Topic: exhaust system opinions: Banks/Dynomax/TFX???

[stan98tj]

im looking to get a cat back system and ive been on the quadratec site..im leaning towards a Banks monster system but the dynomax is actually cheaper as is the gibson and some brand called TFX that neither I nor anyone ive asked knows about. i dont know much about these systems and id like to know if any of ya have any experience or knowledge about these. is banks pretty much the better system-or can i get the same or better performance from the dynomax or tfx?

[Jesse-James]

I just got the cheapest available, I won't feel bad when I mangle it on the rocks.

[aw12345]

Unless your stock exhaust is severely rotted I would not spend money on a cat back system, it will look pretty but not much power gain in my book, never truly been a fan of all the racer brown goodies very few of those products ever truly live up to their claims. Banks makes quality stuff, still horsepower claims on aftermarket products tend to be severely overstated

[jfrabat]

I put the Gibson one on mine because my stock muffler was rotten (it had a hole on it).  New one is significantly noisier (which is kind of cool, but gets old after a while) and I cannot feel any significant power gains.

[stan98tj]

yea my stock one isnt in all the best conditions and im starting to get an exhaust leak, which i think i may be able to fix. i saw all those posted cat back systems and i said to myself "why, yes i would like 120% more flow and higher efficiency! Yes, i think i can handle the increased manly sound. Torque? More of it? Sure! ANd a horsepower gain?!! My **** will grow how many more inches?!! All for under $300?!! IM SOLD!!!"

so u guys think its pretty much a complete scam.....well i guess if i really dont have anything to gain ill prob let it go for now..but ill have to think it over some.
thanks guys!

[jfrabat]

so u guys think its pretty much a complete scam.....well i guess if i really dont have anything to gain ill prob let it go for now..but ill have to think it over some.
thanks guys!

Not a COMPLETE scam; you probably WILL gain a couple of HP.  But if you are expecting to FEEL the change, you will be disappointed.  And also keep in mind that the headers and cat back gain HP at higher RPM's (mst of them, anyway), so you will not feel it accelarating from a complete stop.

The thing with the 4-popper is that you have to try get all the HP you can get, which is why I got it.  A couple of horses from the exhaust, a couple more from the 4.0 bored TB and spacer, a couple more from the e-fan, a couple more from the mustang injectors, and so forth, and they all add up. 

Now, if you are looking for a cheap investment to free up some ponies (or squirels!), I think you will get more out of an e-fan conversion (again, you will feel it at highway speeds, not in accellaration from a stand still).

But the only change that will REALLY make you feel a difference is a re-gear (which I also did).  And even that is not the same as having a 4.0L or a 350 under the hood (so dont expecta that or you will be dissapointed again!).  For me, my 4-banger is enough, but I guess what they say IS true; there is no replacement for displacement! LOL!

Felipe

[stan98tj]

acceleration is def the last thing on my mind when it comes to my jeep. if i wanted a go-fast car id of bought-well, a car! what i was lookin for in the exhaust is to free up some HP, maybe give me some more torque, make the highway cruise a little easier-basically make things a bit easier on my engine...perhaps even increase the efficiency-1mpg better maybe?? as far as that goes, do you think its feasible? or am i looking in the complete wrong direction? Regearing right now isnt really an option as i dont have the $$ for it now-id like to have $$ left over for the rough country 2.5 lift!!

[jfrabat]

acceleration is def the last thing on my mind when it comes to my jeep. if i wanted a go-fast car id of bought-well, a car! what i was lookin for in the exhaust is to free up some HP, maybe give me some more torque, make the highway cruise a little easier-basically make things a bit easier on my engine...perhaps even increase the efficiency-1mpg better maybe?? as far as that goes, do you think its feasible? or am i looking in the complete wrong direction? Regearing right now isnt really an option as i dont have the $$ for it now-id like to have $$ left over for the rough country 2.5 lift!!

I did the exhaust before I did the e-fan, and I have to be honest, you will notice more with the e-fan at highway speeds (and spend less $$$).  Just dont expect HUGE differences...  What you will notice is that you will be able to go over a hill without downshifting, or having to downshift later on the hill.  Maybe not having to downshift to 4th with a headwind and such.

