To all with the banks headers. Did you have problems with the bolts backing out. I had to re-tighten quit a few of the headers bolts today. I just installed the headers this past weekend. And yes I torqued them to specs. { 18 LB. FT }. Are there any locking header bolts out there for our trucks ?

Cleve

 

i don't think this is specific to banks headers.headers usually need to be re-tightened after they are put on and warm up for the first time.i check mine every oil change and snug em up.my truck doesn't have headers but i've had alot of vehicles with them and usually after snugging them a couple times they stay tight as long as the exhaust doesn't wiggle around alot.

 

I have the Banks headers. I installed them about 15,000 hard miles ago ... never rechecked the bolts from when I installed them. I have no exhaust leaks and don't know if they are tight or if they backed out. Since there is not exhaust leak, I am going to keep on driving.

Hope this helps.

 

i had ford racing and now gibson, always seem i had to retighten them 3 or 4 times . before they stayed put. imm it's the flange thickness and gasket causeing the retorqueing to be needed.

next time they start leaking i'm back to the stock manifolds .

 

Have had Banks headers for 55K miles and they never loosened up. The entire kits is very well thought out. Have not had any post install problems except some exhaust clamps needing to be replaced now and then when the crazy V10 resonation shakes them loose.

 

The short answer to your question is yes. Bye some Stage8 locking header bolts. They use a small teardrop shaped washer, and a snap ring on the head of the bolt. They work good, but are a little pricey. I use them on my Mustang.

There is also another type of locking bolt, I seen on another site, I'll find it and post it here.

 

i have them on the ford racing headers and they still came loose. the gibson seems better as the flange is a 2 peice not all 5 ports in one flage. i think it puts less stress on the bolts and paper type mr.gasket. gasket

they are only 8mm or about 5/16 in diamater thats not very thick around

 

i used locktight on my banks header bolts. after 70k mi, i have not had one back out or get loose yet. i also tightend them up alittle tighter than 18 ft lbs.

 

not to say that was a bad idea but for one the directions (or at least mine) say NOT to use locktite in bold and underline. if you ever have to remove those from your ALUMINUM heads, that will be a task!

i used a small dabble of silver (aluminum) anti-sieze on all mine. installed them, ran them rechecked them and they ewre still as tight as i made them before. every oil change i just check them, but havn't had any of them loose.

 

here i have to back jason up 100% never ever use lock tight on head studs.

it's bad enough when you have to drill one out with out lock tight, useing a left hand drill bit. never mind if it's lock tighted in the head it may well mean you will be pulling the head off to do the job.

on a ps. i have a mr gasket gasket leaking again on my headers. they will be off by days ends and the stockers back on. i'm just to old "at 60 next week anyway" to be screwing around with them any more.

 

I don't understand all of the header leaks. After I installed my headers (Banks), I was told by a friend to recheck the torque... I figured if they leaked I would, otherwise I would just drive it. 15,000 very hard miles later, no leaks.

I had a 96 F350 with the old 460 in it. I installed Banks headers on that vehicle, never rechecked the torque and I drove the truck for over 150,000 miles on the headers before I sold it. No leaks.

The Banks header flange is very think, I am not saying they cannot back off, I am just thinking that it is more likely to not leak than it is to leak.

 

Do the Banks headers use a gasket?

 

I don't have the Banks headers but I do have the Stage8 locking header bolts that came w/ the Borla headers I bought. I do like them but they are a little pricey if you have to buy them alone. FWIW, thier customer service was excellent as I neded more E-clips that they happily provided at no cost.

 

Yes they do. It is a thick non-metal gasket. Very forgiving.

 

Thanks Boxcar