Exhaust spring bolts too short?

So fucking frustrated and over it right now. I went to bolt my exhaust back up and I could not figure out the bolt/spring combo for the life of me.

If anyone knows the correct orientation of the bolts/springs to bolt the stock downpipe to the mid-pipe, I would be eternally grateful because it looks to me like the stock bolts are just too long for the spring to do anything and keep the two exhaust pieces compressed together.

 

Yes not stock...But the concept is the same. Remember that the threaded side is like the nut. You also need to make sure with the bolt and spring that to allow the spring to compress the joint the little shoulder must go through the larger hole.
again not stock but the mid joint portion same concept. Forgot to add...if tight fit for both bolts, do one some then get a larger pair of channel lock pliers and squeeze the other side of the flange to get other bolt into place. then tighten both

 

Right, in your second picture where those spring bolts are... I tried having mine situated the same way, but when I went to tighten it all down and "bottomed out the bolt" (the shoulder of the bolt hitting the down pipe), the springs remained uncompressed and there was way too much play in there.

So yeah the red shoulder part runs into the blue part on the downpipe and the spring isn't compressed at all. Super confused.

 

Could the pair of bolts have different lengths of bolt/spring/shoulder (your red line) for mid pipe connector than mid pipe to rear of system? I have a couple of bits and pieces from a couple of installs.. So not sure.. Maybe? The donut is in place and can't really get compressed since a socket/donut style..
Hopefully another pair of eyes will post.

 

@Cfoldone that was my thought as well, but these are the only free bolts there are, as in, the mid-pipe has studs welded in that go through two holes in the rest of the exhaust.

 

Here is the parts catalog:
https://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/...odel=14356&modelYear=2007&ukey_category=24716


MZ3 2007...odd tho that mine has a different style. Loose bolt / spring on front..see my previous pics...but if springs are all same length then if flange thickness is stacked you can measure maybe? To find what's wrong?

Cat assy 20-55X is the front complete assy ...so that the fixed in place (welled in) bolt/stud. All 4 springs are same number. I thought to look this up. Because I was wondering about the spring lenghts and if were different too.