I should have listened to the exhaust guys and had them cut/weld new fixed style flanges. These floating style flanges suck. You can never get a good seal and the ends of the flanges "bow" when you tighten each side. Now I get a exhaust leak on the top and bottom of the Y pipe because the flanges bend when tigheted. For this amount of $$, it should have a better fit. NE1 else have this problem??

 

Did you see Greg's custom install? Check out his homepage if you missed the original post.


<img src=http://grprete.jnet.net/images/Maxima%20Pics/Modifications/Performance%20Mods/Courtesy%20B-Pipe/KOOKS%20Custom%20Mod/ReMadeCatFlange.jpg>

 

get a custom

 

For the $$, I expect high quality from RT. If I wanted to custom cut flanges, I would have just bought a carsound unit.

 

Jeff,

I agree 100%. I had my RT cat flanges cut and re-welded with a flat-faced flange for a much better exhaust seal. It also had the effect of making the car even quieter.

I am amazed at how quiet my Maxima is now (I had a different type of gasket put in at the muffler too - makes a better seal than the ring type). For a car with an almost totally aftermarket exhaust it is incredibly quiet.

I do agree that if I buy a cat that is supposed to be "made for the Maxima" then the flanges should be welded and be FLAT.

-Greg

 

I think most of the noise is from the poor seal between the RT cat and Y and cat back. Do you have any bees-in-a-can noise at all?

 

In answer to the question - "do I have any bees-in-a-can noise at all" the short answer is yes, but it is barely noticeable, and only under extremely hard acceleration. At normal power & cruise, the exhaust is only a hair thoroatier than stock. People who have no idea my car is modded get in it and (ironically) comment on how "nice and quiet" it is.