I just installed the XLR8 J-pipe and Res-Quad Cat back and the drone is incredible. Like, rattle the car, can't have a conversation loud, especially at cruising speeds. The ONLY other performance mod I have is an AEM cold air intake (not V2). What can I do? I'm considering putting my Stage 4 (no res or third muffler) stock exhaust back on and leaving the j-pipe, but I do like the look and performance of the new one. Plus then I'd have to sell this one. Any suggestions would be most helpful. I'd like to leave the cats alone so there are no emissions problems, or perhaps put in a hi-flow cat (who makes a good one?). Your thoughts?
Also, upon unbolting the stock exhaust from the cat, and the stock j-pipe from the cat and pre-cats, I found NO gaskets. I was expecting those aluminum foil triangular sheets, but nope. Should this be the case? Could some small leaks be causing this drone?

HELP!

 

damn, that sucks....glad i didnt get the XLR8, i hate drone.

 

A leak normally wouldnt cause the drone, there ISN'T any gaskets from where the jpipe bolts to the cats. Thats normal. BTW you'll get use to the drone it sounds loud at first...

 

the TL-S will always drone, the 3.2 doesnt drone as bad. its just something u have to deal with. if u cant stand it, put ur stock exhaust with no mid muffler and no resonator and see how that compares to the xlr8

 

Drone is basically low speed exhaust that can't escape quickly enough. All of the TL exhausts have it except for the Tanabe unit b/c it has both a resonator and a large mid muffler and two rear mufflers, like the OE system.

To reduce drone you should do the following:

1. Install a high flow j-pipe
2. Install a high flow third cat
3. If the first two aren't enough for you then add a mid muffler like the one below:

http://store.excelerateperformance.c...1/i-37108.aspx

 

Would a resonated test pipe work for Step 3 as well? (better? worse?)

 

Give the exhaust at least 1000 miles or 2~3 weeks before making any decision. My ATLP non-resonated exhaust/high flow test pipe/ATLP J-pipe was very loud right after initial install but after a month or so it has mellowed down a lot.

 

I think the stock cat is O-ringed instead of traditional gaskets. At least that's what I thought.

 

I've heard that too. Carbon build up, etc. Hopefully it will tone down a bit. I may try adding an ultra-quiet resonator, like this one in the stock third muffler spot. I'll give it a few tanks of gas before I do anything though. Thanks for the tips everyone.

 

Does the drone get reduced when you have a full tank of gas and get worse when it starts to approach "E"?

U can use ur fuel tank to tone down the drone by keeping it closer to "F"

 

thats a good idea raj.

when i did my coilover install, i left my backseats out for a few days so i can find the right dampening setting. u thought that the drone was bad before? god i was so loud it sounded like an 18 wheeler in my cabin.

im pretty sure if u remove the shitty OEM sound deadener and put dyna mat, it will drastically cut the drone down. since they only have the sound deadener in patches, and there is a lot of metal exposed, if u completely cover it, u should be golden. BUT it will add some weight, but barely any, 5-8lbs at the most

 

I just filled up, but haven't really taken notice. I'll check it out today. Is that because the full tank acts as a better insulator than the empty one?

 

honestly... turn ur radio up... ignore it... u'll get used to it... and yes once its broken in it will get slightly toned down...

trust me u'll be ok with the drone

ps. it doesnt help that the tl has the sound deadening stuff that traps the drone in the cabin

 

I had the same issue but you know what, give it two weeks. The drone will be there but it will be like music to your ears. Just a little tip from my experience DO NOT KEEP CHANGE in your cupholder!!!

 

If you turn up the music, then music and the exhaust will sound like shit . From my experience with the atlp exhaust i could have either gotten rid of my sound system or the exhaust. There is no way you can listen to music with that drone. So no exhaust for me

 

I put on the XLR8 res catback + resonated test pipe yesterday and i know what you mean about the drone. its REALLY bad at 1900 RPM - 2400RPM. im going to give it atleast a month before i decide what im going to do.

I love the sound of the exhaust but the drone is pretty bad. hopefully the carbon build up in the pipes will lessen the drone.

Also that resonator is TINY!!

 

The sound will not change dramatically... what you hear now is basically what you get. After the mufflers settle, the sound will get a little more mellow but the drone will always be there. Either get used to it or take it off (I took it off).

 

I talked to Josh at Excelerate and he suggested adding a larger resonator in the stock third muffler position (before the split, but after the resonator that came with the cat-back.) I'm not so sure there will be enough clearance for it, but if I try this for a few weeks and it is still unbearable, I may order it and have it installed. I hate to cut up a BRAND NEW exhaust, but I gotta do something.

