TRD exhaust mystery

[Kestrel]

I have the chance to trade some old car parts from my last project to a local for a TRD muffler. Problem is the mid pipe is no more and there doesn't seem to be a part number for JUST the TRD midpipe. Is there a company that sells a mid pipe that will solve my problem?

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Kestrel

I have the chance to trade some old car parts from my last project to a local for a TRD muffler. Problem is the mid pipe is no more and there doesn't seem to be a part number for JUST the TRD midpipe. Is there a company that sells a mid pipe that will solve my problem?

I haven't seen them for sale individually, which means that you might have to have your local muffler shop fabricate one for you for not too much labor + parts. The plus side of this is that you can have them install in a more aggressive resonator that should check some of the drone the TRD exhaust gives @ 3200 - 4000 RPM. This kind of custom TRD catback setup will probably sound really nice and save a ton of money in the long run.

[Kestrel]

This is what I figured but just thought I would ask. I'd much rather get overnight parts from Japan than deal with the local shops here. :/

[Bykov]

I read that the midpipe for the TRD catback is actually more restrictive than OEM so I think having one fabricated with a more aggressive resonator is definitely a better route. I have a Monogram FR-S so it came with a TRD Catback and when I saw it's MORE restrictive I was pretty pissed so I will probably go that route as well.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Bykov

I read that the midpipe for the TRD catback is actually more restrictive than OEM so I think having one fabricated with a more aggressive resonator is definitely a better route. I have a Monogram FR-S so it came with a TRD Catback and when I saw it's MORE restrictive I was pretty pissed so I will probably go that route as well.

It's smaller Inside Diameter. It doesn't reduce HP or performance.

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

It's smaller Inside Diameter. It doesn't reduce HP or performance.

Yes, this is what I am referring to. Doesn't reduce performance on a stock FR-S or one with a C38 with a catless header? That has been argued to death honestly so I am not sure but either way I would like a 68mm exhaust. If it doesn't help whatsoever, I guess I will know that it doesn't then. It will still sound amazing with the TRD muffler as it's the quietest you can get aside from stock.

[churchx]

I'm not that sure, if TRD is quietest aftermarket exhaust and comparable to stock. Q300 is the one, which is often compared to stock loudness-wise.

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by churchx

I'm not that sure, if TRD is quietest aftermarket exhaust and comparable to stock. Q300 is the one, which is often compared to stock loudness-wise.

I have not personally tested both so I cannot say. I have read many times the TRD is the quietest on this forum and that is what I am going off of. I could easily be wrong. However, the car came with the TRD exhaust and wasn't a choice. It sounds amazing so I don't see myself buying another.


It is also much quieter at the altitude I live at, when I take my trips to California it is outrageously loud but at the same time quiet compared to everyone else in California.


I will look into your claim though so thank you for making it. The Q300 might be a much more cost effective alternative to the TRD.

[Dboe]

I have had the following setups:

• Stock muffler + stock midpipe
• TRD dual tip muffler with TRD midpipe
• TRD quad tip JDM with stock midpipe

I wont comment on the stock...

TRD dual tip muffler is actually pretty loud in my opinion. Its very deep and throaty and sounds much more aggressive than some. It doesnt have an obnoxious ricer noise at all. I actually really enjoyed the sound. It is kind of loud though so you can hear it on the freeway (can get drone-y). Although i think the TRD midpipe maybe had some sort of 'delete' for the noise generator (i can't remember about this)

TRD quad tip is much more quiet and less aggressive sounding.

TRD midpipe is smaller in diameter. Mine actually completely bent during an accident - hard to say if the stock one would also... However after research I went back to stock midpipe as its actually larger diameter.

I also learned that the stock midpipe is actually pretty damn good despite being a little heavy - but all the lighter ones start going to aluminum anyways. the midpipe does very little for performance and you should not feel bad about using the stock midpipe.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Bykov

I read that the midpipe for the TRD catback is actually more restrictive than OEM so I think having one fabricated with a more aggressive resonator is definitely a better route. I have a Monogram FR-S so it came with a TRD Catback and when I saw it's MORE restrictive I was pretty pissed so I will probably go that route as well.

Don't be pissed. There are no independently dyno'd cars that reflect a larger diameter mid-pipe improves the performance on this car outside of margin of error with the stock tune, header and front-pipe. The 2.25" midpipe in the TRD catback also does not improve peak WHP with the stock tune. It does slightly improve the midrange torque with OEM tune by increasing EGT and thus scavenging. There's an old dyno sheet on this board from 2013 that shows it.

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Don't be pissed. There are no independently dyno'd cars that reflect a larger diameter mid-pipe improves the performance on this car outside of margin of error with the stock tune, header and front-pipe. The 2.25" midpipe in the TRD catback also does not improve peak WHP with the stock tune. It does slightly improve the midrange torque with OEM tune by increasing EGT and thus scavenging. There's an old dyno sheet on this board from 2013 that shows it.

Again, as mentioned before, C38 and soon flex fuel. But it's not so much about power, especially with an SC as the most notable power gains come from simply deleting the cats. The fact that it's a $1200 option, presumably partly because of the midpipe, and it is a smaller diameter is a bit annoying. Not for any logical reason but then again, what if I went turbo? See my comments above.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Bykov

Again, as mentioned before, C38 and soon flex fuel. But it's not so much about power, especially with an SC as the most notable power gains come from simply deleting the cats. The fact that it's a $1200 option, presumably partly because of the midpipe, and it is a smaller diameter is a bit annoying. Not for any logical reason but then again, what if I went turbo? See my comments above.

Importantly, it costs $1200 because it's a TRD part. Dealer's install these so they work within the powertrain warranty. That's an important part of the cost to consider.

Also, there are many more catback's costing well over $1200 that deliver no additional power too though. If you decided to go turbo, it'd be wise to reconsider your whole exhaust setup front-to-back no matter what you chose while you were NA or SC. Once you got to the point where a 2.25" mid-pipe was an issue, a common 2.5" mid-pipe might also be an issue (350- 400 WHPish). This all really boils down to your tune. All in all, the idea is to not get upset over nothing. If you don't like the catback, probably better to sell it, than to have bad feelings about it.

[Bykov]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Importantly, it costs $1200 because it's a TRD part. Dealer's install these so they work within the powertrain warranty. That's an important part of the cost to consider.

Also, there are many more catback's costing well over $1200 that deliver no additional power too though. If you decided to go turbo, it'd be wise to reconsider your whole exhaust setup front-to-back no matter what you chose while you were NA or SC. Once you got to the point where a 2.25" mid-pipe was an issue, a common 2.5" mid-pipe might also be an issue (350- 400 WHPish). This all really boils down to your tune. All in all, the idea is to not get upset over nothing. If you don't like the catback, probably better to sell it, than to have bad feelings about it.

I think you are over analyzing how upset I am, which is not very. I am very much on your side of this argument 99% of the time. But in this thread this is where I stand on OP's issue. He doesn't have a midpipe. I wish I was in his position so I could do it right the first time. And if I upgrade my midpipe it won't be for power because it is well know (especially with an SC) that I won't get any. I honestly believe I could make it sound better and eliminate the drone of the TRD catback. Admittedly I don't get drone at my altitude until maybe 4k rpm (and I don't cruise at 4k) but in my trips to cali I have seen what they mean in reviews by drone.


I would like to throw in the C38 is 650hp capable and if I was insane enough to turn it up to that I think opening the exhaust up would actually show some gains but again, you are right with what you stated about 2.5 inches not being enough either. So once again, on your side!

[DAEMANO]

^^ All good brother