by mettersl » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:09 pm
Hi Rupert,
They may be the same format as the GTA, but the joints are completely different on an A610- they have 4 bolt clamping plates at the rear box to cat joint, with a hard metal disk within the joint, tapered on both sides. Both the CAT and the back box have flares that sit on either side of this disk to make the seal without a gasket. I spent a while waiting for Renault to deliver the gasket, only to find out it wasn't needed.
The Cat to downpipe joint is a three bolt clamp with a gasket, but I wouldn't advise disturbing this unless you desperately want to de-cat (this is being wise after the event). I spent ages getting the cat to downpipe joint apart when fitting the new rear box so I could later de-cat- but the bypass pipe took ages to come, and I have never gone back and actually removed the CAT.
Due to this "planning ahead" fitting the new exhaust was one of the most painful jobs I have even tackled. The bolt heads were all corroded away at the CAT to downpipe joint. The downpipe cannot be removed with the engine in place on a 610 (I believe it can on a GTA) so I had to remove the bolts in situ. This took about three evenings of contortion and grinding to get the bolt heads off without damage and then drilling out and re tapping the CAT.
There was a second hand rear A610 box on ebay recently that didn't sell- (maybe the owner is on here) mine now has a David Gentlemen sourced stainless item- but I also needed to replace the mounting bracket at the same time as it had also rusted through- about £20 from Renault.
Have fun.....!!
Lee
