MBRP cat-back vs. H-pipe and axle-back?

[rpinkstn]

Looking for some suggestions on how to get the exhaust tone and volume I want with only minimal or no drone. I've looked through the forum and there are tons of threads discussing exhaust options. I also found the big exhaust sticky with page after page of exhaust systyem video clips - lots of good information there but I wasn't really able to find a thread or series of posts that answers my current question.

The car is my wife's 2017 GT (non-active exhaust) and mechanically 100% stock. She wanted a better sounding exhaust system (I certainly don't blame her!) and after some reasearch here and elsewhere, I purchased an MBRP "Race" cat-back exhaust system. It's a beautiful system and it fit perfectly and installed very easily. We both really like the volume and tone of the MBRP systm, but after driving it around for several weeks, including two out of town trips, my wife has decided the drone inside the car at about 1,800 rpm is too much. I want her to be completely happy with her car so I removed the MBRP cat-back and reinstalled the factory exhaust with a basic resonator delete H-pipe installed. We drove it around today with this setup and, although it does sound better with the H-pipe than with the factory resonator, within just a few minutes, we both agreed, it's way too quiet. At this point, I am considering:

1. Adding "resnotators" to the MBRP cat-back system, like the ones MBRP sells (https://mbrpexhauststore.com/r1013-mbrp-resonator-3-inlet-outlet-16-body-20-overall-t304/)

or...

2. Sticking with the factory exhaust system with the H-pipe and adding a good sounding axle-back system.

Can I get some suggestions on which way to go utilzing the parts I already have in lieu of ditching everything going with a completely different setup? Anyone have any experience with an MBRP system (or simlilar) that you have added resonators to?

If I go with the stock system with an H-pipe, what axle-back system is the best bang for the buck with a good deep tone and only minimal drone?

Thanks for reading.

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[MAGS1]

Looking for some suggestions on how to get the exhaust tone and volume I want with only minimal or no drone. I've looked through the forum and there are tons of threads discussing exhaust options. I also found the big exhaust sticky with page after page of exhaust systyem video clips - lots of good information there but I wasn't really able to find a thread or series of posts that answers my current question.

The car is my wife's 2017 GT (non-active exhaust) and mechanically 100% stock. She wanted a better sounding exhaust system (I certainly don't blame her!) and after some reasearch here and elsewhere, I purchased an MBRP "Race" cat-back exhaust system. It's a beautiful system and it fit perfectly and installed very easily. We both really like the volume and tone of the MBRP systm, but after driving it around for several weeks, including two out of town trips, my wife has decided the drone inside the car at about 1,800 rpm is too much. I want her to be completely happy with her car so I removed the MBRP cat-back and reinstalled the factory exhaust with a basic resonator delete H-pipe installed. We drove it around today with this setup and, although it does sound better with the H-pipe than with the factory resonator, within just a few minutes, we both agreed, it's way too quiet. At this point, I am considering:

1. Adding "resnotators" to the MBRP cat-back system, like the ones MBRP sells (https://mbrpexhauststore.com/r1013-mbrp-resonator-3-inlet-outlet-16-body-20-overall-t304/)

or...

2. Sticking with the factory exhaust system with the H-pipe and adding a good sounding axle-back system.

Can I get some suggestions on which way to go utilzing the parts I already have in lieu of ditching everything going with a completely different setup? Anyone have any experience with an MBRP system (or simlilar) that you have added resonators to?

If I go with the stock system with an H-pipe, what axle-back system is the best bang for the buck with a good deep tone and only minimal drone?

Thanks for reading.

If you want to stick with the H pipe, a Borla axle back is always a good option. The Ford Performance axle backs are made by Borla and are a little less expensive than the Borla S Type or ATAK. AWE Touring and Corsa Sport also sound good and none of those will drone. Or you can go full catback with any of those and try selling your MBRP system on here. AWE Touring catback comes with an H pipe, the other systems use X pipes. Borla S Type is my personal favorite on the S550. Not over the top loud and has a little deeper tone than the ATAK. Plenty of good options out there

 

[rpinkstn]

MAGS1 - thanks for the reply and the good info. I will look at/listen to sound clips of the systems you listed.

Does anyone have a sound or video clip showing a before and after comparison of the MBRP resonators?

 

[XakwardX]

I have lth with the mbrp street. Zero drone before and after the headers. It’s definitely not quite but no drone at any rpm.

 

[tdstuart]

Surprised you didn't find the negative reviews of the mbrp race.

I would say you need the mbrp street. Great tone, no drone. Only heard negative things about the race version.

The difference between the street and the race are the mufflers as far as I understand. Maybe you could get some street version mufflers? The h-pipe gives it the nice deep sound and you don't want to replace it with a resonator.

Whatever you decide to do it should be h-pipe with a muffler.

I personally have the mbrp street and really like it. Good bit of loud but with the stock exhaust manifolds it can be quiet if you want and doesn't have any drone. Once you do headers the mbrp street gets pretty loud but still not bad drone. And when I say loud, its nothing like a corsa extreme, those exhausts are insanely loud and I personally don't enjoy them.

