Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
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From: Boulder, CO
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
I know the pain of those stupid f'ing rubber donuts... one of mine broke a while ago and I had a bear of a time getting the broken one off and the replacement back on. I just used a generic rubber figure-8 rather than the AMG thing.
Last time I found a spring hook tool and a helper made the job a lot easier, hopefully that helps this time. I'll be sure to align the tips before I tighten down the flange.
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
It IS an exact copy of the Borla, so it should sound the same.
It comes in two pieces along with a clamp.
No welding.
Last edited by ala_xfire; Jul 28, 2013 at 04:26 PM.
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From: Boulder, CO
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
Just put mine on. Few thoughts from the phone:
Buy new bolts if yours look rusty at all. I broke all 3 removing them without even using power tools or a breaker bar.
The muffler is mirrored so it really stands out and makes the tips look lower than stock even though they're not, since you can see the muffler much more easily.
The rubber hangers are evil. No tricks from me as I cut mine and replaced them with rubber donuts. The exhaust might bounce up and down a bit more but I can't tell.
My muffler was a bit scuffed and the welds holding the bracket to the muffler are sideways (the bracket is a bit cockeyed) but it fit fine.
the 2 piece design makes installation sans hangers and making the tips straight really easy.
it sounds great. A little drone around 60 in 6th (2.1k rpm or so). Otherwise great, loud but not LOUD.
Buy new bolts if yours look rusty at all. I broke all 3 removing them without even using power tools or a breaker bar.
The muffler is mirrored so it really stands out and makes the tips look lower than stock even though they're not, since you can see the muffler much more easily.
The rubber hangers are evil. No tricks from me as I cut mine and replaced them with rubber donuts. The exhaust might bounce up and down a bit more but I can't tell.
My muffler was a bit scuffed and the welds holding the bracket to the muffler are sideways (the bracket is a bit cockeyed) but it fit fine.
the 2 piece design makes installation sans hangers and making the tips straight really easy.
it sounds great. A little drone around 60 in 6th (2.1k rpm or so). Otherwise great, loud but not LOUD.
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
the welds holding the bracket to the muffler are sideways (the bracket is a bit cockeyed) but it fit fine.
Look at the OEM muffler you removed ......
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Boulder, CO
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
Good point, thanks and I stand corrected... The original is definitely not symmetrical, although the bracket design makes it not look as sideways.
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
Not enough ( if any ) to justify the cost.
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From: Waterloo, Ontario
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
I got one of these too. I've had it on the car for a week now. Overall I'm pleased. It's a little louder than stock with a nice tone...I could stand a little louder but I'm happy with the sound. It replaced a Magnaflow 16633 catback that sounded absolutely awesome but was just a little too loud for me.
Installation was easy - got the rear of the car up on jack stands, three bolts & one clamp later and we're done. The muffler hangers are a pain but I had to replace my originals anyway as one was partly split. I used a pair of generic ones similar to OEM from Partsource. Placed them on the car hanger brackets first and used a loop of nylon twine through the hanger to stretch into place on the muffler brackets. Getting the new ones on was much easier than getting the old ones off. Total installation time including jacking the car up was about 2 hours.
I did notice some sharp edges on the hanger brackets which I filed down before I installed the muffler as a precaution so they wouldn't cut into the rubber hangers over time. Build quality on the exhaust overall is pretty good.
Installation was easy - got the rear of the car up on jack stands, three bolts & one clamp later and we're done. The muffler hangers are a pain but I had to replace my originals anyway as one was partly split. I used a pair of generic ones similar to OEM from Partsource. Placed them on the car hanger brackets first and used a loop of nylon twine through the hanger to stretch into place on the muffler brackets. Getting the new ones on was much easier than getting the old ones off. Total installation time including jacking the car up was about 2 hours.
I did notice some sharp edges on the hanger brackets which I filed down before I installed the muffler as a precaution so they wouldn't cut into the rubber hangers over time. Build quality on the exhaust overall is pretty good.
Last edited by Buck Spunni; Aug 18, 2013 at 09:59 AM.
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From: Londonderry, N.H.
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
It is as good as described. ( you got yours for $4 less than I offered )
One thing I didn't do, and still may do : The OEM has a rubber bumper in the center that is intended to prevent the muffler from flying up and hitting the bumper cover when on really rough roads. The OBX has an area for this, but no hole to mount the rubber bumper.
I may drop mine and drill a hole and mount the rubber bumper.
Not looking forward to it.
The entire swap process took me 2 hours : 1 hour and 50 minutes of that was getting the 2 muffler hangers loose to remove the OEM muffler.
HINT :
1. Jack up the rear and place on 2 jack stands.
2. Remove both rear plastic diffuser pieces.
3. Use the jack to now raise the muffler as high as it will go to remove as much tension on the muffler hangers as you can
4. You can now go into each side in the diffuser area and get the hanger donuts off.
( Don't try to get the top part ( on the body ) loose, get the part on the muffler off.
