I'll start saying I have searched for this answer but no luck..
So, I know that the Borla TD has an h-pipe, and the h-pipe gets rid of 'drone'. But I am confused on exactly what drone is. I assume that no drone means you won't hear the exhaust if you have your foot off the throttle, cruising in 6th on the freeway. But do you hear that low bass note if you are barely touching the throttle (like you do when cruising..)?

 

ive got a borla on my g and it does drone at about 40 mph and 2200 rpm,s but thats about it.

 

OK - your kind of off there:

1st - and H or X pipe is designed to balance a dual system. Balancing equalizes the pressure on both sides and allows for scavenging of exhaust gases. With that said - on 6 Cylinder engines - x-pipes are typically more effective at this. One benefit as well, CAN BE, less drone - depending on how efficient the muffler design is.

DRONE is a phenomena that happens when the exhaust pulses do not cancel themselves out. The pulse that is left either exits the system out the back and drones out the rear, or forces itself out the muffler and resonator casings, to the street and back up through the cars cavity.

The effect is like having a couple of woofers playing real deep bass at certain RPM ranges at constant notes. It just buzzes the entire car.

An H or X pipe can help to minimize this because when the system is balanced, some of those pulses can also be canceled out. The real technology and science behind it is the muffler. It has to be designed to to reflect and/or absorb the pulse. The idea is to slow the pulse enough so that it can be canceled out by the rebound pulse.

WITH THIS IN MIND - this all has to be done AND allow certain pulses through so the exhaust DOES make noise as well. It's pretty tricky. Some manufacturers will design systems with very poorly designed mufflers, and add resonators to tune the sound and slow the exhaust to make it work...many of these designs drone.

The true work of art in an exhaust system - is one that makes the sound, with the least amount of components.

For instance, a true dual system with two mufflers and a x or h pipe only, that doesn't drone - tells you the mufflers are of the highest quality - with science and technology behind them. They work right. They don't need resonators to make up for their shortcomings.

A true dual system, especially on our cars - 350Z and G35's - should not have combo mufflers in the back - they should have TRUE DUAL MUFFLERS. the systems should be balanced with X or H pipes in front.

All H-pipes are not equal as well - same with x-pipes, btw. There are several ways to make both..but I wont go into that now.

A system that has no drone, also doesn't mean you wont hear it in the car. If you can't hear the exhaust in the car - chances are you can hardly hear it outside the car as well. Hearing an exhaust in the car is NOT DRONE. having your car rattle and hum and give you headache between 1800 and about 4000 rpm is drone.

Rick

 

Okay. Well anyone else with the Borla - if you are cruising on the freeway in 6th with just a bit of throttle (to keep the car at the same speed), do you that headache-inducing bass note?

 

BTW - I've had the Borla - and yes - you get drone with it...that's what it is...Rick

 

Hmmm. I'm confused, everyone told me the Borla DOESN'T drone...

Is there any exhaust that won't be any louder than stock cruising on the freeway?

 

Yep...STOCK!

You have to remember - exhaust companies are in business to make HP and TQ - you have to make noise to do that. It's just science. The only difference is a turbo car..they are quieter.

The quieter the exhaust - the less power it makes - the less reason to buy it. If all you want is to enhance the sound - and get ZERO drone...add resonated testpipes to your stock exhaust and walk a way.

The only other system out there that will come close to what you are likely looking for is the Fast Intentions system - it is on group buy now - and that ends tonight at midnight.

You wont be able to effectively get rid of the Borla drone either. That muffler wont let you do it, and the more resonator you add or exchange, the worse it will get.

Do a search on my alias to get more info...

Rick

 

Hmmm. Well it's just that I have the PIT exhaust, and hate it, one of the big reasons is cause it drones. Everyone has told me Borla doesn't drone, but you are saying it does.

I know its very subjective, so does anyone else have input? I mean, people have said that resonated test pipes with a Borla Exhaust won't drone or rasp. So im confused. Help me, I'm planning on getting this exhaust in the next week.

