Thoughts on noise after catback install

[FSUZ33]

LMAO fair. And yeah, I might try and grab some ramps and go under and see. I would jack it up but I don't have jack stands here, did the install at a family member's place

If it is a leak you should be able to hear it, or about where it’s coming from without jacking it up. Kind of hard to describe what to listen for, for me anyway.

 

[FatRatZ]

Hey guys, I feel like I’m definitely overthinking this but, I just installed the AWE touring catback on my car. Love it. But when I’m out and about cruising with it around 45mph, it seems like a large amount of the exhaust sound comes from under me or a little bit behind and below me, but not from the rear of the car. Does that sound normal? It very much is my first exhaust.

I put in the AWE touring exhaust. I’ve gotten a replacement set of clamps from them and torque them properly to their 65 pounds and placed them where they belong. Because of the weight of the resonator / 180 section on the driver side pipe, it constantly rotates down, which makes the tip move left and contact the exit port in the diffuser. It also rattles underneath the car.
Yes, the pipe sounds great, but these problems are no bueno.
Mine is contacting somewhere in the center of the vehicle, in addition to rattling on the diffuser.

 

[KrackaC8]

I put in the AWE touring exhaust. I’ve gotten a replacement set of clamps from them and torque them properly to their 65 pounds and placed them where they belong. Because of the weight of the resonator / 180 section on the driver side pipe, it constantly rotates down, which makes the tip move left and contact the exit port in the diffuser. It also rattles underneath the car.
Yes, the pipe sounds great, but these problems are no bueno.
Mine is contacting somewhere in the center of the vehicle, in addition to rattling on the diffuser.

Check your driveshaft tunnel steel W-brace. It's the black brace that sits between your X-pipe and resonators. That has also been my one trouble spot. Since yours keeps rotating, I'd suggest taking it to an exhaust shop, getting it perfectly aligned, then have them tack weld the joints & clamps to ensure no movement.

 

[kevinbonds]

Check your driveshaft tunnel steel W-brace. It's the black brace that sits between your X-pipe and resonators. That has also been my one trouble spot. Since yours keeps rotating, I'd suggest taking it to an exhaust shop, getting it perfectly aligned, then have them tack weld the joints & clamps to ensure no movement.

This is what my exhaust shop does. Where the front pipe on the AWE touring attaches to the rear section, they put a couple small tack welds on, which helps keep everything aligned nicely.

 

[KrackaC8]

This is what my exhaust shop does. Where the front pipe on the AWE touring attaches to the rear section, they put a couple small tack welds on, which helps keep everything aligned nicely.

Once I get my new B6A LPDs installed I may do that as well.

 

[FatRatZ]

Check your driveshaft tunnel steel W-brace. It's the black brace that sits between your X-pipe and resonators. That has also been my one trouble spot. Since yours keeps rotating, I'd suggest taking it to an exhaust shop, getting it perfectly aligned, then have them tack weld the joints & clamps to ensure no movement.

I’ll check the brace again - thx.
I was worried about welding and making it permanent, however, I thought about perhaps getting it set where it belongs, drilling a pilot hole through both pipes and sliding a pin into it just far enough so that it goes through both pipes and holds them in place - then put a clamp around to hold the pin in place. I would keep it short enough so that the pin doesn’t enter the airflow inside the pipe.
thoughts??

 

[kevinbonds]

I’ll check the brace again - thx.
I was worried about welding and making it permanent, however, I thought about perhaps getting it set where it belongs, drilling a pilot hole through both pipes and sliding a pin into it just far enough so that it goes through both pipes and holds them in place - then put a clamp around to hold the pin in place. I would keep it short enough so that the pin doesn’t enter the airflow inside the pipe.
thoughts??

That's not ideal, drilling a hole into the pipe. An exhaust shop can hit it with a small tack weld, which just keep it in place, and help make sure the clamps dont move. These tack welds can easily be broken if you want to take the system apart.

 

[chadhunley]

After installing the Stillen competition exhaust awhile back, I had a terrible buzzing vibration what sounded like it was coming from the dash.

I took it to the dealer and it ended up being that the lane camera covers were rattling due to improper sealing. At least that got fixed. I do get the occasional weird sound here and there. But everything is much better now.

 

[thesilverbullet]

the cons of slip joints… no an issue with bolted or v-band joints…

i’m considering painting mine with cerakote including the male side each joint to act like a seal and to tighten the joint.

 

[FSUZ33]

This?

 

[FatRatZ]

the cons of slip joints… no an issue with bolted or v-band joints…

i’m considering painting mine with cerakote including the male side each joint to act like a seal and to tighten the joint.

I took scotchbrite pads and scuffed up the pipe mating surfaces for a bit more ‘bite’. Did nothing. Pipe rotated out of position on first drive.
permatex - worth a shot. Probably tack weld is the answer.

 

[thesilverbullet]

70mm invidia catback starting to look good.. lol

 

[KrackaC8]

This is how to make the AWE catback exhaust not rattle on the W-brace:

Hammer & repaint; you'll see exactly where the exhaust is rubbing/rattling.

AWE needs to start including four ¼" spacers for this brace with their exhaut systems.

@Christian/AWE

 

[FatRatZ]

This is how to make the AWE catback exhaust not rattle on the W-brace:

Hammer & repaint; you'll see exactly where the exhaust is rubbing/rattling.

AWE needs to start including four ¼" spacers for this brace with their exhaut systems.

@Christian/AWE

Between the rattling, the driver side tip endlessly rotating into the diffuser, and the constant CEL, AWE is coming off.
going to a Nismo exhaust. Had enough of AWE. Too bad - it does sound nice.

 

[kevinbonds]

Between the rattling, the driver side tip endlessly rotating into the diffuser, and the constant CEL, AWE is coming off.
going to a Nismo exhaust. Had enough of AWE. Too bad - it does sound nice.

I have the AWE, and have no issues. Bolted up perfect, no contact anywhere and no issues with the tips moving or rotating, it sounds like the majority of your issues are install related, no?