I got Berk high-flow cats in September 2007. I spent the extra money to get the metallic ones so they would last longer, and be okay on the track. I talked to a guy at Berk on the phone, told him I was replacing the Crawford non-metallic ones because they had come apart. He said they would be good. BTW my engine is N/A.

Last week I heard a rattling sound, which I traced down to the driver-side cat. So I removed it and sure enough, the core thing on the inside had broken and slammed against my stock O2 sensor. See the attached photo of the cat element -- see that round indentation? That is from my O2 sensor.

It gets better. I took off the passenger-side cat, so I could put my stock cats back on temporarily. After I removed it, I realized it was completely hollow. It, too, had come apart sometime and I hadn't realized it! Note that my car was in the shop with the engine out from October 4, 2008 until March 2009, so this happened after only 13 months of actually running the cats.

I emailed berk twice (two different email addresses), explaining what happened, and I got no response. If you look at my posts on this forum, you can see that when a vendor gives me good customer service, I like to tell others about it. (here's an example). Some of my favorite vendors are SPL parts, Z1Auto, Kyle at Import Parts pro, and Uprev, just to name a few. I rarely get a crappy product or bad service, but now I have, and this is my post. I spent like $400 on those, I would expect them to last longer than 13 months. Oh well. if anyone wants some pre-gutted berk cats in Austin, lemme know.

So for now I'm giving up on cats. I just ordered some Kinetix resonated test pipes from Import parts pro. And I'm done with Berk.

 

Did you try to PM them on here?

 

Don't take this the wrong way but..

I know your car is NA but is it running OK? Has it been tuned? It might just be bad luck but I just find it a bit odd that in two years you've destroyed two sets of cats?

 

Dayum. That would **** me off. I had the Helix test pipes when they first came out, and now I'm testing out the Top Speed resonated pipes. Never wanted to spend the money on hi-flow cats, and now I know why. I keep reading about bad experiences like yours.

 

I am glad to see this thread because I was about to purchase the Berks HFC tomorrow. I guess that wont be happening. Fast Intentions anyone?

 

Thats not good. 13 months gives me little information. How many miles is that?

 

That cat looks like it got too hot to me. My guess is that too much fuel is blowing out your tail pipe. Ditto on the above post - check your tune.

 

did you notice misfire like engine rattles at stoplight after some highway or "intensify" driving?

 

That is really short time. Sorry to hear man.

 

Kyle from Import Pro is an awezome vendor... I was wondering though, will the Kinetix resonated test pipes throw the check engine light? It says it does not, however I was just wondering how true that is? If they really dont, I want them to.

 

This exact same thing happened to my stock cats after I gutted the secondary element and left the upper metal element in. One came apart and the other was just gone. Although I did drive the car with a broken piston for a while.

 

Fair question. Yes, it's been tuned at Uprev, the Air/Fuel ratio is good, not too rich (which can cause cats to come apart - especially on turbo engines). Uprev is like 2 miles from my house and I'm up there quite a lot.


From my spreadsheet of 350z mods:
10/1/2007 64,800 miles - Berk metallic high-flow cats - cost: $400

My odometer TODAY shows 78800. Last october it showed 75500. So it was 14,000 miles for the 2nd cat to come apart. The first one I don't even know when it came apart, probably before last october.


I was at the track last Sunday, and I noticed the exhaust note changed a bit halfway through the day, which concerned me. I didn't notice the rattle until a few days later.

 

I had Kinetix high-flow catalytic converters. Lasted 19,206 miles before failing inside. Rattled like a SOB. Good luck.

 

I have a 2003, which are known for practically NEVER throwing a check engine light for test pipes or high-flow cats. I've never had the CEL for it. For 2004 or later models, I don't know.

 

Dang you keep a spreadsheet. 14,000 miles stinks. Pipes are either falling apart inside or cracking on the outside. You cant win.

 

If mine fails I will find a Flowmaster that can be welded in place.

 

Have you installed the Helix test pipes already? If so. how do they sound? Do you like them?

 

Ah, UpRev, good stuff. I'd say this is bad luck then.

Ray (had his last Z tuned by UpRev too)

 

qftmft!

 

I had them on my 03 for years and didn't mind the sound unlike most people. I equated the sound to something that belonged on a track.....