Resonator Question. Removal or replacement?
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 85
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From: Carbondale Illinois
Resonator Question. Removal or replacement?
Hello, this regards a 2000 Integra GSR.
Recently my exhaust tubing rusted/broke cleanly from the very rear of my resonator after hitting a large bump on the interstate.
The break is so close to the resonator's wider/swelled circumference that traditional methods wont work to join the pipes. I was considering sliding on one of those "expanded" exhaust joints then welding the "expanded" end to the resonator and clamping/welding the other end to the broken pipe... but I am not yet sure that a welder won't simply burn holes in this old metal. Besides, this is plan B (would have to find a welder first).
PLAN A: I want to remove the resonator. It seems much easier and more likely to work. I know everyone on here says that Tegs sound like crap when the resonator is removed, but is that still true even for OEM exhaust systems? And if a straight pipe really would sound like crap, is there a cheap replacement for a resonator... such as putting one of those cheap low restriction "cherry bomb" mufflers between the OEM cat and muffler?
Just curious... I want to do it right, and want it to sound nice... but really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for the pipe when the problem is a simple break.
Recently my exhaust tubing rusted/broke cleanly from the very rear of my resonator after hitting a large bump on the interstate.
The break is so close to the resonator's wider/swelled circumference that traditional methods wont work to join the pipes. I was considering sliding on one of those "expanded" exhaust joints then welding the "expanded" end to the resonator and clamping/welding the other end to the broken pipe... but I am not yet sure that a welder won't simply burn holes in this old metal. Besides, this is plan B (would have to find a welder first).
PLAN A: I want to remove the resonator. It seems much easier and more likely to work. I know everyone on here says that Tegs sound like crap when the resonator is removed, but is that still true even for OEM exhaust systems? And if a straight pipe really would sound like crap, is there a cheap replacement for a resonator... such as putting one of those cheap low restriction "cherry bomb" mufflers between the OEM cat and muffler?
Just curious... I want to do it right, and want it to sound nice... but really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for the pipe when the problem is a simple break.
Apathy Kills
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 60,714
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From: The Left Lane
An OEM equivalent resonator shouldn't break the bank and it is by far the best solution. Google "Walker OEM exhaust" and search their catalog for the part number.
A cherry bomb muffler uses spun fiberglass over a resonated inner tube. They don't do a good job of sound deadening to start and they won't last nearly as long an OEM equivalent resonator. Even if you go to the trouble of making a cherry bomb fit, you will be back to square one in a year or two once the fiberglass packing has sooted up or blown out.
Unless the car is weeks away from being sold or scrapped, I would buy a OEM resonator over the counter. To mount it, trim the ends of the OEM exhaust tubing and use slip-fit connectors and U-clamps to attach the new resonator. That way, you shouldn't have to bother with any welding.
A cherry bomb muffler uses spun fiberglass over a resonated inner tube. They don't do a good job of sound deadening to start and they won't last nearly as long an OEM equivalent resonator. Even if you go to the trouble of making a cherry bomb fit, you will be back to square one in a year or two once the fiberglass packing has sooted up or blown out.
Unless the car is weeks away from being sold or scrapped, I would buy a OEM resonator over the counter. To mount it, trim the ends of the OEM exhaust tubing and use slip-fit connectors and U-clamps to attach the new resonator. That way, you shouldn't have to bother with any welding.
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Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 51
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From: charlottesville
i just ripped my resonator off. It broke around the factory welds so i said screw it and just put a piece of pipe in. The muffler managed to blow out shortly after (was in need of replacing) so i just got a 30 dollar thrush turbo from the parts store and installed it myself. i didnt have a welder so i used fiberglass exhaust wrap and some clamps. The car sounded great. Quiet at low speeds and powerful sound at high rpm.
F#%K JDM, USDM FTW
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 538
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From: Garage kept in Florida
For the love of god do not use a Thrust Turbo, Cherry Bomb, or any other type of $30 AutoZone muffler. I went through 3 of them, in less than 4 months. I now have a magnaflow on the car.
As for the resonator, I would have an exhaust shop cut the resonator away from the rest of the exhaust and weld up another one. Or you could see this as being time to get a new exhaust.
As for the resonator, I would have an exhaust shop cut the resonator away from the rest of the exhaust and weld up another one. Or you could see this as being time to get a new exhaust.