Borla Drone? Help
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
I have the MN6, and I don't have any drone problems. You simply can drive around any range you want. Heck, I could even hear slight drone on stock exhaust in 6th gear at around 40 mph (I have really good hearing). I have the Dynatech LT's and I LOVE the Stingers. I wanted that deep classic rumble, and I wasn't willing to sacrifice it for something a little quieter. Mine are great, but it depends on what you want. I have an ext-cab Silverado for functionality, and it is staying quiet with stock exhaust. I have the convertible vette for fun, and the Borlas just add to it. I drove it to work this morning deliberately listening to it, and I simply love it! If I ever do hear any drone, I'll just shift around it. I think one person's drone is another one's deep musclecar rumble. It was money well spent.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,426
Likes: 285
From: West Barnstable MA
I have a Borla on my 92 Mitsubishi VR4 and had the same issue. Borla is sending me some venturi inserts which should solve the problem on the Mitsubishi.
Don't know if this works on a Vette, but Borla was very helpful.
Don't know if this works on a Vette, but Borla was very helpful.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 3
From: Lost in the Pine Barrens with only ketchup and relish packs, New Jersey
Do you have a coupe? I just got quad oval stingers and I think the drone for me is at around 75 mph. I did notice though that when I have the solid roof on the drone is worse than with the clear roof. I can still hear the Goodyear run flats over the drone though- not to mention the wind noise and on and on. I actually prefer the drone over the tires and wind noise...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Originally Posted by C5 4 ME
I have a Borla Muffler system but it is not the "stingers". I get a drone at about 75mph. At what speed do you get the "drone."
mile per hour. Thankfully not at 70 up.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Originally Posted by 99magredcoupe
Do you have a coupe? I just got quad oval stingers and I think the drone for me is at around 75 mph. I did notice though that when I have the solid roof on the drone is worse than with the clear roof. I can still hear the Goodyear run flats over the drone though- not to mention the wind noise and on and on. I actually prefer the drone over the tires and wind noise...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by eddie44
I'm not being a smartazz but I tell folks that worry about resonance/drone of the Borlas to either keep the stock or at most go with the Z06 Ti's. I don't care what any of you say, I've heard most of the different brands and you're going to get resonance/drone from all of them at some rpm/speed range. Some are worse than others. It just boils down to do you want your Vette to sound like an American V8 or a Cadillac?
I've got Borla Stingers and we're about to leave on a 4K mi trip in it. Oh yea, I'm not one of the youngsters (53yrs old) who loves a loud exhaust at any cost.
I've got Borla Stingers and we're about to leave on a 4K mi trip in it. Oh yea, I'm not one of the youngsters (53yrs old) who loves a loud exhaust at any cost.
except I took my PRTs off (the drone was brain numbing) and went back to my stock mufflers with cutouts. The best of both worlds.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I have an A4, 3.15 Vert and get very slight resonance around 1700 rpm. I honestly don't notice any "drone" at highway speed. I am extremely happy with my Borla's and would buy them again without hesitation. 
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Am I going deaf, or do Stingers get quieter with time? I've had them only a few weeks, and they do not seem as loud to me. I could actually go louder...and I will as soon as my ATI head unit finally shows up. Also, is this sick? I actually enjoy shifting into the 1,600 rpm range just to hear the low-rumble "drone." Needless to say, I love them. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast Ca.
Originally Posted by KernelDee
I have an A4, 3.15 Vert and get very slight resonance around 1700 rpm. I honestly don't notice any "drone" at highway speed. I am extremely happy with my Borla's and would buy them again without hesitation.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,088
Likes: 1
From: NC
Originally Posted by Hopalong
Same setup here, I really don't know what everyone is talking about.
I don't know why people put on free flowing exhausts and wonder
why they can hear them at 75MPH?
You didn't put them on not to hear the sound did you?
I believe some mistake the "sound" produced as resonance or drone
only because they've heard others talk about it.
I had some idiot chevy service tech write on a report that he
couldn't hear my alternator noise because of the resonance of
the aftermarket exhaust.
You couldn't hear the tweet, tweet, tweet with your ear to the
alternator because my exhaust was resonating at idle you idiot?
He obviously heard the phrase somewhere.
I had an A4, 3:15 coupe with Corsa Indy's and GHL bullets with an
X-pipe without any annoying "drone."
I have a MN6 coupe with GHL and no X-pipe and zero drone.
