The Drone is unreal! Help!
11-09-2009, 10:21 PM
#201
I had the 10426 Magnaflow muffler on my ATLP quads. I swapped it out for a Hushpower HP-2 muffler. The Hushpower works better. The Magnaflow barely did anything to reduce the sound.
11-14-2009, 09:04 AM
#202
Glad I didn't waste any time or money with that cone (Sorry Surlynkid). Am I correct that hushpower might be the best resonator option? I was gung-ho on the Magnaflow res, even considering going about 30" and having the straight and the y-pipe welded together with the res so I could fit more length. After looking under the car, I really can't find a place to put the Vibrant res that I am comfortable with. Pelepele_10 has his behind the BB res, but imo, it hangs too low, especially in the center of the car (much more likely to hit than something low under the front axle like a j-pipe). I'm going to jack the car up this morning and measure how long of a straight run I have for the res and go for it. No inserts or cones. Just good ol' insulated resonator as the XLR8 exhaust should have originally included.
11-15-2009, 12:01 PM
#203
OK so went to the shop again to change some things with my setup.
Things done:
1. took the cone out (that lil power robbing bastard)
2. Relocated the Mangaflow resonator right behind the Test pipe.
3. Added the Ultra vibrant res right before the bend.
Lessons Learned with XLR8 exhaust.
1. The XLR8 exhaust is VERY loud. Before I bought it I did my research. I asked josh about the drone, he said that there wasn’t much drone with the resonated one. Everyone was saying that it was quieter then the ATLP. That is very very wrong. I have heard the ATLP before a few times in person after I had already bought the XLR8 and it is nowhere near as loud as the XLR8. Other members here can also confirm this. XLR8 exhaust is more like the Greddy Evo 2. Which sounded similar but louder than the XLR8.
2. Resonator on the XLR8 exhaust doesn’t do shit. The thing is so small that I don’t even know if you could technically call it a resonator.
3. Cone is crap. it robs a lot of HP. No I don’t have any real numbers or dyno to back that up.... but it’s obvious that it chokes the crap out of the air flow. I felt like I was back to a stock setup when I had it on.
The cone did do its Job on taking the drone down a few notches but definitely not worth putting on cause then what’s the point in getting an aftermarket cat back. Also it does take the drone down but when i step on the gas my RPMs don’t get as high as quick as it did before without the cone and it would keep my RPMs between 2-3 with light acceleration so it would keep the RPMs in the Drone range. Now with the cone off my RPMS spike to 3k+ very fast and take me out of the drone RPMs.
4. XLR8 with Magnaflow Res and Ultra Vibrant res: I really like this setup. I have only driven about 45 min so far with this setup and so far I like it. I noticed the power came back immediately. As for the exhaust note and drone. It’s made the exhaust very quiet. I was actually surprised how quiet it got. The drone is about the same maybe less…. There is a little more vibration without the cone but there is definitely less drone when just cruising and normal driving. When I hold it at 2k RPMS then I can feel/hear the drone being a little louder only because of the added vibration without the cone.
I added the ultra vibrant res because I was taking the cone out and wanted something to counter act the added drone I would get with the thing off. Also was planning on doing precats and thought the vibrant res would help take the raspy-ness down that comes with precats. But with the research I have been doing with the precats I don’t know if I want to go down that route. I’ll have to see how people are doing with the v2 and see if it’s solid before I go there.
OK so here are some pics and a vid of my current setup. (no in cabin vid... yet)
Cone with the tip cut off
oh heres my XLR8 Jpipe all scrapped up lol
VID:
Things done:
1. took the cone out (that lil power robbing bastard)
2. Relocated the Mangaflow resonator right behind the Test pipe.
3. Added the Ultra vibrant res right before the bend.
Lessons Learned with XLR8 exhaust.
1. The XLR8 exhaust is VERY loud. Before I bought it I did my research. I asked josh about the drone, he said that there wasn’t much drone with the resonated one. Everyone was saying that it was quieter then the ATLP. That is very very wrong. I have heard the ATLP before a few times in person after I had already bought the XLR8 and it is nowhere near as loud as the XLR8. Other members here can also confirm this. XLR8 exhaust is more like the Greddy Evo 2. Which sounded similar but louder than the XLR8.
2. Resonator on the XLR8 exhaust doesn’t do shit. The thing is so small that I don’t even know if you could technically call it a resonator.
3. Cone is crap. it robs a lot of HP. No I don’t have any real numbers or dyno to back that up.... but it’s obvious that it chokes the crap out of the air flow. I felt like I was back to a stock setup when I had it on.
