I sound nice...STI axle back on the Saabaru

Well I just had it put on. The shop removed one of the cats (shhhh don't tell) and made me a mid pipe out of 2.25 into the STI axle back. The work was done by Nathan (a member here) who owns Meinke. Really nice guy, did a GREAT job--highly recommend him for any and all exhaust work you need.

I must say I REALLY like it. It is nice and mellow down low, not too much of a change in tone after 3500rpm. Little if no drone.

Is it faster, did I gain anything? Maybe. Hard to tell...it *feels* smoother from 4k on. The sound is wonderful, how it should have sounded OEM, and with the STI muffler it looks pretty much OEM--except to the knowing eye.

I will likely do the Borla headers next--I am sure that will change the tone a bit. But we will have to see.

All in all, I picked the STI Axle back up for $50 (isn't that dirt cheap? I thought they usually went for 120+) and the muffler shop charged $130. He ended up having to section the exhaust to fab it around my diff protector. Other than that no big deal!

 

That's good that the STi axle back has finally found a home. The removal of the cat is what gave you the better top end. It's a good mod to do and it makes your car a bit more aggressive.

Nathan does decent work. I heard that if you pay him(on a seperate job), he will take care of exhaust leaks. I never paid, so that never happened to me. :lol:

 

nice, borlas should give you "t3h l33t b0x3r s0und"

 

borla pwnz my ride right now "w4nt t3h box3r rum8les on t3h your 5ub4ru g3t b0rl4!

 

yeah the borlas will definitely make it have the sound. The spaced out exhaust pulses sound that i've never had since i've never had an aftermarket header.

You do know you car only had one cat right? Now you're fully catless. Hopefully your car won't reek like mine does of gas.

 

There were three cats. Maybe that is another subtle difference between saabaru and subaru. At least it looked like three cats--and that was what Nathan said. Hmmm. Yeah it definetly doesn't have a "boxer" sound. Just sounds like a low tuner exhaust. No gas smell, yet.

 

really? no boxer sound w/ -1 cat and an STi muffler? thats interesting. i got boxer sound with all 3 of my cats, and essentaily no axleback.

 

Congrats!!! I'm glad through we were able to help you out!!!

 

ok, I think what we thought was the cat was actually the factory resonator. It *appears* that I am still running with two cats. So post cat, it is a 2.25 midpipe to the STi axle back MINUS the factory resonator.

 

huh, my 02 RS only had one cat, midway down. I'm pretty sure your RS based saabaru would be the same, it probably just has more resonators. The cat has a heat shield and couplings so it's easier to spot.

 

im pretty sure all n/a 2.5s always had 2 cats, one big bananna shaped one, and one smaller one behind that one, ive seen under ALOT of subies, i never only saw 1 zach your exhaust never smelled like it was cat-less

 

no the RS I had wasnt, the WRX i have now is. Myabe i missed one further upstream from the large one underneath on my old car.

 

I am pretty sure mine went--headers, cat, cat, resonator, muffler.

so now it is headers, cat, cat, muffler.

Lets have a lift day and figure it out.

 

mother nature told me the formula for clean air was borla headers-------some piping, fart can :lol: so i listened to her

 

The two cats are located at the bottom of the engine. I don't think there are any parts out there that eliminate the cats. They only replace the OEM cats with high flowing ones: Random Tech, MRT and Cobb Tuning.

 

^^^ custom fong! custom!

 

I know, but almost no custom exhaust shop will remove the cats for you.

 

ha ha ha nice try fong.... If I was to fix that Grand Canyon of a leak on yours I would have to cut and weld as I did on another members Sti??? Sorry forgot your name and sign in... will remember as soon as I post I am sure...

You Fong if you guys did things right first time instead of ghetto style then these things neednt happen.. ha ha ha I can say that as mine is all ghetto self made... he he he

to answer the cat or not question... I truly believe it was a 3rd cat... cause there is a little resonator after that as well.. I will take a pic of his old pipe as I just happened to take my camera to the shop today....

ok.. just went and took some pics of his old piping.. it all looks like a cat... but when you look inside there isnt the 'catalyst' like a standard cat.... more like a muffler... but it looks exactly like a csat.. so I dont know.. maybe its a new style for post convertor emissions or something... after all it is a SAAB...

Fong is correct.. we as a shop are not supposed to remove cats at all.. regardless of whether it is tested here or not.. it is a FEDERAL LAW which overrides local laws... anyways... I didnt do it and neither did my store.. winkwink....