QUESTIONS for all SSAUTOCHROME/XS-POWER owners

[caall99]

I know this should go into the sticky, but i was thinking it might get more attention here at first. Feel free to move it :)

I got my ssautochrome exhaust/DPs installed yesterday as well as the APR V5 93 octane chip. Other then those two mods the car is stock. I have to say, it's pretty insane fast atm, but of course i am craving more power already :)

My questions are as follows:
1. How much did you guys get charged in labor and parts to install the exhaust? (i spent $900-1000 on labor and parts)

2. Do you guys experience any droning? I feel the exhaust is much louder than AWE claims their Twin2 to be, and I know my exhaust is essentially a knock off. AWE says NO DRONING AT ANY SPEED, but i have droning at ALL speeds. I have to say the exhaust is almost too loud for my taste and I used to own a 240sx+sr20det with a straight pipe.

3. There are exhaust leaks between the ball/socket clamps holding the two parts of the DPs together, what can i do to tighten that up?

4. Let's say i wanted to quiet the exhaust down, could i have an exhaust shop cut open the mid-section muffler and install baffles? what else can i do, i wanted a mildly noisy S4, not an obtrusively loud one.

[Rated S]

1. How much did you guys get charged in labor and parts to install the exhaust? (i spent $900-1000 on labor and parts)

That's a little high from my past experiences.

2. Do you guys experience any droning? I feel the exhaust is much louder than AWE claims their Twin2 to be, and I know my exhaust is essentially a knock off. AWE says NO DRONING AT ANY SPEED, but i have droning at ALL speeds. I have to say the exhaust is almost too loud for my taste and I used to own a 240sx+sr20det with a straight pipe.

I have a Twin2 with piggie pipes, and I really don't notice a drone every. At least my girlfriend doesn't complain, and she HATED my magnaflow exhaust on my GTI VR6.

4. Let's say i wanted to quiet the exhaust down, could i have an exhaust shop cut open the mid-section muffler and install baffles? what else can i do, i wanted a mildly noisy S4, not an obtrusively loud one.

Get your old downpipes in there and gut the precats so the main cats are in there. That should muffle some sound and make your smog legal.

[caall99]

1. How much did you guys get charged in labor and parts to install the exhaust? (i spent $900-1000 on labor and parts)

That's a little high from my past experiences.

Yeah they quoted me $76 per hour for 7 hours. They told me when i picked it up that it took them 2.5 hours longer then expected. so 9.5hrs * $76 = $722. They charged me almost $200 for clamps. I feel slightly ripped. BTW this was Yarrowsport in RI. I can speak well of the people that work there, great guys, but i am definitely in disagreement with what they charged me being $400 over my estimate of $1350, exhaust/dp install, chip purchase/install, royal purple lube change on tranny and diff. total was nearly $1800.

2. Do you guys experience any droning? I feel the exhaust is much louder than AWE claims their Twin2 to be, and I know my exhaust is essentially a knock off. AWE says NO DRONING AT ANY SPEED, but i have droning at ALL speeds. I have to say the exhaust is almost too loud for my taste and I used to own a 240sx+sr20det with a straight pipe.

I have a Twin2 with piggie pipes, and I really don't notice a drone every. At least my girlfriend doesn't complain, and she HATED my magnaflow exhaust on my GTI VR6.

Well it is quieter than my straight pipe turbo 240sx, but its too loud for an audi imo. Does the Twin2, use straight through "glass pack" mufflers as well? Could it really be the DPs that are making my exhaust so loud?

4. Let's say i wanted to quiet the exhaust down, could i have an exhaust shop cut open the mid-section muffler and install baffles? what else can i do, i wanted a mildly noisy S4, not an obtrusively loud one.

Get your old downpipes in there and gut the precats so the main cats are in there. That should muffle some sound and make your smog legal.

Unfortunately the DPs portion of the exhaust is the biggest b*itch of the whole install. I don't really want to mess with those again, and i don't constantly want to be swapping between daily driving mild exhaust note and race track performance. I want one exhaust that fits perfectly with regards to volume. What if i installed cats where the ssautochrome down pipe resonators sit? how about replace the mid section muffler with a generic baffled one?

Thanks for your time guys

[AB18]

Thats what im going to do. Im going to use the testpipes that come with the dps, and have 400 cell cats put in to queit it down if it is to loud.I have a borla exhaust now, which is basically silent, so im hoping that the dps won't make it over the top. My cars in the shop right now getting the tb done, valve covers gaskets.etc..and might have them throw on the dps to.

[caall99]

Yeah it appears that the best solution is to have some high flow cats installed in the test pipes that came with the exhaust. I don't think a pair of high flow cats should impede the flow too much, but i am also not sure how much they would reduce the exhaust noise, and if it would be worth it. I'll be passing emissions eitherway with my chip, so the cats would be dead weight. (maybe i'll help the environment)

I just called AWE and they said the reason the exhaust is sooo loud is due to the downpipes. AWE's downpipes have cats in them, and i guess it makes a substantial difference when system is installed.

