What do you recommend as longer lasting reasonably priced aftermarket bolt-on catalytic converters for my Tacoma?

 

Here are the approved cats in California:
AP Exhaust Holdings
Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc.(MagnaFlow)
Converter Unlimited, Inc.
Eastern Manufacturing Inc.
International Muffler Company
Walker Manufacturing Company

I know MagnaFlow and Walker have good reputations, but I know nothing about the other 4 companies. Feedback would be appreciated.

 

Any cat that is Cali approved is gonna hold up, provided, of course, that your engine and fuel management systems are operating correctly.

Shop for price.

 

Like most companies that were great in the past who knows about any longer. AP I had good luck 30 years ago.

I would go with Walker I have had good luck.

I have learned over the years not to try and mix exhaust parts from different companies . Some companies the different in length not much but enough to make one wonder if you got the correct part.

 

With the cost of rare earth metals skyrocketing due to COVID, who can predict what the costs will be in the future. I decided to go with Walker at nearly $700 rather than MagnaFlow at nearly $900.

 

Does anyone know the size of the flange bolts (diameter, pitch and length)? I'd hate to have to cut them off and then find I neither have replacements nor a truck to pick them up.

 

M10x1.25 length best guess 35-40mm

I have used 3/8" if I was really stuck like when the bolts vibrate out on a long trip the vehicle seldom saw.

 

I went under the truck and measured. To the best of my ability, it appears these bolts are M8 X 1.25 X 36mm. Since bolts seem to only come in 35mm or 40mm lengths, I guess I could go with either one. I'm wondering if they are stainless steel or hardened. Maybe I'd be better off just buying from the dealer at $1.55 for each bolt and $1.15 for each nut. The dealer says the back nuts are attached to the hanger bracket, so only the front two need to be replaced. Is that what you found, or did the nuts come off in the back, also? Is it best to use a propane torch to loosen the nuts and bolts, or is is better to use a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone?

If you encountered any challenges in removing or installing the cat, please let me know what they were and how you solved them. Thanks.

 

Depends where you live here in the liquid Brine Belt I just cut the bolts off with a 4" grinder and cutting disc.

Why fight something your going to replace.

Interesting both my cats bolt on both sides if there was a factory bracket it was gone to I got the truck.

I see what the difference is my 3.4 seems to have a larger exhaust system by 2000 then the 4 cylinder so my bolts are M10

I am sure we have all had different fun times working on exhaust systems you never know till it happens

 

At least I figure the cat will be easier to replace than the leaf springs.

One challenge I'm having is I chose to buy the cat from Rock Auto, yet they refuse to allow the package to be delivered to a FedEx location or delay the delivery by one day. They don't require a signature, so the delivery is just left at my gate, yet they won't allow me to pick it up from a FedEx location where they'll actually check my ID before giving it to me or delay delivery one day till my day off. I just hope it isn't stolen.

 

I actually saved $140 by buying the cat from a different company. After getting differing information from various dealers, I finally came up with the correct bolt size. I bought 4 M10 X 1.25 X 35mm 10.9 grade bolts & lock-nuts. For $3 total, I couldn't see reusing the old bolts, even if I am able to remove them without ruining them.