Topic: Banks header doughnut problems

[roadkill]

I have a Banks header and one of the bolts where the header, exhaust doughnut and exhaust pipe comes together keeps getting loose.  the same bolt comes loose every time.  it loosens up to the point of an exhaust leak that is annoying.  I even added a lock washer and jam nut and it still came loose.  what can I do to stop this?  I currently have a lock washer and a jam nut  and tightened it back up today so we will see if it comes loose again.  whats the cause of this? the lock nut was still tight (I had to tighten it with a wrench to run it up the threads.  I am stumped.  is this just a jeep thing combined with a header thing?

[97 TJ - I dont wave]

Alright, here's the deal, as the replacer of 5 cracked banks headers, this one is easy. The issue is that the bolts banks send you are not threaded down to the head. The quarter inch unthreaded portion before the head is keeping you from being able to truely tighten the nuts. Every time I have replaced my header I have tossed the bolts banks sends and have used a .99 cent pair of bolts that thread all the way down to the head. Once you do this your exhaust leaks will go away (Until your header cracks). Also, if you have wasted the gasket banks sent Napa's replacement part number is 60836  It's a Felpro which there is a part # F7549.... Good luck with that Banks dude... Good thing they have a life time warranty...

[sharpxmen]

I have a Banks header and one of the bolts where the header, exhaust doughnut and exhaust pipe comes together keeps getting loose.  the same bolt comes loose every time.  it loosens up to the point of an exhaust leak that is annoying.  I even added a lock washer and jam nut and it still came loose.  what can I do to stop this?  I currently have a lock washer and a jam nut  and tightened it back up today so we will see if it comes loose again.  whats the cause of this? the lock nut was still tight (I had to tighten it with a wrench to run it up the threads.  I am stumped.  is this just a jeep thing combined with a header thing?

lock washer is unlikely to work as there's a lot of heat there, i would look for a locking nut (not the kind with plastic but the ones that have one end oval and you can see the factory squeeze marks on them). I would also try to use a grade 8 or stainless bolt and see if that works better.