 

[rpinkstn]

tdstuart - thanks for the reply. I did read the comments about the drone with the MBRP race, but the tone was so good, I thought maybe we could live with the drone. Nope. I was wrong and should have known better. Live and learn. LOL! I have contacted MBRP direct and they will sell me just the mufflers and supposedly, they are interchangeable. Still contemplating selling the whole MBRP Race system and just running a good axle-back system with the MRT H-pipe I have on there currently. I will probably waste a some time this weekend listening to more sound clips of different combinations and just end up ordering the "street" mufflers for the MBRP system.

 

[HKusp]

I had the MBRP race series on my 2009 GT500 with long tubes and hogged out cats on a BBK x-pipe . It sounded fantastic, a little too fantastic for a lot of my neighbors on cold start-ups early in the morning and it too had terrible drone at about 1800-2100rpm. I wanted to see if I could knock it down a bit by adding some resonators so I purchased a set of 3 inch Vibrant ones. Well there really was no clearance for them so I contacted MBRP and had them make me a set of street series mufflers for the system. Yes, they had to actually MAKE them as I was told the mufflers were made to order, it took 3 weeks for them to show up at my door, but that solved the issue. The car was a little quieter, but still sounded very good, and the drone was gone. Might be cheaper than the route you have been looking at going.

 

[RoGCobraRV]

Add the street mufflers to it and call it a day. H-pipe no resonators street mufflers. Best sound per $ for what you're both looking for

 

[rpinkstn]

Thanks for the replies, info. and opinions fellas. I have my options down to either the Roush axle-back (with or without the MRT H-pipe I already have) or the MBRP cat-back with their "street" mufflers. My wife and I are planning to attend the LMR cruise at TMS on the 22nd. I may just wait until I can hear some of these setups in person.

 

[rpinkstn]

Thanks again for the replies and input. To follow-up, I was able to order a pair of just the street muffflers directly from MBRP (nice folks to deal with BTW). They were special order and took a little more than two weeks to arrive. As someone mentioned the only difference between the "street" and "race" cat back systems form MBRP appears to be the mufflers. The "race" mufflers are smaller in diameter. The "street" mufflers are significantly larger in diameter.

Installed the street mufflers this past Friday evening. They fit perfectly and the tips lined up nicely. Happy with the resulting sound.

I do have my "race" mufflers listed for sale in the marketplace forum. They sound great, but not ideal for everyone's daily driver.

 

[tomservo92]

I'm glad you're happy with the new setup. I have the MBRP street and love it. The sound is phenomenal and no drone. I had a Frankenstein system before (MRT x-pipe and SVE axle backs) and hated it. Lots of drone and way too loud (I was setting off car alarms in the company parking garage). I think you made a good choice.

 

[rpinkstn]

Thanks for the feedback. Like I said, I think I could have lived with the drone of the race mufflers if it was my vehicle, but it's not, it's my wife's car so, you know what they say, "happy wife, happy life."

 

[GeorgeC]

If you want to stick with the H pipe, a Borla axle back is always a good option. The Ford Performance axle backs are made by Borla and are a little less expensive than the Borla S Type or ATAK. AWE Touring and Corsa Sport also sound good and none of those will drone. Or you can go full catback with any of those and try selling your MBRP system on here. AWE Touring catback comes with an H pipe, the other systems use X pipes. Borla S Type is my personal favorite on the S550. Not over the top loud and has a little deeper tone than the ATAK. Plenty of good options out there

I put a steeda axle back & h pipe and I love the sound just as it is. A bit loud on start up but no drone at highway speeds and a good aggressive sound the rest of the time. I'm loving it but most of the neighbors don't. Once it's warmed up it has a nice sound at idle

 

[Fusion Training Systems]

I have kooks catted LTH and the MBRP race series cat back. It’s way too loud…
Did going with the street version help?
I called MBRP and they told me replacing the race with the street series while also adding their resonators help a lot.
Was this true for you.
Thank you.

QUOTE="rpinkstn, post: 3667692, member: 68620"]
Thanks for the feedback. Like I said, I think I could have lived with the drone of the race mufflers if it was my vehicle, but it's not, it's my wife's car so, you know what they say, "happy wife, happy life."
[/QUOTE]

 

[rpinkstn]

@Fusion Training Systems

You have a different issue than I had. I didn't have LTH's. My issue wasn't the *volume* of the exhaust, that was perfect with the Race mufflers. The issue I had was the frequency and resonance of the Race mufflers within a certain engine RPM. We had a very annoying drone inside the car at cruising speed with the Race mufflers. And yes, switching to the Street mufflers eliminated the drone. Very happy with it now, although my wife and I both preferred the deeper tone of the Race mufflers.

I don't have any experience with your combination of parts, but from what I have read, I would expect the street mufflers and the resonators to significantly reduce the volume of your setup.

HTH.

Rob

I have kooks catted LTH and the MBRP race series cat back. It’s way too loud…
Did going with the street version help?
I called MBRP and they told me replacing the race with the street series while also adding their resonators help a lot.
Was this true for you.
Thank you.

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