JonathanG35

The subject says it all. I will post pics once i get my car back.

In the meantime I need opinions on the best test pipes:

I would prefer that they not be much louder than the rt cats and have no rasp.

thanks, jk

FairladyZ

You better go with the cheapies they sell on ebay. The test pipes with resonators if you want no rasp.

What happens when they fail, do you get a refund or are you SOL?

zachcrosen

iTrader: (23)

I just bought a set of the Megan Racing resonated test pipes off ebay for $99.95 + shipping. There is a huge thread about these test pipes on here somewhere. Check it out. I think they will still have rasp but from what I have heard its not too bad.

neffster

iTrader: (2)

What clued you in to let you know that there was a problem? How many miles were on the cats?

TIA

JonathanG35

About 15k on the cats. The exhaust tone got bassier and there was absolutely no acceleration between 4k and 7k rpm. My car went from 13 sec 1/4's to 13 sec 0-60.

DrVolkl

From what I've read in the past, this is a common problem with these cats.

It was enough to steer me to resonated test pipes and then just swap back my stock cats come emission time.

I think there are other brands that are much more reliable, but I haven't researched it much.

JonathanG35

what test pipes are you running?

I picked up my cats and my trashed O2 sensors. I will post pics in a few hours. Gonna send my ecu to ts while the car is down.

Zivman

iTrader: (19)

The megan racing test pipes are decent for about a $100, but I thin the Labree resonated ones are probably the best out there in terms of keeping rasp down

DrVolkl

I have the Kinetix resonated test pipes.

I personally wouldn't go non-resonated due to that rasp. It's a lot cheaper just to get test pipes without resonators, but I think a lot of people aren't happy with the noise you get from em.

The kinetix do a pretty decent job of controlling the rasp...I haven't heard the Labree and I'm not sure where to get em. Perhaps someone who is familiar with both can chime in on the pros and cons.

The kinetix are $380?? or so...I don't exactly remember, but they're the same price as high flow cats. (ouch)

Check the classified forum...you'll see em around once in awhile.

Zivman

iTrader: (19)

The Labree resonated pipes can be found HERE I bought mine off a forum member for 380 shipped, when they were about 400-425 new. I think they can be had for less now.

One thing nice about the Labree's is that they come with an extra bung already in place for something like a wideband o2 sensor.

The tape around the o2 sensors is there because I spliced in MIL eliminators to get rid of the SES light.
Pics of my Labree test pipes:








Bolted up to my Topspeed headers:

Philthy

iTrader: (3)

Same thing happen to my RT cats... Best bet is to just hollow out your RT cats and call it a day...

JonathanG35

Pic1
Pic2
Pic3

JonathanG35

sorry the pics suck, I am photo challenged.

neffster

iTrader: (2)

Did the catalytic converter material melting mess up your oxygen sensors? Did this affect anything other than your 0-60 times? I'm concerned because I'm approaching 13,500 miles on my RT's and wondering WHEN this will happen to me. If this is inevitable I may choose to schedule a cat gutting day at the local NAPA shop. Has anyone put 30,000 miles on a pair of RT Cats?

JonathanG35

can you explain the mil eliminators part? I have to order new o2 sensors since mine are now damaged. I may as well perform this MIL trick you are talking about before everything gets put back together.

Zivman

iTrader: (19)

Check out this thread

A member had luck with the nonfouler 'HELP!' method which is really easy to todo. I would have dont that rather than spice the wires, but I didn't come across it until I had my sensors wired. Just make sure you only drill the outer of the two nonfoulers for each bank.

JonathanG35

Thanks for that link. I never threw a cel even when my O2 sensors were trashed



On the + side is going to TS for a flash to take advantage of my mods

JonathanG35

You probably cant tell from the pic but both O2 sensors are dented

DrVolkl

I never threw an SES light with my kinetix...the O2 sensors just screwed right in.

Is that for something else?

JonathanG35

BTW, the O2 sensors are not exactly cheap but i was able to get a deal from Jason at Perfomance Nissan.