 

Grilla - I just installed the Res-Base XLR8 exhaust this past saturday, and i know what you mean about the drone. When i first took off, just like you said, it was unreal. After trying different driving "styles' (grandma, normal, aggressive, etc) i noticed that if you baby the gas off the line, the drone is not so bad. I dont let it past 2800 RPMs and once i get to my normal city speed limiti of 35 - 45 mph, i lightly keep the gas pressed to maintain speed. I know, it sounds retarded, but play around with how much pressure you apply to the gas pedal to maintain your speed. I give an ever so slight push, so light that im almost about to decelerate. I dont know if this makes sense, but try playing around with how you apply throttle.

Sidenote: i really hope this drone dies off a bit, cuz it is out of this world. From outside of the car, the exhaust sounds subtle and sexy, but in the cabin, well thats a whole different story. lol. Cant say i wasnt warned thou

 

LOL i know what you mean about babying the throttle. i had to bump my music on the way to work so i didnt hear the drone. the songs with weak base was hard to listen to.

anyways hopefully it will settle. if not im going to put on the stock res and mid muffler on the XLR8 catback.

 

Don't think you'll be able to use the stock parts on the XLR8 since the piping sizes are different.

 

Guys, give it some time. I thought the drone was gawd awful too when I first installed the resonated XLR8. It def got better once I drove it more. I can have a convo with handsfree with no problem on both ends. .

 

i hope so. it sounds louder then the ATLP i heard and they say the ATLP is louder...

not sure how long the guy had the ATLP but you can tell it was on there for a while cause it was pretty dirty.

 

How much time/miles did you think it took to get the drone to an un-obnoxious state?

 

Well, I've prob driven about 700 miles on this thing since I've had it, but maybe after 200 or so, it started to quell down a bit.

 

It will tone down a little as the packing in the mufflers breaks in (I've been told). When I first installed my ATLP it droned like crazy. It's mellowed some, but how much is debatable. I think the main factor here is that most people will get "get used to it" to some level and chalk it up to the exhaust mellowing. There are still times when the drone will overcome you. Cruising on the highway with the a/c on can be brutal.

 

Haha this has me worried, I should be getting my XLR8 Catback Quad NON Res this week and if you guys with the Res version hear that much drone I can only image the Non Res... . I did read that the resonator is very small so I wonder if there is much of a difference between the two.

 

The resonator IS tiny. I took a peek through it and there isn't much on the inside either. No perforated metal screen like many resonators have. It looks a field of giant, metal Velcro loops. (should have taken a picture) I'm doubting that it does much either.
I'm wondering if having the rear noise-canceling microphone unplugged makes it worse too. I have a pioneer sub in the rear deck and had to yank the plug because of severe buzzing, but I would imagine if I hadn't, it might not be as loud. Most of you have yours still plugged in?

 

I also disconnected the rear noise-cancel microphone due to my aftermarket subs/amp. Can't hurt to give it a try and see if it improves any.

 

I spoke with sales at Magnaflow and they recomended this. It essentially replaces most of the straight pipe behind the cat (as well as the existing resonator and should quiet the drone down quite a bit. It's also a straight through design that shouldn't rob power.

 

Car Chemistry Insert eliminates the drone.

 

maybe you just got used to the drone?

 

I think that might be happening to me already. Haha! That didn't take long!

 

^ lol

 

That part will not fit...the body is too big (6"). You need either part #10426 (18") or part #10426 (22"). I have a complete ATLP setup (J-Pipe, race-pipe, and the quads), and like others have mentioned, the drone was crazy. I lived it for 3 weeks....it did get better, but the drone was still noticeable between 2K-3K under normal acceleration. After consulting with STILLHERE153(<-knows his stuff), I went with a Magnaflow #10436 resonator. Now the cabin drone is COMPLETELY GONE!! The exhaust note at the outside is still the same sexy ATLP sound, and you can hear it from the inside but not that intrusive drone.

 

Hmmmm... so the drone is completely gone after adding the resonator? is that resonator that good?

 

yuppers...while idling, its almost stock in the cabin, yet you still get that nice tone outside. you will hear the exhaust while driving (spirited or normal), but not the drone that rings your ears. yes, i am quite picky about that stuff

 

Where did you put the resonator? right behind the race pipe?

i have a resonator on mine already but its TINY and i dont think it does anything. might have to take that off and put this one in.

 

yes, behind the race pipe. everything after the race pipe is basically a straight pipe, so the installer just have to cut out whatever is needed. part #10436 is a 22" resonator; the complete length with ends is 28".

here is the link: http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...e=main&id=7955

 

Thanks for the info . i will probably go this route. oh btw i found it for 70$ when i googled it. the magnaflow site has it for 120$