What's the fundamental difference between the two? I hear a lot of both but don't really understand how they're different.

just looking to further my education!

 

It's pretty self explanitory. The axleback bolts up at the axle and the catback to the cat. Look up under your car and you can see where your stocker bolts up and then look at where your cat is. It's only a couple of feet. Axleback is a little more restrictive than a catback.

 

Basically what he ^^ said except:

On these vehicles the stock pipe diameter is roughly 1.75 after the stock resonator. The stock resonator is a bit more restrictive then an aftermarket resonator and is also glass filled.

For better overall performance my opinion would be to go from the cat-back using 2" piping, aftermarket resonator and a muffler of your choice. Some people like to use 2 1/4 piping, but with these motors I would not advise it. The lack of back pressure would cause a reduction in torque. IMO

Probably for overall best performance people will replace the stock exhaust manifold with a 4n1 header. People say headers, but our vehicles are singular, then a high flow catalytic converter, resonator and lastly muffler.

Basically the better the flow, the faster the exhaust can exit. You will also see more HP’s with a more free flowing exhaust.

Hope that helps?

 

got the avle back for now... simple bolt on... few horse power... sounds great... looks cool

 

Can you add this 2" pipe between the cat and the TRD muffler?

 

Thanks for this thread, I was wondering about this myself.

How much of a difference in power gains (roughly) can be seen by getting an catback as opposed to an axleback? Are they louder?

 

i was scared to ask! i swore i'd get hit with something like "RTFM!!! "

but this stuff is good to know for the future when ppl want to upgrade to a custom cat back and are new to exhausts (like me)

 

Cat-backs are generally louder, yes. A good resonator will take care of that. Magnaflows cat-back was dyno'd to do 5 whp and 2 pounds of torque. People have stated 1-2 maybe 3hp with an axle back...

Yes, you can install 2in piping after the OEM resonator to the TRD muffler. People have stated the OEM resonator is crap and restrictive. I looked at it, but couldn't really tell. It is perforated and not louvered, maybe it is just the restrictive part. It is glass filled like a glass pack and will degrade overtime as the insulation deteriorates. Will you notice a difference, dunno? I can tell you this much, I just had my custom cat-back done this afternoon and I like it. Changed the tone of my axle back. I had them do it without a resonator and it sounded like CRAP! Honda x2! Anyways, had them install a resonator and all is good again.

Like I said, it changed the tone, but I like it better now. Sounds similar to the clips on the magnaflow website, but I think better due to my choice of muffler.

 

well basically an axle-back is useless whereas a catback is not. hope that helped

 

EXACTLY!!! lol. seriously tho a cat back can give around 5whp while an axle back only gives like what 2whp.

 

yes you can, but this will have to be custom built by a muffler shop, ar someone else with tha capabilities and the right tools.
eggie said basically everyhting you need to know

 

2or 21/4

 

So, wait... 2or 21/4?


I bought an exhaust from precisionmuffler.com, because I heard nothing but good things about them. It's an axle-back. Clearly it wouldn't be as powerful as a cat-back, however if it possible to upgrade other components like the resonator and what not like others have mentioned here, would this help bridge the gap in performance?

 

yeah if you got a free-er flowing resonator and 2.0 inch piping between resonator and axle connection youd get a lil more oomph.

i'm running 2.0 cat back as well as megan racing header and aem intake and am running 16.0 quarter miles.

 

Also, axel back is one piece and usually bolts right up, where cat back is two pieces and requires cutting the exhaust system about 4" after the cat.

Axel example
http://www.strup.us/strupweb6009002.jpg

Cat example with additional resonator
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/parts/15822_lg.jpg

 

Modifying your precisionmuffler.com axle back is actually not a problem. :D The connecter going to the stock set-up is 2in. So all you have to do is continue the 2 in to the rest of your new pipe.

 

Sweet Baby Jesus! Would any of these modifications negatively affect carb legality?

 

nope. anything post cat doesnt affect carb.

 

Alright... so if I end up messing around with the cat, I should keep an eye out for that.

This is the most helpful thread I've seen in a while. Thanks for the help, folks!

 

Like hotbox05 said, as long as you work with everything after the cat. You are ok,when you mess with items before the cat, than you have problems. :D