Any other ideas??

[caall99]

COME ON! i know there are a TON of you with this exhaust. Share your experiences please! I just dished out alot of money on an install, and need something (crack?) to make me feel better.

[highPSI-S4]

COME ON! i know there are a TON of you with this exhaust. Share your experiences please! I just dished out alot of money on an install, and need something (crack?) to make me feel better.

#1
I don't mind sharing, I have a custom catback and not SSauto but i do have the downpipes. which now have highflow cats, and i also had some flex joints installed as well. but yeah sounds like you got ripped off, i think with install plus my custom catback and alterations to the downpipes i paid about 1000.00, which i think was good.
#2 don't smoke crack

[lil' is 300]

900-1000 is borderline theft. Also, this exhaust shouldn't be compared to AWE...because it's a knock off using piece of shit resonators...but it gets the job done.

Please refer to the sticky at the top of the page for any other Q's...fucking SSauto threads...

[highPSI-S4]

900-1000 is borderline theft. Also, this exhaust shouldn't be compared to AWE...because it's a knock off using piece of shit resonators...but it gets the job done.

Please refer to the sticky at the top of the page for any other Q's...fucking SSauto threads...

It was 1000.00 for modifying the downpipes and making the custom cat-back+install. that sounds good to me, alot of shops in maryland which are way cheaper than Virginia were charging 500-600 for labor alone,... i thought i got a good deal.

[Rated S]

It was 1000.00 for modifying the downpipes and making the custom cat-back+install. that sounds good to me, alot of shops in maryland which are way cheaper than Virginia were charging 500-600 for labor alone,... i thought i got a good deal.

lilis300 was refering to the OP, not yours.

[pzp107]

your price is high. I got quoted like 600 or so to do it which was too much for me so I suffered and did it myself. Mine bolted up perfect after I got the main downpipe flanges rewelded. It took some time for me to adjust the flex joint seal things to get them to not leak and it was a combination of letting some carbon build up. I clamped the rear portions with no leaks and cost me 4 dollars in clamps. I get no drone. Its perfect. Your can hear it from like 1800 - 2600 and then on the highway it dies off which is nice for long distances. Its not loud at all unless you may be leaking quite a bit. Did you use the resonators or straight pipes?

[pzp107]

Also its an exact copy and works exactly the same. My friends awe one sounds just the same. I couldn't be happier and I'm not stupid enough to pay almost three grand for something that cost me 350 shipped + like 40 to get it rewelded.

[caall99]

your price is high. I got quoted like 600 or so to do it which was too much for me so I suffered and did it myself. Mine bolted up perfect after I got the main downpipe flanges rewelded. It took some time for me to adjust the flex joint seal things to get them to not leak and it was a combination of letting some carbon build up. I clamped the rear portions with no leaks and cost me 4 dollars in clamps. I get no drone. Its perfect. Your can hear it from like 1800 - 2600 and then on the highway it dies off which is nice for long distances. Its not loud at all unless you may be leaking quite a bit. Did you use the resonators or straight pipes?

The exact labor cost was $722, plus 2 x $44.95 (sleeve clamps) and 2 x $35 (2.5 in exhaust clamps). So total for exhaust installation labor and parts was $881.90.

It does appear i payed too much for the exhaust install and will most likely complain. The olive/ball-socket clamps were leaking when i picked it up, and i had them go over them again. Unfortunately they still leak, and i hear the exhaust gases leaking when i get off the accelerator. PRIOR to bringing the car and exhaust in for install, I also had the DPs rewelded on the interior of the flanges. They charged me the 2.5 extra hours because it took them THAT LONG too figure out that they could just remove the stock heat shields to make the O2 sensors fit. They didn't trim or cut the shields, they just removed them and charged me 2.5 hours extra for the inconvenience. labor should have been $532, just like Yarrow promised. Bullshit...

My car is LOUD, it drones for sure. I am not sure whats different about your setup, but mine is definitely loud. I am using the resonator pipes.

Also its an exact copy and works exactly the same. My friends awe one sounds just the same. I couldn't be happier and I'm not stupid enough to pay almost three grand for something that cost me 350 shipped + like 40 to get it rewelded.

Not sure how everyone keeps getting it for 350 shipped, it was $445 shipped for me. $95 domestic shipping. The exhaust is 350, not shipped though.

[Overboostin]

That sucks man, sorry to hear about yarrow. I've heard good and bad from him. Not enough good to have me go there.