The cone did do its Job on taking the drone down a few notches but definitely not worth putting on cause then what’s the point in getting an aftermarket cat back. Also it does take the drone down but when i step on the gas my RPMs don’t get as high as quick as it did before without the cone and it would keep my RPMs between 2-3 with light acceleration so it would keep the RPMs in the Drone range. Now with the cone off my RPMS spike to 3k+ very fast and take me out of the drone RPMs.
4. XLR8 with Magnaflow Res and Ultra Vibrant res: I really like this setup. I have only driven about 45 min so far with this setup and so far I like it. I noticed the power came back immediately. As for the exhaust note and drone. It’s made the exhaust very quiet. I was actually surprised how quiet it got. The drone is about the same maybe less…. There is a little more vibration without the cone but there is definitely less drone when just cruising and normal driving. When I hold it at 2k RPMS then I can feel/hear the drone being a little louder only because of the added vibration without the cone.
I added the ultra vibrant res because I was taking the cone out and wanted something to counter act the added drone I would get with the thing off. Also was planning on doing precats and thought the vibrant res would help take the raspy-ness down that comes with precats. But with the research I have been doing with the precats I don’t know if I want to go down that route. I’ll have to see how people are doing with the v2 and see if it’s solid before I go there.
OK so here are some pics and a vid of my current setup. (no in cabin vid... yet)
Cone with the tip cut off
oh heres my XLR8 Jpipe all scrapped up lol
VID:
11-15-2009, 04:29 PM
#204
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Nicely done J1N, a very detailed and specific description. The exhaust IS noticebly quieter though. It doesn't really sound like an XLR8 anymore. I'm thinking about doing the same thing only I may go with a Hushpower resonator rather than a Magnaflow. I'm glad to hear that you got the power back, which I must admit, I do miss at times. Right now I'm just tired of messing with this thing and I may just wait until next spring to modify it again. Winter is coming and I don't neccesarily need a lot of power with snow and ice on the ground. Plus the drone bothered me a hell of a lot more than the loss of power, so if your latest set up really didn't do much in regard to the drone, I can wait a while.
11-15-2009, 06:03 PM
#205
let me do a sound clip with the same recorder i used to do the first two.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
11-15-2009, 07:02 PM
#206
let me do a sound clip with the same recorder i used to do the first two.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
Job well done my friend.
I'm wondering if yours may be quieter than mine since you have the magnaflow res instead of the stock.
All in all it sounds a lot like mine. I will say from my personal experience it was night and day for the drone difference. As soon as my parents got in the car they noticed and my lady now likes driving the car again. (I'm still trying to determine if this is supposed to be a good thing..lol)
Last edited by pellepelle_10; 11-15-2009 at 07:06 PM.
11-15-2009, 07:23 PM
#207
BTW
I love the analysis on the XLR8 drone compared to the ATLP.
I too was assured that it was comparible if not quieter than the ATLP and I was baffled by the amount of drone when I got it.
I seriously got a headache the first time I drove around. I wanted to return it within 2 hrs of driving the thing. Adding that Vibrant resonator brought my love back for the car. That res worked wonders for me.
I love the analysis on the XLR8 drone compared to the ATLP.
I too was assured that it was comparible if not quieter than the ATLP and I was baffled by the amount of drone when I got it.
I seriously got a headache the first time I drove around. I wanted to return it within 2 hrs of driving the thing. Adding that Vibrant resonator brought my love back for the car. That res worked wonders for me.
11-15-2009, 07:40 PM
#208
Vibrant Ultra Quiet Res for the win!
Job well done my friend.
I'm wondering if yours may be quieter than mine since you have the magnaflow res instead of the stock.
All in all it sounds a lot like mine. I will say from my personal experience it was night and day for the drone difference. As soon as my parents got in the car they noticed and my lady now likes driving the car again. (I'm still trying to determine if this is supposed to be a good thing..lol)
Job well done my friend.
I'm wondering if yours may be quieter than mine since you have the magnaflow res instead of the stock.
All in all it sounds a lot like mine. I will say from my personal experience it was night and day for the drone difference. As soon as my parents got in the car they noticed and my lady now likes driving the car again. (I'm still trying to determine if this is supposed to be a good thing..lol)
11-15-2009, 08:29 PM
#209
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let me do a sound clip with the same recorder i used to do the first two.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
so i'll have clips of the XLR8, XLR8 cone & magnaflow, and XLR8 with Magnaflow & vibrant res.
the recorder is at the office so ill have it tomorrow.
