3.3TT Are secondary downpipes worth it?

[StingerMG]

Are secondary downpipes worth it? I'm assuming the sound increase is more noticeable than the performance increase but extra performance is always nice. Even though smog testing isn't a factor where I live, has anyone run into any troubles since the secondary cats are gone?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

You will get little bit more noice and loose little bit of weight. That's about it.

 

[StingerMG]

You will get little bit more noice and loose little bit of weight. That's about it.

Thanks. I've been going through cycles of considering secondary downpipes.

 

[oddball]

"worth it" is an intensely personal decision. There's mild performance benefits, a bit of a noise change. They're also relatively cheap and super easy to R&R. It's even cheaper to just core out the cats in the stock pipes - but that's illegal.

 

[byebyeSTI]

id say no . they add a super honda civic rasp to the tone of the exhaust . and you def loose torque down low in the rpm range , upper rpm is a little better , but kinda crappy on the sound side , even with my mbrp exhaust still drone and rasp city

 

[Daniel @ K8 Stinger Store]

In my opinion, it was definitely worth it. I felt like my catback exhaust was just too quiet for my taste so I added Ark Secondaries (click HERE) and it made all the difference I needed.

 

[General_Vodka]

"worth it" is an intensely personal decision. There's mild performance benefits, a bit of a noise change. They're also relatively cheap and super easy to R&R. It's even cheaper to just core out the cats in the stock pipes - but that's illegal.

The ol broomstick smash mod is a terrible idea. If you gonna remove em then just take em off. Heck put em aside and they may be worth bank later.

 

[akch]

I first added a catback exhaust, and it sounded much better than stock, I then added secondary downpipes and the car sounded even better. Sound is deeper and it starting doing burbles coming off power.
For me, it was worth it to get the car to sound the way I wanted. I honestly don't notice any difference in performance for either downpipes or exhaust.
I think another tangible benefit is that you don't have to worry about overboosting the turbos when you swap secondary downpipes, unlike primary. My .02.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I'm happy with mine, my only power mods are intakes and secondary downpipes. A little more sound, I noticed faster spool and personally I feel like I got a decent power bump in the low/midrange.

 

[StingerMG]

Maybe I'm overthinking it lol.

 

[Yves998]

Depends. If you are 100% sure you are keeping your primaries stock until it’s clogged, it’s worthy to simply swap secondaries for more sound. But if you are going to do anything to primaries then it’s not worthy at all since nobody is offering secondaries with flexpipes, which is absolutely needed to get rid of lots of vibration and drone from catless/hfc primaries. At this point simply go muffler shop and swap them with flexpipes is a better idea.

 

[Boogetsbizzy]

I’m dealing with the secondaries and mbrp rasp. It’s not like it’s happening all the time but it does at moments and it’s apparently because of the secondaries. If I’d do it again I’d probably just not buy secondaries. Trying to figure out my next move whether to add resonators, try a different exhaust set up or go custom. I do like how loud the exhaust is from the secondaries.

 

[StingerMG]

I’m dealing with the secondaries and mbrp rasp. It’s not like it’s happening all the time but it does at moments and it’s apparently because of the secondaries. If I’d do it again I’d probably just not buy secondaries. Trying to figure out my next move whether to add resonators, try a different exhaust set up or go custom. I do like how loud the exhaust is from the secondaries.

I have the JUN B.L Racing Catback which is a bit louder than the JUN B.L GT Catback. Even though South Carolina doesn't have noise regulations like some places, I may not want to get much louder if the secondaries add a lot of noise.

 

[StingerMG]

In my opinion, it was definitely worth it. I felt like my catback exhaust was just too quiet for my taste so I added Ark Secondaries (click HERE) and it made all the difference I needed.

Is there any difference between the Ark and JUN B.L besides price?

 

[JERisBRISK]

While we’re on the subject of secondaries, I have the JUN B.L but they didn’t come with new gaskets (as far as I can tell) and I’m wondering which ones to go with.

I kicked off a thread earlier this month to discuss it, but to my surprise it’s been like crickets over there…

So, if y’all have any opinions on the best gaskets to use during a secondary swap out (and why) please go drop them there so it will become an easy to find resource for all: Exhaust gaskets?

(And @StingerMG, once I get my gasket questions answered (and the outside temps drop back into the 70s…), I’ll be able to circle back and provide you with an opinion on whether or not I think the JUNs were worth it…)

 

[StingerMG]

While we’re on the subject of secondaries, I have the JUN B.L but they didn’t come with new gaskets (as far as I can tell) and I’m wondering which ones to go with.

I kicked off a thread earlier this month to discuss it, but to my surprise it’s been like crickets over there…

So, if y’all have any opinions on the best gaskets to use during a secondary swap out (and why) please go drop them there so it will become an easy to find resource for all: Exhaust gaskets?

(And @StingerMG, once I get my gasket questions answered (and the outside temps drop back into the 70s…), I’ll be able to circle back and provide you with an opinion on whether or not I think the JUNs were worth it…)

Thanks!

 

[Rodtheviking]

If I was to do secondaries with MBRP, I would install some resonators on the MBRP front section first.

 

[JERisBRISK]

As for install tips... I've got a jack. I also have jack stands. But I've heard that swapping an exhaust with the car on jack stands is just plain risky.

Are ramps the recommended way to go if one doesn't have lift access?

Ramp questions for the room:

1. Are 4 ramps better than 2 (fully lifting the car up but keeping it mostly level), or will 2 provide ample room (under the front wheels) when working on downpipes / secondaries and (switching to the rear wheels) when working on the cat back?
2. Has anyone here used 4 ramps? (I see quite a few 8.5" tall (including the stop fin) but 6.5" lift ramps, but I'm pretty sure my stinger is about 7" above the ground in the middle, so those are no good for the rears (if mounting them in a forward direction).
3. Which ramps do y'all think work well with the Stinger?

Thanks!

 

[General_Vodka]

I have used both ramps and jackstands. Jackstands are safer then just the jack sooo.... if you have the jackstands in the right spot then you should be ok, I did my tips with jackstands. I also have ramps, which I prefer because my driveway is slanted and yeah that's a no go with jackstands.
As for the exhaust, I used a buddy's lift lol.

As for install tips... I've got a jack. I also have jack stands. But I've heard that swapping an exhaust with the car on jack stands is just plain risky.

Are ramps the recommended way to go if one doesn't have lift access?

Ramp questions for the room:

1. Are 4 ramps better than 2 (fully lifting the car up but keeping it mostly level), or will 2 provide ample room (under the front wheels) when working on downpipes / secondaries and (switching to the rear wheels) when working on the cat back?
2. Has anyone here used 4 ramps? (I see quite a few 8.5" tall (including the stop fin) but 6.5" lift ramps, but I'm pretty sure my stinger is about 7" above the ground in the middle, so those are no good for the rears (if mounting them in a forward direction).
3. Which ramps do y'all think work well with the Stinger?

Thanks!

 

[oddball]

Jackstands vs ramps is a personal choice, really. I prefer stands because then there's less stuff in the way for getting my fat ass in and out from under the car. As long as it's done safely it doesn't really matter. And you can get much higher with stands.
My buddy prefers ramps.
Secondary and back are extremely easy to R&R on this car. Extremely easy. Primaries are hard but that's because it's a flange on a head-mounted turbo. That's hard on a lift, too.

Get the whole car in the air - don't do one side first then try to move to the other.

HF jack stands are a good purchase. I've got a pair of their baby 3 ton for basic work, an old pair of parts store 3 tons that are quite a bit bigger for every day work, and a pair of HF 6 ton for when I need some real room (like exhaust work).