 

i had the borla for 2 years and for a year of that time i had test pipes with the borla.... i never had any drone what so ever.

now im back with the cats and have the injen ....it drones worse than the exhaust on my 434ci stroked small block in my camaro!

horible between 2200 and 3000 rpm

 

I have the Borla TD with headers, HFC, Popcharger and plenum spacer. I get drone at around 79mph for about 50-100 rpm...very localized...and only annoying if forced to hold that exact speed. I'm pretty picky about weird noises and it really doesn't bother me since the window is so narrow.

 

drone?...low bass note?...exotic?...quiet?..loud?...

Two people can drive the same car and comment on the above differently. Its a bit frivolous to describe a sound, any sound, in words. If you are concerned with sound not performance, attend a 350Z-meet and ask for a drive-along. Most owners will be happy to oblige.

 

You couldn't have said it any better.

You HAVE TO listen to systems and educate yourself on sound. Some people like drone!!! There are VERY few systems, other than stock, that do not drone, maybe 2-3 - I personally know of 1 - and am biased on it, of course.

I have had 9 of the true duals - and DO know what drone is - I have spent lots of time purposely creating drone, only to know how to get rid of it. The Borla drones - trust me..it has to - the resonators are metal mesh and are only effective up to about 4000RPM - heat affects them after about 10 minutes of driving and the system drones. The amount of drone will be subjective to an AT and MT car and related mods - YES IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I can go on and on about this - and I don't mind it...

Keep the questions coming if you like.

Rick

 

i had the system on my 03 brickyard enthusist a/t for 7 months before i totaled it on my street hitting a deer. then put it on my 04 performance model m/t

i got a slight drone at highway speeds for about 100rpm in the a/t

absolutely none with the 6m/t
i live in dinwiddie virginia and work on the west end of richmont (58 miles each way) so i think my exhaust was definatly getting up to temp.
and yes i know what drone is as well.... it is the noise from the exhaust that resonates into the cabin...

if you heare any kind of significant drone out of the borla then you should hear me blowing this dog whiste... LOL

of the MORE AFFORDABLE exhausts out there you wont find a quieter exhaust out there and still give a nice growl whin wot and give the gains you get with the borla.

ISMSOLUTIONS
i have heard your exhaust and it does sound super! i would love to have one but my suspension is a little more pressing right now.... but i would go ahead and buy one if you give me a gaurentee that it wont drone at all and if it does i get to keep the exhaust for free... lol

kidding

 

Ok well of the 9 TDs you have had which one would you rate personally as the "best" as far as drone goes. and of the 9 you have had where would you rank the Borla.

 

There is a difference on the Borla on the earlier years - the 05+ does drone more...the AT drone more than MT's.

The Fast Intentions Intimidator doesn't drone - really cool sound at all levels of the power band too. The mufflers are key

Rick

 

While exhausts and drone is subjective to each person's opinion...this has to be one of the more informative threads I've ran across lately.

Please keep the info coming for I have pretty much settled on the Borla, just need to make up my mind on what to put in place of my cat's.

Thanks guys.

 

Next to the Fast Intentions exhaust - the Borla was my favorite - hands down. I got rid of the Borla tips - they made the system drone worse. I put on a set of Sebring resonated 4 1/2" tips - made a world of difference. They are the set that that we use on the Fast Intentions system now.

the trickest system I built - out of more than 16 systems, was a copy of the Stillen exhaust - with QUALITY parts. I stacked the mufflers and everything. Used better and slightly longer resonators. No drone and a nice growl..problem was it was way too quiet. I mean TOOOO quiet. You couldn't hear the car at all. HP was about 8 and TQ was 3..not worth the experiment..but interesting nonetheless.

The problem I really have with the Borla is the power and TQ you get for the money. For a few bucks more - I'd rather have the quality and consistency of a TRUE DUAL like the system we built - with all flanges - no clamps - no BS.

Rick

 

Resonated testpipes - easy answer to that question..

Rick

 

Umm... the Borla True-Dual.. is.. a true-dual... isn't it?
:-P

 

my olny dislike with the borla... i thought it could have been made a little better and done withouth 13 pieces with 97 clamps....