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Well what can I say apart from "Not good"
Im not on here to moan but to tell the truth about my bad experiences with Borla exhaust products for two different cars.
As previously stated their Customer Service is second to none and the guys looked after me but why does this stuff not fit properly!
So case number 1
I purchased an Atak catback system for a Gen 6 Camaro. It arrives with damaged tips and alignment issues between the tips. The welding is off where they are attached to the muffler. Borla send me a brand kit which is amazing and I think, Hey, problem solved!
So go to fit it and one of the muffler hangers is welded way off so I end up altering the hanger bracket that is attached to the car. Story ends and the system is working fault free.
Case number 2
I purchase an Atak catback system for my C5Z and hey guess what? The tips attached to the mufflers are out of alignment and one over the axle pipe is do dinged that I cant use it. Contact Borla again and whamo a new system arrives. Excellent!
So I fit it and the left hand muffler hangs lower than the right and the over the axle pipes arnt hanging at the same height where they meet the mufflers. I can live with that despite trying a thousand times to adjust it all.
Case number3
I decide to purchase an X pipe for the C5Z to go with the Atak system. So I cut out the H pipe and fit the X. Man it throws the left over the axle pipe so far off that I had to force the muffler onto the hanger studs in the rear chassis.
Now this really sucks and the sound was crap to my ears. So off comes the X and I have now reattached my H pipe using couplers.
Such a shame to have needlessly cut an original H pipe really and for nothing.
I would love to return that X for a refund as its junk.
Thats about it.. a real lot of work for premium pieces that should fit right first time. WTF is going on with them!
As I said their customer service was amazing and they looked after me but for American made stuff why is it so inaccurate. I mean inaccurate welding and mufflers that have to be forced onto mounting studs...thats not on!
One thing I did learn though was that when I looked into my H pipe The hole in the pipe linking the exhausts was full size and not the size of a dime as reported on here by so many others. See the picture for evidence! Its a 2001 BTW.
So that was a win at least
Rant over
I work for a company that sells tons of Borla and we have few issues. Yes shipping damage but that goes for any of them.
The H pipe not fitting is due to the fact you need to cut the pipe more. Look at the photo and you can see the H pipe is shorter than the X pipe. It will push the mufflers back too far and the rail pipes out too far. But it is best to cut too long as you have a second chance.
I had to make a number of adjustments when my converters went out. I went to a Magna Flow and it was shorter than the X pipe I had on. I had to splice in too shorter pipes to make it fit. Also Magna Flow pipes need pried apart as they were welded to where they narrowed. But mixing pipes will cause that.
As for the H pipe small hole. H pipes are just for pressure balancing not flow. The hole is large enough to balance the pressure on both pipes. Many miss understand and think they are like X pipes that are made to cross the flow and balance.
No exhaust is perfect. And it is clear the X pipe was not cut right if it pushed things back too far.
Thanks for the feedback guys👍
Maybe just a bit of a bad day at the factory !
Good to see that my GM factory H pipe has a full diameter cross over cut into the exhausts. Lot of guys on here report the holes are the size of a dime.
Thanks for the feedback guys👍
Maybe just a bit of a bad day at the factory !
Good to see that my GM factory H pipe has a full diameter cross over cut into the exhausts. Lot of guys on here report the holes are the size of a dime.
Anything MFG will have some failure. You just had some bad luck.
But if you want to use the X pipe you may want to measure. You cut the pipe on the car too long. Shorten it up and it will move everything forward. Trust me I did the same thing.
As for the H pipe they all have a large hole where you showed it, The small hole I believe is in the crossover pipe if I recall. Again it is not a flow pipe just a pressure pipe. It balances out the pressure. Now an X pipe will balance flow so fix you cut and remeasure and you will have a much better fit.
The photo you have shows the H pipe you cut is shorter. It should be about the same length. You will be much happier with the X pipe. Just don't cut too much on the head pipe.
My picture was taken down the bore of the exhaust. I managed to get a picture of the opening in the pipe with out sawing it open and thus separating the two halves of the H. The position of the internal holes is indicated in the picture below.