I would still do the cat-back if you have the $$$ for it, as it also ads to the HP search, but dont expect to notice it except for the way the engine will sound.

[stan98tj]

well if i settle for one of these, anyone know which is better? dynomax or banks? dynomax is about 100 bucks cheaper...dunno what banks is offering thats makin it more expensive.

[aw12345]

Banks has good quality stuff but charges for their name also

[jfrabat]

Banks has good quality stuff but charges for their name also

My banks is 2 yearas old, and still is looking good...

[Jeffy]

I had a Flowmaster years ago and it was crap. The stock muffler broke after just two uears of ownership.  That wouldn't have been bad if it was old but the Jeep was two years old!  The Flowmaster reduced the back pressure too much and with it went the low-end torque.  I've been running a Borla for over 10 years now.  I've replaced the muffler 3 or 4 times, the connecting pipe once and tip once all under warranty.  It's all bolt-on so I can remove parts before they get damaged and replace them quickly when they do.  Usually costs me $14 to ship the old muffler back to them.  You've really got to play around with different intake and exhaust setups to fine tune the system though.  When I had a hole after the muffler, I gained more power on the higher RPM but lost low-end torque.  Sames goes for when I had a open-element K&N.  Went back to the box with paper and I regained my low-end.  Currently, I'm running a stock intake with a AIRHOGS filter and I like it.  It doesn't rev as freely to 5000RPM as it once did but, Performance-wise, it boosts the midrange without sacrificing too much else.  Torque comes on strong at 2700RPM and holds to 3300RPM which is about where the peak HP is.

[Oilsmoke]

It's hard to Beat a Mandrel bent Exhaust. Gale banks is SS. Gibson are too, but alot more money for there SS than Banks.
 Biggest Problem with 2.5L is nobody make a Good Front pipe with True Mandrel bends  So I ordered a 4.0L Banks Front Pipe removed the S bend & added a straight section and welded it t up.
Here is a Pic Of mine.

I spent about 800 dollars on my Exhaust But it's my only Ride (DD). so I don't wheel the shit out of it. The system I installed should last a very long time.Runs great too. Pulls to 6K easy. I don't do it very often I'm afraid I break  one of my old valve spring 3k to 4k pulls most hills in 4th with ease. Torque is ok my gears are to tall. it will lug though.

Remeber a good setup is the SUM OF ALL PARTS.
What good is a 500 catback with a Stock Frontpipe Hmm?

[stan98tj]

so i called quadratec...guy over the phone told me dynomax and banks are pretty much  the same performance wise however u pay the difference bec of the materials used. i called dynomax and their product specialist gave me an exhaust combo to run:
http://www.quadratec.com/products/17605_800.htm
and
http://www.quadratec.com/products/17605_901.htm
which apparently is far better than the super turbo kit sold at quadratec and apparently better than the banks monster kit....she claims "10hp" at the wheels and better low end torque. the facts are however...banks uses 2.5inch pipe and dyno max uses 2 and a quarter. im gonna use this as a daily driver..so highway performance is kind of important...and im gonna off road whenever i get the chance....for that im gonna wanna keep more low end torque right??
i called quadratec about this and a second sales guy pretty much said hes had both systems (the kits) and banks is better overall...hands down.
What do u guys think?

[Oilsmoke]

First Off I am not trying to sell Banks.
The front Pipe from Banks is 2.25 inches and after the Cat Back I installed was a 4WD.brand it's 2.5 inches.
So the smallest Dia pipe up front were the gases are the hottest is where you control back pressure & torque. The rear is were you open the flow for a deepper sound & better performance. I have in the past read that if you were to install a pressure gauge in exhaust header primary tube you should try to get about 3 to 5 psi for good balance between torque & flow.
Banks is made out of 409 Stainless that will coat with a very light brown oxidization in time.

I think Banks was worth the money for My Jeep.I would buy agian with out a 2nd thought.