When you install the new OBX, go ahead and tighten up the clamp, but leave the 3 bolt collar ring loose. Have someone do an alignment to get the 2 oval tips even, then while they hold it in place, tighten up the 3 bolts.
One thing I didn't do, and still may do : The OEM has a rubber bumper in the center that is intended to prevent the muffler from flying up and hitting the bumper cover when on really rough roads. The OBX has an area for this, but no hole to mount the rubber bumper.
I may drop mine and drill a hole and mount the rubber bumper.
Not looking forward to it.
The entire swap process took me 2 hours : 1 hour and 50 minutes of that was getting the 2 muffler hangers loose to remove the OEM muffler.
HINT :
1. Jack up the rear and place on 2 jack stands.
2. Remove both rear plastic diffuser pieces.
3. Use the jack to now raise the muffler as high as it will go to remove as much tension on the muffler hangers as you can
4. You can now go into each side in the diffuser area and get the hanger donuts off.
( Don't try to get the top part ( on the body ) loose, get the part on the muffler off.
When you install the new OBX, go ahead and tighten up the clamp, but leave the 3 bolt collar ring loose. Have someone do an alignment to get the 2 oval tips even, then while they hold it in place, tighten up the 3 bolts.
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From: Pacific Northwest
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
Thanks for the report. Just ran across the OBX exhaust system a few days ago and was wondering if it was any good. Some reviews I ran across on other car forums reported the muffler getting louder over time. Some complained about fiberglass packing coming out of the muffler within the first couple weeks. I'll be curious to see if you see/hear any changes as the muffler breaks in.
If it holds up for you I'll be putting it on my short list of improvements. First comes new wheels, then next will be getting a little more noise out of the exhaust. I don't want a loud-droning sound. Just some more growl when zooming up the on ramps.
Tom
If it holds up for you I'll be putting it on my short list of improvements. First comes new wheels, then next will be getting a little more noise out of the exhaust. I don't want a loud-droning sound. Just some more growl when zooming up the on ramps.
Tom
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
I didn't have to drill a hole, I used the one in the body hanger.
I used a long wood bar to pry the muffler down to provide space, lubed up the nipple on the bumper with Vaseline and pulled it through the hole with needlenose pliers.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
Thanks for the report. Just ran across the OBX exhaust system a few days ago and was wondering if it was any good. Some reviews I ran across on other car forums reported the muffler getting louder over time. Some complained about fiberglass packing coming out of the muffler within the first couple weeks. I'll be curious to see if you see/hear any changes as the muffler breaks in.
If it holds up for you I'll be putting it on my short list of improvements. First comes new wheels, then next will be getting a little more noise out of the exhaust. I don't want a loud-droning sound. Just some more growl when zooming up the on ramps.
Tom
If it holds up for you I'll be putting it on my short list of improvements. First comes new wheels, then next will be getting a little more noise out of the exhaust. I don't want a loud-droning sound. Just some more growl when zooming up the on ramps.
Tom
Nothing has come out since I installed last summer.
One odd thing though : the DS tip is very shiny inside, the PS tip not so much and I have found nothing that will polish it up to make it match.
Tried NeverDull, steel wool, even tried a fine wire rotary wheel.
I'm thinking I might paint the insides with high temp paint, can't decide what color or even if I want to do that.
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From: Londonderry, N.H.
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
I found removing the rear diffusers made it much easier, but you might get by without doing that.
I didn't have to drill a hole, I used the one in the body hanger.
I used a long wood bar to pry the muffler down to provide space, lubed up the nipple on the bumper with Vaseline and pulled it through the hole with needlenose pliers.
I didn't have to drill a hole, I used the one in the body hanger.
I used a long wood bar to pry the muffler down to provide space, lubed up the nipple on the bumper with Vaseline and pulled it through the hole with needlenose pliers.
I have a similar tool to below which should allow me to get the donut off going in between the exhaust ends.
Thanks for your help.
OEM/Exhaust donut stretcher with offset J-hook (25543) | Exhaust Installation and Removal Tool | AutoZone.com_
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From: Kellyville, Ok
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
OSU orange would look nice...
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
If I did decide on orange, it would be AUBURN orange ........
Last edited by ala_xfire; Nov 8, 2013 at 07:22 AM.
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From: Londonderry, N.H.
Re: Ordered the OBX ( Borla copy ) cat back
I found removing the rear diffusers made it much easier, but you might get by without doing that.
I didn't have to drill a hole, I used the one in the body hanger.
I used a long wood bar to pry the muffler down to provide space, lubed up the nipple on the bumper with Vaseline and pulled it through the hole with needlenose pliers.
I didn't have to drill a hole, I used the one in the body hanger.
I used a long wood bar to pry the muffler down to provide space, lubed up the nipple on the bumper with Vaseline and pulled it through the hole with needlenose pliers.
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