TRD exhaust owners - Warning! - READ!
 

After owning my TRD exhaust for 2 years I have discovered a problem with it. The exhaust note changed recently so I decided to do a little poking around. My car had the exhaust installed at delivery and it has ~50000km on it. Here is a video I took with my inspection scope (sorry for the crappy quality)


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtaE_b7a71o"]Inside my TRD exhaust. June 23rd, 2015. - YouTube[/ame]

The resonator is all broken up inside and is partially blocking the exhaust. There is only one MINOR scratch on the exterior of the resonator so this was not caused by misuse or impact. I have thought about going through the warranty process but I will be making a custom mid-pipe instead to get rid of the 2" section. Details on the upgrade with a sound comparison to come.

Nice investigation.

not broken, its 2 pieces of perforated steel as an inner tube, wrapped around it is fiberglass to deaden sound. the note has changed over time because the fiberglass has broken down, absorbed moisture and filled with carbon

Good observations, captain obvious. I am well aware that the note changes over time due to what you listed, but sudden, noticable changes are not from that effect. Did you even watch the video? If you did, are you half blind? It literally rattles when I shake it around.

Yeah I watched it, but at work with no sound

My inspection scope doesn't record sound but I've got it cut apart now. I'll post more pics and whatnot. It is definitely broken inside.

Time for a new aftermarket catback

I had the TRD installed when I bought my 2015 FRS, but kept the original mid-pipe and exhaust. I figured that when the resonator dies, I will just have the stock mid-pipe and resonator spliced into the rear section of the TRD mid-pipe. The stock mid-pipe does not have the 2" "squeeze".

Most resonators will do that with time. It's from the heat and localized the hot spots that will warp the preforated core tube. Some cheaper ones I ran on my Rx7 would do that after a week. Magnaflow and cherrybomb glass packs will do that too.

Probably a Friday 5:00 manufacturing finishing time at the plant

Under warranty? Reminds me, gotta get that colonoscopy,...

@Kostamojen replaced his resonator with a Vibrant 1141 2.5" Ultra Quiet Resonator in this thread.

Info and pics here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2218064

Yep, I'm doing the same (I think mine is a 1141, I'll have to look). I am also replacing the front section of the pipe with 2.5. The part after the resonator is 2.25 and that doesn't bother me as it is nicely made.

Yep, but I'm using the opportunity to upgrade.