Cat back vs. Axle Back - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Firebird2xc · 01-14-2013, 11:10 AM

I was digging around doing some research on exhaust mods last night and came across a comment:

We called Borla and they admitted the stock system flows pretty well.

In other words, you're not likely to get much performance gain off a cat back. The only benefit would come from swapping the mufflers- and most of that would be sound.

I'm about decided to buy a Borla axle back. - 2013 Camaro 1LT.

Thoughts?

Roll_the_Dice · 01-14-2013, 11:37 AM

When I was listening to and deciding on exhaust, I thought about Borla. I have heard good things about them from members here, but in my findings, the Borla was too tame for me for the v6. Maybe the Borla is similar in restrictiveness to the OEM exhaust. There are many out there that IMO sound better and are less restrictive...Solo Performance and ARK exhaust come to mind for a cat back.

You are not going to get a ton of a performance gain on an exhaust system, but the sound is soooo much better than OEM. When you install a cat back, you are installing all the pipes and mufflers from the cats back...hence the name cat back...so any cat back or axle back exhaust is swapping mufflers...the cat back also swaps the resonators (if I am not mistaken).

If you want more performance gain and I know you can't do headers, look into Solo Performance high Flow cats as well. I did the exhaust and HFCs and can feel a difference in power.

vroomapunk · 01-14-2013, 11:50 AM

I have solo. But I have a V8

VR Baron · 01-14-2013, 11:51 AM

For the V6 MRTV2 is very good sounding, deep and aggressive. Yes hp if you could accurately meaasure a increase is about 3 with axelback and 5 with a catback from the few dyno's I have seen. More bottom end torque the high end hp.

Firebird2xc · 01-14-2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VR Baron

For the V6 MRTV2 is very good sounding, deep and aggressive. Yes hp if you could accurately meaasure a increase is about 3 with axelback and 5 with a catback from the few dyno's I have seen. More bottom end torque the high end hp.

Dynomax is claiming their axle-back system has improved things SIXTEEN horses..

Is this legit?

http://www.dynomax.com/exhaust_info....012-2010camaro

VR Baron · 01-14-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firebird2xc

Dynomax is claiming their axle-back system has improved things SIXTEEN horses..

Is this legit?

http://www.dynomax.com/exhaust_info....012-2010camaro

Take manufacturers dynos with a grain of salt.Not seen it that high with a v6.V8's only claim around 10 with a catback if that, and thats a big if. Sometimes they calim big hp and if you see a dyno the big increase is not peak but lower. With both motors sometimes around the torque peak area there's a dip and the power adder increases and smoothens out the dip, thereby getting more hp right there and thats the increase they claim.I think Corsa and D/T only claim around 5-6 peak hp on the v6 with a catback and that would be a closer number to go by. Both increase torque where you need it, but I have not felt much myself.

LimaCharlie · 01-14-2013, 10:38 PM

If you are going to change the exhaust, do it right and get a full catback kit. Keep it stock otherwise. Like you said, the stock exhaust flows decent. The problem I have with the stock exhaust is it's made of cheaper stainless steel (409 series) and it's ugly. Most aftermarket catback systems look far better and they are made of the good stainless steel (304 stainless).
In my opinion, people get an axle back just for sound. However, I think there's alot more to exhaust systems than just sound.

Firebird2xc · 01-15-2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LimaCharlie

If you are going to change the exhaust, do it right and get a full catback kit. Keep it stock otherwise. Like you said, the stock exhaust flows decent. The problem I have with the stock exhaust is it's made of cheaper stainless steel (409 series) and it's ugly. Most aftermarket catback systems look far better and they are made of the good stainless steel (304 stainless).
In my opinion, people get an axle back just for sound. However, I think there's alot more to exhaust systems than just sound.

... you do realize that beyond the tips, with RS ground effects you can't see the exhaust unless you get down on the ground and look at the car, right?

So if there's no improvement to flow, what's the point to a cat-back? Seems like a good way to waste $1000 more than just the axle-back.

DynoMax is advertising 16 HP gains on their axle-back system. I'm going with that.

01-14-2013, 11:10 AM	#1
Firebird2xc Drives: car Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 94	Cat back vs. Axle Back I was digging around doing some research on exhaust mods last night and came across a comment: We called Borla and they admitted the stock system flows pretty well. In other words, you're not likely to get much performance gain off a cat back. The only benefit would come from swapping the mufflers- and most of that would be sound. I'm about decided to buy a Borla axle back. - 2013 Camaro 1LT. Thoughts?

01-14-2013, 11:37 AM	#2
Roll_the_Dice Drives: 2012 Summit White Camaro 2LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,179 View My Garage	When I was listening to and deciding on exhaust, I thought about Borla. I have heard good things about them from members here, but in my findings, the Borla was too tame for me for the v6. Maybe the Borla is similar in restrictiveness to the OEM exhaust. There are many out there that IMO sound better and are less restrictive...Solo Performance and ARK exhaust come to mind for a cat back. You are not going to get a ton of a performance gain on an exhaust system, but the sound is soooo much better than OEM. When you install a cat back, you are installing all the pipes and mufflers from the cats back...hence the name cat back...so any cat back or axle back exhaust is swapping mufflers...the cat back also swaps the resonators (if I am not mistaken). If you want more performance gain and I know you can't do headers, look into Solo Performance high Flow cats as well. I did the exhaust and HFCs and can feel a difference in power. __________________ Cars Owned: 2010 BMW 328xi LeMans Blue 2012 Camaro 2LT Convertible Summit White M6 2003 Audi A4 Convertible Silver Auto (sold) 1999 Ford F150 (sold) 2008 Porsche 911 Convertible Atlas Gray M6 (sold) 2007 Corvette Lemans Blue M6 (sold) 2004 BMW 645 ci Convertible Black Metallic (sold) 2000 Dodge Dakota sport Navy (sold) 1999 Porsche Boxster Black Metallic M5 (sold) 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena Titanium F1 (sold) 1992 BMW 325i 2 door Alpine white (sold) 1990 Nissan 240SX Burgundy M6 (sold) 1979 Celica Blue M5 (sold) 1974 Mustang II Ghia Green (sold)

01-14-2013, 11:50 AM	#3
vroomapunk [COTW 5/12/14] Drives: 2012 CRT NF Cammed 2SS/RS For Sale Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NOLA Posts: 6,115 View My Garage	I have solo. But I have a V8 __________________

01-14-2013, 10:38 PM	#7
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	If you are going to change the exhaust, do it right and get a full catback kit. Keep it stock otherwise. Like you said, the stock exhaust flows decent. The problem I have with the stock exhaust is it's made of cheaper stainless steel (409 series) and it's ugly. Most aftermarket catback systems look far better and they are made of the good stainless steel (304 stainless). In my opinion, people get an axle back just for sound. However, I think there's alot more to exhaust systems than just sound. __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

01-14-2013, 11:51 AM	#4
VR Baron SoCal Camaro5 Race Team Drives: 2021 Shadow Grey Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SO CAL Posts: 14,367	For the V6 MRTV2 is very good sounding, deep and aggressive. Yes hp if you could accurately meaasure a increase is about 3 with axelback and 5 with a catback from the few dyno's I have seen. More bottom end torque the high end hp.