[pzp107]

I reused my stock clamps for the front pipes and got common (not sleeve type) clamps for the rear section. I have no exhaust leaks. However My heat shields fit fine except for the front o2 sensor on the drivers side which I had to trim around the 02 bung to get to fit. Those should really be put in place not removed and it sure as hell does not take 2.5 hrs for that. Trimming took me 30 minutes and only because it was so damn tight. reason being is because theres a lot of heat there that could melt those expensive wires and sensor leads right above them on both sides not to mention excess temp under the hood and not to mention I believe the reason why the rear cam seals tend to leak is because of the heat right next to them. I think you should have them put the heat shields back in and refund you some. My fronts dont leak anymore so I think you should just give it some time to let some carbon build up and such and cake in there holes its leaking from. Sorry about your noise issue, I dont really have that problem. I dont know why.

[caall99]

Ok, i need to sum this bullshit up and get it out of my mind. Yarrow sport officially carries out bad business ethics. I hate to say all this since i had great hopes to make them my "go to" place, but it has to be done, for everyone elses sake as well.

I just got done talking to Yarrow and two of his shop guys. They repeatedly said that the reason they charged me 2.5 hours extra was due to the fact that the downpipes had fitment issues with the stock heat shields. Instead of charging me 2.5 hours to make the stock heat shields fit they charged me 2.5 hours to remove the heat shields ALL TOGETHER. Now we all know that things can get fried back there without heat shields, but they insisted that everything would be ok. Again, bullshit to charge me 2.5 hours for the inconvenience of removing a component that you SHOULD remove to do a down pipe install anyway (and then re-install once the pipes are in).

Best part is that they offered me a partial reimbursement for the extra labor (bullshit labor) of 100 dollars. The catch is that i was told that i would have to write and fax a signed waiver stating that i remove any warranty and guarentee on the exhaust install labor. Essentially making yarrowsport not responsible for whatever damage removing the heat shields may incur on the surrounding wiring and gaskets around the back of the engine. That is the only way i could receive 100 dollars cash from them. They stated that my only other option is to go back to them and be charged 5+ hours of labor for them to trim the heatshields (they actually said it will take them several hours to make the stock shields fit on the aftermarket dps). Unbelievable.

The list of bullshit they put me through goes on and on and i quite upset about all of this. It's obvious that this shop was not qualified to do the exhaust install in the time that they told me it would take (which in reality is the same, maybe even a little more than the time any other shop would take). Their business is slow atm, and they are obviously willing to make up for lack of business by charging customers extra hours on labor and hardware (generic exhaust clamps for 35 bucks each WTF?!).

on a side note, anyone know how much a bottle of royal purple 75w90 is? they charged me 17 dollars a bottle. Wasn't sure if that was accurate.

I hope no one else has to go through this crap. It's all really to bad... but it appears they are trying to make ends meet at the customers expense. And guess what? My exhaust leak is getting worse and worse.

[YMJ]

Ok, i need to sum this bullshit up and get it out of my mind. Yarrow sport officially carries out bad business ethics. I hate to say all this since i had great hopes to make them my "go to" place, but it has to be done, for everyone elses sake as well.

I just got done talking to Yarrow and two of his shop guys. They repeatedly said that the reason they charged me 2.5 hours extra was due to the fact that the downpipes had fitment issues with the stock heat shields. Instead of charging me 2.5 hours to make the stock heat shields fit they charged me 2.5 hours to remove the heat shields ALL TOGETHER. Now we all know that things can get fried back there without heat shields, but they insisted that everything would be ok. Again, bullshit to charge me 2.5 hours for the inconvenience of removing a component that you SHOULD remove to do a down pipe install anyway (and then re-install once the pipes are in).

Best part is that they offered me a partial reimbursement for the extra labor (bullshit labor) of 100 dollars. The catch is that i was told that i would have to write and fax a signed waiver stating that i remove any warranty and guarentee on the exhaust install labor. Essentially making yarrowsport not responsible for whatever damage removing the heat shields may incur on the surrounding wiring and gaskets around the back of the engine. That is the only way i could receive 100 dollars cash from them. They stated that my only other option is to go back to them and be charged 5+ hours of labor for them to trim the heatshields (they actually said it will take them several hours to make the stock shields fit on the aftermarket dps). Unbelievable.

The list of bullshit they put me through goes on and on and i quite upset about all of this. It's obvious that this shop was not qualified to do the exhaust install in the time that they told me it would take (which in reality is the same, maybe even a little more than the time any other shop would take). Their business is slow atm, and they are obviously willing to make up for lack of business by charging customers extra hours on labor and hardware (generic exhaust clamps for 35 bucks each WTF?!).

on a side note, anyone know how much a bottle of royal purple 75w90 is? they charged me 17 dollars a bottle. Wasn't sure if that was accurate.

