Thoughts on noise after catback install

[FatRatZ]

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?

I’ve done race car fabrication for over 25 years, and am the product trainer working for Nissan North America for about 15 years. Worked on all makes from Ferrari to Ford for 45 years. Pretty sure the instal is solid. There’s many reports of AWE rattles and contact with diffuser and x brace on this forum.

 

[KrackaC8]

My guess is it likely comes down to piece-by-piece variation. This is why it would be nice if AWE would get more of these components welded together on their in-house jig rather than leaving so many different connections, which leads to higher likelihood of leaks, misalignment, etc.

 

[kevinbonds]

I’ve done race car fabrication for over 25 years, and am the product trainer working for Nissan North America for about 15 years. Worked on all makes from Ferrari to Ford for 45 years. Pretty sure the instal is solid. There’s many reports of AWE rattles and contact with diffuser and x brace on this forum.

Must be an issue with your specific set, why not try contacting AWE and seeing if will swap it out? I bought mine second hand and it went in perfectly and never had any issue with the tips or alignment.

 

[FatRatZ]

Must be an issue with your specific set, why not try contacting AWE and seeing if will swap it out? I bought mine second hand and it went in perfectly and never had any issue with the tips or alignment.

I reached out to AWE - they sent me a new set of clamps. Nice of them, and I installed them, but not the issue. I live close to their shop and asked if I could come by, but they were not agreeable to taking a look.
I can’t blame the CEL on the AWE pipe - I’m sure the combo of the ISR hi flow cats w the AWE caused that. But the rattles and tip rotating seems common and happened prior to the LDP install.
Glad yours worked out - seems many have had good luck with AWE. I’ll take it all out and remount front to rear when I remove the LDPs. Maybe the stars - and the exhaust - will align!

 

[KrackaC8]

That's really surprising AWE wouldn't take a look at this after all your issues and just wanted to throw sets of replacement clamps at it...

 

[trackratZ]

That's really surprising AWE wouldn't take a look at this after all your issues and just wanted to throw sets of replacement clamps at it...

Really?! Poor customer service esp for someone local and giving them business.

 

[manesag]

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

Wack, do you think the Z1 bracket would work as well?

on the flipside, I let the exhaust break in more and its gotten way more quiet, so I'm happy now

 

[KrackaC8]

Wack, do you think the Z1 bracket would work as well?

on the flipside, I let the exhaust break in more and its gotten way more quiet, so I'm happy now

No, I tried the Z1 W-brace yesterday and the fitment was, shockingly, even worse!

 

[FatRatZ]

Really?! Poor customer service esp for someone local and giving them business.

Agreed. Took out the ISR LDPs this afternoon. Back to stock. Next weekend the AWE comes out. Since I work for NNA I’ll go all Nismo.
ISR LDPs and AWE touring for sale soon!

 

[manesag]

No, I tried the Z1 W-brace yesterday and the fitment was, shockingly, even worse!

This is painfully unfortunate, I would’ve thought it would fit better LOL, I need to go under the car and check if my resonators are on the brace, to my knowledge they aren’t. Either way, wish there was a fix for this

 

[kevinbonds]

No, I tried the Z1 W-brace yesterday and the fitment was, shockingly, even worse!

On my car the resonators are not near the W brace.

 

[Katum68]

Agreed. Took out the ISR LDPs this afternoon. Back to stock. Next weekend the AWE comes out. Since I work for NNA I’ll go all Nismo.
ISR LDPs and AWE touring for sale soon!

I'm taking out my AMS LDPs (too loud) and will replace with the Catted AMS LDPs or Stock.

 

[Bluenoser]

No, I tried the Z1 W-brace yesterday and the fitment was, shockingly, even worse!

Now that I am having the same problem, I just wanted to come back to this post to say thanks for trying the Z1 W-brace and sharing. Thanks!

I may have to try the crush and paint method as a last resort. My resonators are just about touching which inhibits rotating them higher and away from the brace since that also brings them closer together.

I wonder if it would be possible to put a small washer or shim under the w-brace at each bolt between the brace and the body. I'm also thinking there could be some small room for adjustment at the lower down pipe flanges if I unbolt those 4 bolts and push upward on the exhaust. (If there was any play gravity would have them sitting low.) Anyway, my speculations aside, my point was just to say thanks because you likely saved me from buying this brace.

 

[KrackaC8]

Now that I am having the same problem, I just wanted to come back to this post to say thanks for trying the Z1 W-brace and sharing. Thanks!

I may have to try the crush and paint method as a last resort. My resonators are just about touching which inhibits rotating them higher and away from the brace since that also brings them closer together.

I wonder if it would be possible to put a small washer or shim under the w-brace at each bolt between the brace and the body. I'm also thinking there could be some small room for adjustment at the lower down pipe flanges if I unbolt those 4 bolts and push upward on the exhaust. (If there was any play gravity would have them sitting low.) Anyway, my speculations aside, my point was just to say thanks because you likely saved me from buying this brace.

Good luck! Let me know if I can be of assistance!

 

[ShearMe]

Definitelly around 2500-3000 rpm, which is odd to me because the AWE touring definitely has resonators

You're not crazy. I have documented noise graphs somewhere on this forum. That rpm range is a resonant spot which the AWE touring actually improved for me over stock.

Is your car manual or automatic, out of curiosity?

I wonder if it would be possible to put a small washer or shim under the w-brace at each bolt between the brace and the body.

IIRC, the shop I had install my cat back had to do something like this. The pipes were hitting occassionally on first install even though there was a gap.