Mines a 2001 Z ....maybe something different on the early models but that H section is deffo cut and welded full diameter and not a dime.
I had the Borla S type put on and fit very well with minimal unevenness. My next move is the X pipe. Sorry you had issues. Borla is a good product however.
My picture was taken down the bore of the exhaust. I managed to get a picture of the opening in the pipe with out sawing it open and thus separating the two halves of the H. The position of the internal holes is indicated in the picture below.
Mines a 2001 Z ....maybe something different on the early models but that H section is deffo cut and welded full diameter and not a dime.
Size still does not matter. Pressures balance even with the small hole. The exhaust flow will not easily make a 90 degree turn if there is an easier way out. Do not mix up what an X pipe does vs H.
I absolutely adore the way my car sounds but the fitment of the Borla on my car is total ****.
yep same problem with mine but managed to adjust some of it out.
The over axle pipes cause that problem. I ended up with two sets from Borla and they were all slightly different.
yep same problem with mine but managed to adjust some of it out.
The over axle pipes cause that problem. I ended up with two sets from Borla and they were all slightly different.
Based on your x pipe and h pipe photo the h pipe was cut too long. Or short depending on how you look at it. You needed to cut more off the pipes from the converter. That moved the x pipe forward and it moves the over the axle forward.
Based on your x pipe and h pipe photo the h pipe was cut too long. Or short depending on how you look at it. You needed to cut more off the pipes from the converter. That moved the x pipe forward and it moves the over the axle forward.
I would not say this with out your photo.
Just to clear up a point here guys. I cut the H under the car to the EXACT Borla dimensions as outlined in their instructions.
My photo shows the stainless steel couplers mounted on the H before I refitted it after I discovered the X was not for me.
This gives the impression that it is longer which it is not.
I had fitment issues on two systems for two different cars which is unfortunate. No errors on my part what so ever.
yep same problem with mine but managed to adjust some of it out.
The over axle pipes cause that problem. I ended up with two sets from Borla and they were all slightly different.
Hopefully I'll get my car back this week and can get an underneath shot with the exhaust still on it but from memory my X pipe isn't cut... but it also has magnaflow cats welded in up front that I never bothered to notice for years just assuming they were tiny resonators (lol) so maybe I haven't paid quite enough attention to it.
Hopefully I'll get my car back this week and can get an underneath shot with the exhaust still on it but from memory my X pipe isn't cut... but it also has magnaflow cats welded in up front that I never bothered to notice for years just assuming they were tiny resonators (lol) so maybe I haven't paid quite enough attention to it.
Length and changes can play a big role in where the tail pipes end up. Often you need to make a bit off an adjustment when changing things. In my case I used the Magna flow Converter pipe and it was shorter than the pipe I took off. I had to put in two short sections to make up the gap. I did not have measurements to go by so it took me two tries to get the pipes under the car.
Use were the springs are to make sure they are straight up and down. This will tell you if you have the x pipe in the right place.
Another critical place is the tail pipes. Many put them up too high and you need to lower them to get them level.
Just to clear up a point here guys. I cut the H under the car to the EXACT Borla dimensions as outlined in their instructions.
My photo shows the stainless steel couplers mounted on the H before I refitted it after I discovered the X was not for me.
This gives the impression that it is longer which it is not.
I had fitment issues on two systems for two different cars which is unfortunate. No errors on my part what so ever.
No offense Meant. In the photo they do not look to be the same length.
Even if they are the same you should still have enough room to clear the axle and move it forward an inch or two with trimming on the converter pipe. They give a lot of room over the axles.
I recently installed Borla Attak #140428 on my 2004 coupe and it fit great on the stock H-pipe. I love the sound from it as well. I have recently been experiencing the deceleration jingle related to TSB #04-06-05-006. I was debating on the Borla X-pipe or the following H-pipe (see link below). I really like the sound from the current setup and afraid the x-pipe will ruin it for me.
My Borla experience.