PM me if you want me to send you the sound clips.
also im so used to hearing the drone that its hard for me to say if its less or not. The wife was in the car yesterday and she said it was alot less... so who knows. i need to hear the before and after with the same recorder to really see.
11-17-2009, 03:09 AM
#210
11-17-2009, 08:00 AM
#211
If only we'd known not to bother with the resonated version of the XLR8... I have the 28" magnaflow on order and am going to have it welded right over the connection to the y-pipe before the mufflers. My take on it is this: XLR8 should have done more to have an effective resonator on the Res-quad exhaust, and that is all I am looking to modify. I don't necessarily want to add another res as well, as it turns it back into an almost stock configuration. All I know is after I finish this, there will be at least three different solutions to fixing the drone problem. How helpful are we?
11-17-2009, 10:59 AM
#212
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If only we'd known not to bother with the resonated version of the XLR8... I have the 28" magnaflow on order and am going to have it welded right over the connection to the y-pipe before the mufflers. My take on it is this: XLR8 should have done more to have an effective resonator on the Res-quad exhaust, and that is all I am looking to modify. I don't necessarily want to add another res as well, as it turns it back into an almost stock configuration. All I know is after I finish this, there will be at least three different solutions to fixing the drone problem. How helpful are we?
Damn straight! Two months ago I was so fed up with the drone that I was about to go back to stock and noone seemed to have any reasonable remedies for the problem. I joined this forum and came into a gold mine of info. KUDOS TO ACURAZINE!!
11-19-2009, 09:14 AM
#214
If only we'd known not to bother with the resonated version of the XLR8... I have the 28" magnaflow on order and am going to have it welded right over the connection to the y-pipe before the mufflers. My take on it is this: XLR8 should have done more to have an effective resonator on the Res-quad exhaust, and that is all I am looking to modify. I don't necessarily want to add another res as well, as it turns it back into an almost stock configuration. All I know is after I finish this, there will be at least three different solutions to fixing the drone problem. How helpful are we?
Yes, this exhaust system is a true embrassment for XLR8. It was absolutely terrible in either the res or non-res version and completely unbearable as is. Everyone had to spend a bunch of extra cash to modify it to make it usefull. It is a shame. I would not recommend that anyone purchase this unit until it is completely redesigned.
11-22-2009, 03:44 PM
#215
Yes, this exhaust system is a true embrassment for XLR8. It was absolutely terrible in either the res or non-res version and completely unbearable as is. Everyone had to spend a bunch of extra cash to modify it to make it usefull. It is a shame. I would not recommend that anyone purchase this unit until it is completely redesigned.
BBE has dragged feet over and over and over again to get this exhaust fine tuned. No disrespect to Josh for his efforts in providing the exhaust but I've learned a valuable lesson to never deal with BBE again.
I should have listened to forewarnings from friends who knew of BBE before this project started. I'll know better next time.
For those wanting this exhaust be prepared to cut this baby up if you don't like a lot of drone. Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator will be needed to bring the drone down. I will say that the end result provides a killer sound.
11-25-2009, 06:43 PM
#216
2007 A-Spec Type S
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Guys, not to defend BBE. I was very disappointed with the drone in my TL too, and paid extra money to have it fixed. But, BBE is a very high-end exhaust specialist. I have heard their systems on Porsches & Ferraris. They are much better quality than Magnaflow, Dynomax or Flowmaster.
I think the real problem is the design of our TL. It's really not laid out as a performance monster. The y-pipe splitting off to 2 mufflers in the rear, under a hollow trunk space. Is just a bad design for free-flowing mufflers. Many guys with pick up trucks have a similar problem.
I think the real problem is the design of our TL. It's really not laid out as a performance monster. The y-pipe splitting off to 2 mufflers in the rear, under a hollow trunk space. Is just a bad design for free-flowing mufflers. Many guys with pick up trucks have a similar problem.
03-29-2010, 05:50 PM
#229
Update: I just had the Vibrant Ultra Quiet Res installed today and drove around for 15min both in city and highway (only 60mph) and it did reduce the drone but not anything drastic, I'd say ~40%. I'm hoping maybe it will quiet done further with more mileage.
My installer tig welded the resonator but only on the end facing the rear of the car and the other side it was just clamped to the XLR8 catback. I'm hoping this isn't a problem in the future with leaks etc.
Another note, I also had the ATLP Jpipe v2 installed as well and my butt dyno is very pleased.
