Posted: Oct 28 2004 at 11:20am | IP Logged

Bob L and others,

Ugh, I just completed a 1300 mile road trip through Colorado, Utah, Nevada and back home to CA.

Around town it's not so bad but man cruisin along or heaven forbid you are going uphill for a long duration at 70 mph, forget it!

The hwy drone was about unbearable! I just wrote Banks an email asking about a cure, different muffer etc. I noted to them that BEFORE I purchased the system the sale rep assured me there was "no significant drone" at hwy speeds... FALSE I say!

Thanks Bob for your efforts, I too will keep you all posted on what if anything Banks suggests or does... otherwise i will be checking out the disc insert cure...

CJS

Posted: Oct 28 2004 at 9:22pm | IP Logged

I have the Magnaflow cat-back system it is the same. I ordered the disk yesterday in the meantime I plan to put the cell on vibrate and crank up the tunes. Good luck.

Posted: Nov 05 2004 at 1:31am | IP Logged

So much for the exhaust upgrade I had in mind.

I was considering these very two systems and have been PM-ing folks on several forums with regards to their experience with drone/resonance. Many responses mentioned a lack of drone or resonance issues. I just don't get it. 

Glad I found you two guys. Sorry for your less than desired experiences but it helps many of us who have not yet chosen a system. I'll hold off a while until one of these so called professional exhaust manufacturers get their act together and design a system worthy of the big bucks they demand and live up to the marketing mumbo-jumbo they print. I don't see any of them offering a money back guarantee should their product not live up to advertised claims or buyer's expectations. No, you're stuck with it and the cost of shipping and installation. Not to mention many a migraine if you drive at 55mph for any length of time.

Please pardon my venting, but this is a frustrating topic. Loss of low-end torque, HP gains at higher rpm - and on and on. Clearly after many years at this, the subject of exhaust flow, etc. has been analyzed and perfected, and these aftermarket guys don't seem to understand what's required to obtain the desired affects we demand. I'm thinking Nissan's got the optimal design. 

In any event, Flowmaster is coming out with a cat-back in about 4-5 weeks. Maybe that one will be drone-free. Perhaps in 6-9 months we'll figure out if it's true.

Posted: Nov 05 2004 at 8:37pm | IP Logged

UPDATE!

I FINALLY got to talk to a tech rep at Banks today... First time I was on hold for 28 minutes and hung up, second time (today's call) I was only on hold for 14 minutes .

Basically I told him that I had specifically asked about HWY noise BEFORE I bought the system. He was generally unsympathetic and offered no suggestions what so ever.

THANKS A LOT BANKS

Let me just say that Banks quality is excellent, installation a snap, but the marketing guys are WAY out of line. I feel I was basically lied to about HWY noise. I am either going to have to canibalize this system or go back to stock. I drive way to many HWY miles for this drone!

I am considering chopping up the muffler area and swapiong out the Banks muffer "the only one availible in this size for your application" for a SpinTech muffler I found doinf an on-line search: http://www.spintechmufflers.com/spintech/spintechindex.asp

They claim to be the quietest, yet have excellent flow. Too bad banks does not have the same philosophy.

I am looking at the SpinTech #5441 model which may slip in fairly easily. It's a 3" center inlet and  center outlet. Modifications should be minimal. Good thing I can weld!

What a pain in the ass, thanks again Banks marketing.

I will keep you all posted.

CJS