Berk Catted Front Pipe Measurements

[Timmy_Jones]

Folks, I recently ordered a catted front pipe, from Berk for my 13’ FR-S and wanted to share the measurements of the pipe.

The flange on the side with the cat, when measured is a little more than 2.5”, outer diameter (perfect and as expected).

The flange on the opposite of the cat (I believe the overpipe side, which I am not sure, because I didn’t install the front pipe) measured about 2.25-2.3” Outer diameter.

I was a bit shocked and disappointed. I have a Tomei UEL and Overpipe, which are a very nice and smooth 2.5” OD….I know I may be making a bigger deal of this, than it is, but Berk advertises their Front Pipe as 2.5” all the way through, and that is not the case. Inside of the front pipe, on the overpipe side, you can see the 2.25” section runs for maybe 3-4 inches into the pipe, and then expands out to 2.5”

Just an FYI for everyone. I am returning mine and will look at one of the more expensive alternatives.

[ATaraxias]

Can we see photos of the measurements and the 2.25" section?


I'm in the exact same situation as yourself and would be rather unhappy to learn that Berk is selling a product with a fraudulent outer diameter measurement.

[Timmy_Jones]

Originally Posted by ATaraxias

Can we see photos of the measurements and the 2.25" section?


I'm in the exact same situation as yourself and would be rather unhappy to learn that Berk is selling a product with a fraudulent outer diameter measurement.

Yes, just took some for the vendor I bought them from...let me dig them up!

[mav1178]

Berk is the second one from the top.

-alex

[Amputechture]

[Amputechture]

I've had my berk fp sitting in my closet for about a week now waiting to go on when I do my FI install here soon. I'm pretty disappointed about this. The side that mates to the overpipe is 2.5 in OD.

[Timmy_Jones]

Originally Posted by Amputechture

Identical to what mine looks like.

Berk offered this explanation. 'We did it that way so you could use the stock Donut gasket.'

Seems like crap to me. I'm getting a refund. I recommend everyone else does the same.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Berk is the second one from the top.

-alex

In this picture it would be the right flange that measures short according to OP? And is the the side the mates to the catback or overpipe?

[Amputechture]

Originally Posted by finch1750

In this picture it would be the right flange that measures short according to OP? And is the the side the mates to the catback or overpipe?

Side that mates to overpipe/towards the left in dude's picture is 2.5 and catback side is 2.25.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

Identical to what mine looks like.

Berk offered this explanation. 'We did it that way so you could use the stock Donut gasket.'

Seems like crap to me. I'm getting a refund. I recommend everyone else does the same.

If you are talking about the back end of the front pipe where it bolts to the exhaust, Berk is correct.

Part of the problem with replacing exhaust components piece by piece is the fact that every manufacturer will assume you are using stock everything else...

but my question is: what are you doing where 2.38" > 2.5" makes such a huge power difference? I've done car stuff for 20+ years and small changes downstream of the headers don't make a single difference.

I can purposely misalign a gasket on the exhaust to create some minor turbulence and it won't make any difference on a dyno.

-alex

[Amputechture]

Originally Posted by mav1178

If you are talking about the back end of the front pipe where it bolts to the exhaust, Berk is correct.

Part of the problem with replacing exhaust components piece by piece is the fact that every manufacturer will assume you are using stock everything else...

but my question is: what are you doing where 2.38" > 2.5" makes such a huge power difference? I've done car stuff for 20+ years and small changes downstream of the headers don't make a single difference.

I can purposely misalign a gasket on the exhaust to create some minor turbulence and it won't make any difference on a dyno.

-alex

Exactly the reason why I, although a bit disappointed, am just going to chalk it up to not having done due diligence and sought out feedback from owners. My situation is a little different as I have a turbo system going on the car soon so exhaust diameter can make a pretty significant difference. But I only plan to run around the 270 whp neighborhood so I won't be choking anything up. If I could go back in time I would have opted for JDL's one piece OP/FP but I'm not about to have even more sunken costs and deal with the return hassles. It is noticeably cheaper than most HFC options so I got what I paid for.