Axle-back vs Cat-back?

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by Chalk_2

What do the resonators look like?

this is stock ls3. resonators in red. fact

[Chalk_2]

Ah, Thanks.

[sam.u.el]

Thank you everyone for the feedback, I think I'll take baby steps and buy some quality headers and go from there. What happens if you don't put a tune in with long tube headers?

[The SwiftChancelor]

I guess not long after the header install your check engine light will come on and the car may not run as smooth as if you did the tune with it. I say you can still get by without the tune but you won't get the max performance from your headers.

[SGOS252382]

I always tell people to go with a full catback if they can swing it.

Its very common for guys that first purchased axle backs to later get a full catback exhaust.

[dellidog]

Originally Posted by sam.u.el

So basically all I know is that the catback exhaust starts at the end of the cat-converters and the axle back at the end of the rear axle. What are the differences in the two as far as performance goes? Also what is a muffler delete?
Sorry if my question seems a little dumb, I'm kind of a noob at all this and just want to gather information before I purchase a full header and exhaust for my camaro.

Also one more thing, if I were to get a full exhaust would I HAVE to get a tune aswell?
Thanks in advance!

I did a muffler delete ($100) 2 months after I got my L99. The AFM kicking in and out really sucked. Using the paddle shifters solved the problem (thread concerning 2-3-2 shifts to shutoff AFM). Added a supercharger and the afm was tuned out and sounded like a V8 should. Now I've gone to a Doug Thorley cat-back ($416 shipped) that has cut down on interior noise (guess I'm getting too old for loud), the muffler delete was getting to us when running the interstate, but still has the rumble when you run hard. Good luck with whichever way you go.

[Cody6.2]

I'm sorry but why do people keep saying that a cat-back has a HP advantage over an axle-back? The difference between back to back dyno pulls is going to be more than any gains.

Oh and the resonators are 100% straight through and the stock h-pipe is louder with the same mufflers than say a Borla x-pipe.

[Avenging Orange]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

false, in fact the Ls3 does show gains with cat back and does have resonators in stock exhaust

Nope......and not mine

[axis]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Nope......and not mine

I'll agree on the hp gain but both the L99 and LS3 have resonators. The L99 is the big honkin box in the middle of the exhaust. The LS3 has two small ones pictured above. If yours doesn't have them, someone took them out.

[SSexy Camaro]

Originally Posted by Ryanbabz71

I just bought a flowmaster axle back. I went this route as I just want to change the exhaust sound. Need t to sound more muscle car ish. I have no plans for headers in the future


Ryan

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

if you dont get headers, with the exception of running straight pipes/muffler delete, you're wont get that deeep-growl/rumble that a true american muscle car has. Bolt on headers and a nice choice of a 304 steel mufflers for decibel cancelling (including straight piping it up) in my book is the only way to acheive that sound without breaking your budget. (i.e. camshafts, superchargers, etc)

[BluegraSS]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

IMO, cat back systems are a waste of money. You replace 2.5" pipe with 2.5" pipe (in most cases). Some do it because the aftermarket cat backs are lighter (but not much)........so, if you are a drag racer, that applies. There are no performance gains with a cat back, only sound. Same with axel bacl. Gains only come from headers. If you get long tubes, yes, you will need a tune. My suggestion, search the exhaust clips at the top of the page.....find some you like, then narrow it down to a couple and ask about them. See if someone has one of those units on their car and go listen for your self....then buy the axel back you like. Also bear in mind, if you later get headers, it wil be somewhat louder and a good chance you will get the dreaded highway drone. Drone is more prevalent with cat back systems and X-pipes. Take your time and keep researching....be sure to get what is best for you.

I don't completely disagree, but I also don't completely agree.

On automatic cars, the pipes leading into the stock resonator have a crimp in them and the stock resonator looks like a really restrictive thing.

Replacing them must surely yield some additional improvement.

Even the manual cars have a big crimp in the inlet pipes.

Another advantage of the cat-back system over an axle-back is the quality of idle. The stock h-pipe causes a "motor-boat" kind of idle when coupled to an axle-back system. A cat-back system, with an x-pipe, has a better sounding idle, in my opinion.

[Cody6.2]

Originally Posted by BluegraSS

I don't completely disagree, but I also don't completely agree.

On automatic cars, the pipes leading into the stock resonator have a crimp in them and the stock resonator looks like a really restrictive thing.

Replacing them must surely yield some additional improvement.

Even the manual cars have a big crimp in the inlet pipes.

Another advantage of the cat-back system over an axle-back is the quality of idle. The stock h-pipe causes a "motor-boat" kind of idle when coupled to an axle-back system. A cat-back system, with an x-pipe, has a better sounding idle, in my opinion.

The small indents on the factory exhaust aren't goig to cause a restriction. Especially when dual 2.5" pipes is more than enough to begin with.

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Nope......and not mine

like beyond me how you dont realize there is resonators in the ls3. again beyond me how you could think other wise when people here are even agreeing with me. i just dont get people. honestly

[Avenging Orange]

Bah! Tomato tamato. If you call those straight through nothing in the way thingys resonators........then I guess the we all better get rid of those restictive fuel filters.