I hear them get louder under acceleration though.
...George
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I have the 4 tip round Stingers on an A4 vert with 2.73's. There is minimal drone at 70mph but not enough to cause any interference in a normal conversation or listening to the stock Bose system. With the top down the wind noise overrides all other sound unless I'm at WOT. I'm very pleased with the Borlas and would buy again in a heartbeat. I heard the Corsas and couldn't get past the motorboat sound at idle even on cars with the x-pipe. My second choice was B&B PRT's.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 30,045
Likes: 4
From: Danville Virginia
Originally Posted by KernelDee
I have an A4, 3.15 Vert and get very slight resonance around 1700 rpm. I honestly don't notice any "drone" at highway speed. I am extremely happy with my Borla's and would buy them again without hesitation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Overland Park KS
Originally Posted by Hopalong
Same setup here, I really don't know what everyone is talking about.
With the factory manifolds and cats I didn't think there was any drone at all coming from the Borla Stingers (on an MN6 anyway). As John Lingenfelter said, "the car should've come this way from the factory." I loved it. But then, mod fever set in yet again (328rwhp clearly wasn't enough power.
)....Now, after putting LTs and high-flow cats (LGM/RandomTech) on the car, there is very noticable drone around 1600rpms but only when the engine is under load (such as going uphill or accelerating). All other parts of the RPM range, with this exhaust setup, produce a very exotic yet muscular exhaust note. One that quite often turns heads, gets tons and tons of compliments, yet isn't to loud otherwise. Also, I have considerably fewer stoplight confrontations now.
The days I can run with the windows down I absolutely love the LTs and the Borla Stingers. It's orgasmic.
The days when I can't run with the windows down or the top off, the drone can become quite annoying at times. But then, owning an MN6 allows me to jump out of that portion of the RPM range.
If you have an FRC or Z06 (which I don't) then you can put a trunk partition in the car and lower the effects of the drone considerably.
My $.02.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Park Ridge NJ
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by newgene
I have the MN6, and I don't have any drone problems. You simply can drive around any range you want. Heck, I could even hear slight drone on stock exhaust in 6th gear at around 40 mph (I have really good hearing). I have the Dynatech LT's and I LOVE the Stingers. I wanted that deep classic rumble, and I wasn't willing to sacrifice it for something a little quieter. Mine are great, but it depends on what you want. I have an ext-cab Silverado for functionality, and it is staying quiet with stock exhaust. I have the convertible vette for fun, and the Borlas just add to it. I drove it to work this morning deliberately listening to it, and I simply love it! If I ever do hear any drone, I'll just shift around it. I think one person's drone is another one's deep musclecar rumble. It was money well spent.
6th gear at around 40 mph? 6th gear at around 40 mph ????
Thats not drone thats your engine lugging!
BTW anyone: Is there a difference between drone and a cruising exhaust tone that sounds so sweet.
Or am I missing the "drone" because I gots GHL Magnums back there?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Originally Posted by WaWaTuSi
6th gear at around 40 mph? 6th gear at around 40 mph ????
Thats not drone thats your engine lugging!
BTW anyone: Is there a difference between drone and a cruising exhaust tone that sounds so sweet.
Or am I missing the "drone" because I gots GHL Magnums back there?
Thats not drone thats your engine lugging!
BTW anyone: Is there a difference between drone and a cruising exhaust tone that sounds so sweet.
Or am I missing the "drone" because I gots GHL Magnums back there?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I suggest you start telling yourself, "there is no drone" with my Borla stingers, like 90 % of the people who own them and tell others, "There is No Drone".. So they can put others in the same Drone boat that They are in.... There are few people who will say there is drone, But they all have drone, every one of them. It's actually designed in and is the cost for having a good sounding Idle, and WOT. But at cruise 1500 to 2200 rpm they suck... I have a few friends with them and they say " Oh you get use to it.." I will never ride in a car with Borla's for a long ride. I had the misfortune to drive to NYC with my buddy and I had a headache after 30 minutes in his car , the drive was two hours and I had the headache for two days...Any exhaust sound engineer will tell you that there is give and take in exhaust sound design, especially on a C5 LS1/2 . they design around idle, wot, and cruise.they can give good sound in two of those three parameters. EG. Corsa Indies have Zero drone at cruise... ( this was very important to me) Corsa's sound great at wot, they give up alittle at idle. Borla gives up cruise for better idle and WOT.