling and while driving. i can feel air and smell exhaust under the hood on the bottom of the downpipe and i can trace it back to the up pipe area. with the stock turbo there was plenty of room to tighten the bolts, but this girl has a bigger booty

spinplay01

iTrader: (12)

You may have to ovalize a hole or two somewhere... Possibly on turbo mounting brackets.

loosen everything, slowly tighten, see where it begins to bind and fix it.

Try twisting the turbo on the up pipe a little. These things can take time. Every install is a little different.

kboehme

iTrader: (1)

its such a pain in the ***. im not really sure i should drive it to ewa tonight with the leak it just sounds sick.

oaklandish_WRX

iTrader: (10)

flex socket? GL bro

moto96793

iTrader: (8)

These are the things im not looking forward to. Lol, I know its coming! I invested $100+ for new gs gaskets and 2x think for everything that had the option.... ran into a similar problem witb leak when I did ewg set up + elh. As mentioned above by island and spin, I did that to fix leak. Gl brother.

831subaru

This is were the snap on swivels sockets will come in handy

kboehme

iTrader: (1)

so after tightening everything down it still leaks. im going to pull the downpipe and install my grimmspeed gaskets instead of the ones blouch sent. hopefully that will resolve the issue. also the oil feed line where the hardline meets the braided line was leaking (tightened now) and my chassis is now nice and shiney.