I hope no one else has to go through this crap. It's all really to bad... but it appears they are trying to make ends meet at the customers expense. And guess what? My exhaust leak is getting worse and worse.

i got charged 400 dollars for a front: @ 70 an hour.. so 6 hours
CV Boot Change, both sides
Braking Pads and rotors (all four)


but it actually took the shop three hours, he said he had 2 guys working on it
hence the 6 hours.. and that is the rate for a brake job and CV boot..

i felt jipped.. oh and 100 bucks 1.5 hours for a short shift kit install...

now did i get jipped too? just wondering?

[caall99]

Lol i hate mechanics. I refuse having anyone else work on my car again, they pull stunts like this all the time. Can't really trust anyone anymore. YARROW SPORT FTL!! don't give them your money, they will rip you a new one.

Signing out...

[teler86]

The only reason you have heatsheilds there in the first place is due to the heat buildup caused by the restrictive pre-cats in the stock downpipes one you remove those you remove the heat, and there is no more need for heatsheilds. AWE will tell you the same thing.

and to answer your first question i have AWE downpipes with no cats at all and a Borla cat back, I think it makes for one of the best sounding cars on the road, you can constantly hear the snails spooling.

[VR4-S4]

I have the XSPower exhaust.

I put it on myself so obviously im going to think thats a ridiculous amount of money. It took me about 30 seconds to figure out that you cant re-use the heat shields so 2.5 hours is complete BS. It took me about 3-4 hours to do it from start to finish

As for the loudness. I felt the exact same way after i put it on. After driving it for a day or 2 it started getting quieter. Its perfect for me now.

[AB18]

Not to add insult to injury, but i paid 250 for my xs power dps to be installed. I let them(shop where i work in the summers) keep the stock dps though.

[caall99]

When i saw how much they charged me I said F that, I am taking my platinum metal with me. As I was leaving the shop, I overheard Yarrow asking one of his mechanics: "Where did his the cats go?!" I was like eat that bitch! -_-

[lil' is 300]

The only reason downpipe installs are a bitch on this car are because of the heatshields. I don't think anyone in their right mind would re-install it after putting on SSauto DP's...

In fact, once I got the heatshields off my stockers (I trimmed them away) I drop kicked those fúckers across the garage.

caall99 - contact http://shawneecore.com, they gave me $250 for all four cats. That should help recoup some of the costs.

[caall99]

oh cool, thanks man.

[AB18]

The only reason downpipe installs are a bitch on this car are because of the heatshields. I don't think anyone in their right mind would re-install it after putting on SSauto DP's...

In fact, once I got the heatshields off my stockers (I trimmed them away) I drop kicked those fúckers across the garage.

caall99 - contact http://shawneecore.com, they gave me $250 for all four cats. That should help recoup some of the costs.

Even with the heatshields, just cut them out of the way and there not a factor. Installing dps on a lift is ALOT easier. Mine have some exhaust leaks in the clamps aswell. Mine aren't long enough to go in the slip joints at the catback, therefore not sealing. lilis300, what did you do as far as clamps? I remember you ditching the stockers and using something else?

[lil' is 300]

Even with the heatshields, just cut them out of the way and there not a factor. Installing dps on a lift is ALOT easier. Mine have some exhaust leaks in the clamps aswell. Mine aren't long enough to go in the slip joints at the catback, therefore not sealing. lilis300, what did you do as far as clamps? I remember you ditching the stockers and using something else?

I cut off those flares at the end of the DP's and test pipes and used slip fit clamps from an RS6 (2.5''). Not the best, but got the job done.

[AB18]

Mine are only slightly leaking there. There so tight there the clamps are bending, only slightly leaking. The leaking worse back where the dps meet the catback, those stocker slip type clamps are not cutting it.

[caall99]

wow i keep finding new bullshit work from yarrow sport. when i told them that my exhaust was leaking (when i was picking up the car for the first time) they spent an hour or so trying to fix it. during that time they managed to mangle both olive clamps by over torqueing the shit outta the bolts with an air impact gun. the spot welds on them actually broke. it was all pretty f'ed up down there, no wonder they couldn't get anything to seal up... retarded. I spent the evening trying to drill stainless steel (ZOMG) and then putting a rivet in where the spot weld would normally hold the clamp together. the drill bit would only plunge through the metal after it broke!! (stainless sucks)

anyway i was very careful about repositioning stuff, and i added some fine steal wool where the past leaks were to make sure it won't leak again. 99% of the leakage is gone, and i expect carbon build up to fix the rest. those bastards owe me new clamps now...

[AB18]

My one clamp is fubard to, next week when im home, im going to sort through getting ALL the leaks fixed. I hate the way a car sounds with exhaust leaks.

[lowered97a4]

just got the whole exhaust on mine yesterday ball socket clamps suck ended up using high temp silicone to seal it up in there. No droning at all i had piggies and nuespeed sounds the same inside i live the way it sounds almost like the twin 2 i think. fitment issues sucks tho