When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
For the fact that people will likely come across this thread in the future, I feel as though I should play the other side of the "new" RB exhaust game. First I must say, I can't attest anything for longevity - I've had the exhaust for less than a week. However, I have not had any issues with the "tinny" sounds that it seems many people have had with the new RB mufflers. In fact, I think my car sounds miles better than it used to. No rasp at all, idle is nice and quiet (my Carter fuel pump is considerably louder), and when you get on it people will definitely still notice you. Compared to my old exhaust, the RB system is definitely a refined sound.
The setup I'm running consists of the RB collected header, their universal 2.5" presilencer, and an 83-85 Power Pulse muffler. I was one of the first people to receive the new batch of 83-85 mufflers (they were back ordered for a few months) and so perhaps they made some changes. All I can say is that I'm happy with the setup. It's great as a daily, and still fun to get on it. The over axle pipe on the muffler has discolored slightly (it's a light yellow now), but I've been going wot just about everywhere I can these past few days tuning the new secondaries so... to be expected? The muffler itself is still the same color as day one with nearly 250 miles on it already. For anyone curious either now or in the future, here's my exhaust thread that better details a few things about my decision process and setup: Choice Exhaust Components 2020 (new exhaust installed starting post #104).
I'm working on getting some audio clips, but my phone has been having issues with level suppression so... I'm working on it.
Anyway, it definitely seems like RB had some issues with their earlier "new" mufflers, although perhaps they've worked out some of the kinks now. I can't say the 79-80 or the 81-82 mufflers have sold enough to be rid of the bad batches (if that was even a thing), but it looks like the parts may have improved. I for one am extremely happy with my setup; hopefully it'll last as long as the old RB mufflers.
Maybe its just because I never see salt on the roads, but I don't see the allure to a stainless steel exhaust. I mean its a tube that dumps unwanted gasses and silences the engine pulses; it lives UNDER a car. Why does it have to be shiny? Who is looking under their car all day long?
My only reason I prefer SS is the salt protection. When I lived in a salt-free state I only looked for mandrel-bent tubing for my project vehicles. I didn't care what it was made of because rust wasn't a thing. But now I live with "brine" (salt water) being sprayed on the roads all winter. Eats the cars up faster than rock salt used to.
First pics are of my DD Subie's stainless exhaust with 70k miles on the pipes. Yellowed but no corrosion. Second is my truck's mild-steel tailpipe with only 1000 miles on it (1 year old).
Since my RX7 wont get driven in the snow (much), I'm looking for flow, sound and good quality construction. But if they offered a full SS set I'd get that.
Last edited by Maxwedge; Jun 28, 2020 at 03:13 PM.
My only reason I prefer SS is the salt protection. When I lived in a salt-free state I only looked for mandrel-bent tubing for my project vehicles. I didn't care what it was made of because rust wasn't a thing. But now I live with "brine" (salt water) being sprayed on the roads all winter. Eats the cars up faster than rock salt used to.
Since my RX7 wont get driven in the snow (much), I'm looking for flow, sound and good quality construction. But if they offered a full SS set I'd get that.
WOAH, exhaust surface rust isn't the biggest issue on that truck
^^^But that's coming from a rust scaredy cat that lives far away from salty roads.
I was more aiming that comment at people who live outside of rusty areas who opt for stainless.
So I received a complete system today (short, single pipe system for an SA...headers, presilencer, and muffler). I have to say that the header is a work of art. Amazing welds. However, everything thing else is pretty bad. No pictures yet, but the welds on the muffler look amateurish. Like high school shop class level. One end of the presilencer is fine, but on the other end, it almost looks like they barely managed to actually weld the endcap on. Hard to explain. When I can get some pictures, it'll make more sense. Overall, I'm thrilled with the header and disappointed with the rest. I'm considering painting the muffler black to hide the craptastic welds. It's rather embarrassing. I surely won't be showing it off to anyone. I hope it performs better than it looks.