My installer tig welded the resonator but only on the end facing the rear of the car and the other side it was just clamped to the XLR8 catback. I'm hoping this isn't a problem in the future with leaks etc.
Another note, I also had the ATLP Jpipe v2 installed as well and my butt dyno is very pleased.
04-16-2010, 07:42 AM
#230
Update: I FINALLY after about 6 months or so, had my friend's brother weld up my Magnaflow muffler in place of the wimpy res that came with. I haven't been on a highway yet, but after a quick test drive around town, I noticed quite a difference. The overall tone is about the same (on cold start, etc) and when I get on it, it is still quite audible. However, the muffler seems to smooth out the sound, so there is no more grumble when down shifting and letting off the throttle. The butterfly valves aren't as noisy at 3k rpm anymore either. I can actually hear my CAI!! Can't remember the last time that was the case. Anyway, while I was taking it off to have it done, I noticed some areas that were leaking, so I'll be getting gaskets for every connection. I'm also toying with the idea of getting a High Flow Cat, but we'll see. My OEM one is in pretty rough shape after only 3 years. Maybe I'll just get new nuts and bolt it back on there. Or maybe use the nuts I have (haha) and just go for the HFC.
I'll be sure to update my update when I get a chance.
I'll be sure to update my update when I get a chance.
04-16-2010, 02:07 PM
#232
maybe its the quads that are real droney...i wouldnt be able to comment on that because i have the resonated regular xlr8
before i got my exhaust put on I was reading about all these comments about the drone being ridiculous and people not being able to conversate in the car....i was real worried at that point
Ive had my resonated xlr8 exhaust on for about a week now...there is a little drone but I barely notice it...the cabin does not vibrate like crazy...and i just had 6 people in my car going to get fast food lol and i think its actually quieter with more people in the cabin
the only other mod I have pertaining to the engine is an AEM v2
so for those looking to buy an excelerate resonated but are worried about the drone...DONT get discouraged from buying it...its not bad at all
and if you got a sound system then there is ZERO drone lol
before i got my exhaust put on I was reading about all these comments about the drone being ridiculous and people not being able to conversate in the car....i was real worried at that point
Ive had my resonated xlr8 exhaust on for about a week now...there is a little drone but I barely notice it...the cabin does not vibrate like crazy...and i just had 6 people in my car going to get fast food lol and i think its actually quieter with more people in the cabin
the only other mod I have pertaining to the engine is an AEM v2
so for those looking to buy an excelerate resonated but are worried about the drone...DONT get discouraged from buying it...its not bad at all
and if you got a sound system then there is ZERO drone lol
06-03-2010, 12:38 AM
#233
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Headers will change the sound. At least mine did. the horrible drone around 2000 rpm will be much quieter and the car will have a more aggessive sound at higher rpm
06-23-2010, 10:04 PM
#234
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So today I removed the Maganflow system and the insert and went back to stock. The insert took care of the drone but the power loss wasn't any fun either. Oh well, sometimes mods are cool sometimes they aren't.
07-13-2010, 03:20 PM
#238
Wow havent seen this thread in a while. im happy with my setup. only thing i might change is just getting different tips cause ppl mistake it for a stock exhaust.
last meet i was at ppl were looking at it saying wtf his stock exhaust sticks out farther than normal.... im like wtf its not stock dude. lol
last meet i was at ppl were looking at it saying wtf his stock exhaust sticks out farther than normal.... im like wtf its not stock dude. lol
07-13-2010, 03:53 PM
#239
Wow havent seen this thread in a while. im happy with my setup. only thing i might change is just getting different tips cause ppl mistake it for a stock exhaust.
last meet i was at ppl were looking at it saying wtf his stock exhaust sticks out farther than normal.... im like wtf its not stock dude. lol
last meet i was at ppl were looking at it saying wtf his stock exhaust sticks out farther than normal.... im like wtf its not stock dude. lol
07-14-2010, 08:16 AM
#240
It did not!! 
It was simple though so no biggie! I am going to be installing a Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator next. I am currently running a Aero Resonator directly behind my RV6 V3 then 2.5 back to the Y and 2.25 into each Magnaflow....It sounds amazing from the outside but I would like to kill the Drone a bit still! It is not "shakes the change in my cupholder" bad but I still dislike it!
It was simple though so no biggie! I am going to be installing a Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator next. I am currently running a Aero Resonator directly behind my RV6 V3 then 2.5 back to the Y and 2.25 into each Magnaflow....It sounds amazing from the outside but I would like to kill the Drone a bit still! It is not "shakes the change in my cupholder" bad but I still dislike it!