SolaraGuy.com

Its been a while since ive been on SG, but I hope everyone is doing well. Now to get to the point. I have the Tanabe exhaust I bought from Gabe about 3 years ago. I love the exhaust and noticed the other day an annoying exhaust leak.

Upon examining the exhaust, the top of the resonator had rusted through. I am not sure why this happened on the top, but i would like to go ahead and replace it. The current set up is a nice sound to me. I could go a little louder, but if I do I dont want to go obnoxious.

My dad said to just cut out the rusted resonator and replace it with a straight pipe. He said "it won't be that much louder". I would almost rather buy another resonator although I know I will not be able to get one through Tanabe.

So the question. The exhaust is currently 2.5", how much louder will a straight pipe be. Note everything else will remain the same including the muffler. If it will be much louder, who can recommend a decent/not to pricey replacement.

Thanks all,
Doug/Pogs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29025566@N07/3821257553/

is this the resonator located under the drivers and passenger seats?

I would say a little further back. The middle of the resonator most likely sits between the rear cup holders and the beginning of the rear seats

i'd say putting in a straight put would live'n it up a bit. you still have a "pre-muffler" further up under the drivers area so i doubt it'll be very loud. i replaced both stock mufflers with two small aftermarket resonators and its still not loud enough for me. how this helps a bit

By pre muffler do you mean the cat

Nooo. Stock set-up goes like this: Cat, Pre-muffler, resonator, Muffler

the pre-muffler is as long as the normal muffler but about as wide as a shoe box, and probably 2 and half shoe boxes long. only way i can describe it haha.

just take a look under your car, trace it back from the muffler. you should see everything tucked up in there

It won't be that much louder plus its better then buying a new cat back...

If u have a V6 go ahead and run a straight pipe, if its the 4cyl it might have some cackle to it....

Its an i4 but I'm still debating. I have a thrush resonator lying around I may use. I hit a nicely sized puddle on the way to work this morning and I think a rush of water opened up the hole a great deal. I feel like I am driving a racecar designed for a dirt track and I kind of like it. I know I fit in when I driver around d.c.

If the exhaust is stainless grab something like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yonaka-High-Flo ... 0f&vxp=mtr

or this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-Stainless-S ... 36&vxp=mtr

Or if it is not stainless get any cheap glass pack. Otherwise you will sound like a chainsaw at least my car did with 2.5 pipe a TRD muffler and no resonator.