Same experience here with the welds on my RB muffler. Not pretty, but functional I suppose (although I believe this thread started because a muffler weld broke so...).
While I wasn't particularly enthused with the assembly quality of my muffler, it is still sounding good, although definitely a little louder than when it was first installed (which I like, because it was darn quiet before). Still good tone - in my opinion - and really not that loud compared to basically anything else on the street (my intake is easily heard over it). For reference, I cannot hear my car cruising in a tunnel over other traffic.... ....unless I floor it in which case it's freaking loud. Hmm, I don't think I ever got a recording of my exhaust up in my thread. I should do that.
Oh, also there is definitely some fiberglass or something in either their muffler or presilencer. After a 500+ mile trip I noticed my rear bumper by the muffler was getting coated in little glass fibers, or at least that's what they look like. I took a picture, but it's a little difficult to see them in it:
Last week i fiitted only a new RB muffler and the system sounds horrible now. What a ******* change in quality. Extremly loud and thin. I am so dissapointed never thought RB will built such a part👎😭👹😡
Last week i fiitted only a new RB muffler and the system sounds horrible now. What a ******* change in quality. Extremly loud and thin. I am so dissapointed never thought RB will built such a part👎😭👹😡
Old and new part
Old and new Part
Last edited by Rx7fb spirit r; Jan 28, 2021 at 10:29 AM.
I'd be curious to hear a sound clip if you have one. My system is about 6 months old now, and while louder than when I purchased it (common for all exhaust systems), it still sounds fine to me. Obviously quality control and consistency could be another issue, but my muffler itself seems okay.
Admittedly I'm not a die-hard fan of how it sounds from the interior. It sounds fine don't get me wrong, but with no drone it sounds sort of hollow. Not raspy, just hollow and gutless (until you floor it). With the windows up it's actually really pleasant, easy to have a conversation, listen to the radio, almost stock. Open the windows and it sounds great. Hear the car from the outside and it's even better. Unfortunately that's not where you spend the majority of the time.... I'll try to get some new clips of mine as well.
Last edited by Benjamin4456; Jan 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM.
I'd be curious to hear a sound clip if you have one. My system is about 6 months old now, and while louder than when I purchased it (common for all exhaust systems), it still sounds fine to me. Obviously quality control and consistency could be another issue, but my muffler itself seems okay.
Admittedly I'm not a die-hard fan of how it sounds from the interior. It sounds fine don't get me wrong, but with no drone it sounds sort of hollow. Not raspy, just hollow and gutless (until you floor it). With the windows up it's actually really pleasant, easy to have a conversation, listen to the radio, almost stock. Open the windows and it sounds great. Hear the car from the outside and it's even better. Unfortunately that's not where you spend the majority of the time.... I'll try to get some new clips of mine as well.
After 21 years I just got in trouble with my neighbours cause their window glases got in vibrations. Sorry i am not able upload any vid. Send a pm with your mail would help.
After 21 years I just got in trouble with my neighbours cause their window glases got in vibrations. Sorry i am not able upload any vid. Send a pm with your mail would help.
Criminy, must be louder. Is that just at idle? You do have a bridge port, yeah?
When my car is warming up at 2k rpm I can barely hear it from inside my house - the car is in the street about 40 feet from the house. At normal idle speeds I can't hear it at all until I walk within 30 feet or so of the rear (that's a guesstimate).
It looks like the new system never collects. Do you guys think that is what is causing the sound difference?
I honestly don't know. I feel like it shouldn't make much of a difference, although my RB muffler is the single 60mm inlet one (83-85 Power Pulse). The new muffler is also a truly "straight-thru" muffler, I don't believe the old one is.
Just listened to that sound clip you sent and it really does sound hollow, odd. It sounds similar to the other video someone uploaded a while back where it was Honda levels of tinny/hollow/raspy. Mine sounds nothing like it. I'll try to get a clip of mine up once the weather clears up a bit.
