Borla Cat Back or Axel Back

[KingLeonidas]

So I’m looking for some advice/help on what to go with. I want to go with a Borla S type but I can’t decide on if I should go axel or cat back. What are the pros and cons? I also noticed that the cat back is considerably cheaper which I’m not sure why.

TIA everyone!

Sponsored

 

[Truckin]

I would do some research as I did not.
Most return to stock because they sound like crap on a bronco. Any V6 in general will never sound good.
I went Borla touring and it had drone.

 

[Nahdud829]

I can't speak for the Borla but i bought the Corsa cat back with turn down tip and love the sound when you get on the throttle. no drone whatsoever. Been on my 2.7L for over 40k miles and can't imagine going back to stock.

 

[GA2Dr]

I could be wrong but I believe the catback has a smaller muffler with a single outlet, whereas the axle back is a larger muffler with a dual outlet.

As to the sound it is very subjective and you'll get lots of different answers. I have a Borla touring axle-back on mine and love it. No drone and despite what some others on here will tell you, it sounds great.

 

[HighVelocity]

The Borla cat back exhaust system for the 2.3 has an optional resonator you can add. I'm not sure if the 2.7 version has the same, but if so, I would recommend you spend the extra on it.

 

[bassist]

Any V6 in general will never sound good.

You’ve obviously never heard a Honda V6 singing the song of its people.

 

[KABQ]

When I get up into the mountains I love being able to roll the windows down and take it in. I want to hear the leaves rustling, not the alternating womp and drone of my exhaust. Also, in the event that I camp in an actual campground instead of dispersed camping, there's nothing worse than the guy with the loud exhaust rolling through at midnight when everything is dead calm, messing with my fireside reverie. I don't want to be that guy.

This is coming from the guy who ran straight pipes on my first car (@bassist yes it was a Honda and it was awesome). I must be getting old, but I don't want to hear loud exhaust from your slow-ass truck or SUV. It's only ok on fast cars that will never make it into the quiet wilderness.

If you only drive it to work and the grocery store, ignore this rant.

 

[bassist]

When I get up into the mountains I love being able to roll the windows down and take it in. I want to hear the leaves rustling, not the alternating womp and drone of my exhaust. Also, in the event that I camp in an actual campground instead of dispersed camping, there's nothing worse than the guy with the loud exhaust rolling through at midnight when everything is dead calm, messing with my fireside reverie. I don't want to be that guy.

This is coming from the guy who ran straight pipes on my first car (@bassist yes it was a Honda and it was awesome). I must be getting old, but I don't want to hear loud exhaust from your slow-ass truck or SUV. It's only ok on fast cars that will never make it into the quiet wilderness.

If you only drive it to work and the grocery store, ignore this rant.

And when you’re around your work, home, or grocery store, nobody wants to hear it either!

If you own an exotic supercar, or a vintage British sports car, that’s one thing.

But your Bronco isn’t special, nor is a Mustang, or most other vehicles.

If the vehicle doesn’t sticker north of $200k new (adjusted for inflation), or can be serviced for less than $4k, just leave the exhaust alone.

 

[GA2Dr]

Or just do what you want with your own vehicle and don't worry about what others do with theirs.

 

[Tybh88]

Everyone has different tastes and options. i dont mind any exhaust mods if done tastefully. I have a spe muffler delete and its not even obnoxious. The cold starts are aggressive but gets quiet quickly. The only exhaust i dont like is the kids putting 1 inch exhaust on their v8 trucks and making them "clap"

 

[wjtinfwb]

When it comes to V6 sound, the biggest difference will come from the engine design. A 60 degree V6 like the Honda J series or even GM 2.8, 3.1 and 3.4 engines will sound infinitely better than a 90 degree V6 like the GM 3800 or earlier Honda C series V6's. No V6 will sound like a V8, however the 60 degree engines should and in some cases do sound better than the 90 degree V6. Years ago I had a Pontiac 6000 STE with the 2.8L 60 degree pushrod V6. Despite this engine's very modest design and output, it sounded great through the Pontiac's standard sport exhaust. Why the Ford EcoBoost engines don't sound great must be a case of exhaust design more than engine configuration. Turbo's do play a role as the turbochargers (2 in the Ford's case) effectively muffle the exhaust sounds by absorbing much of the air energy the exhaust is trying to dissipate. I'm sure there is someone out there who's built a great sounding EcoBoost exhaust, perhaps a comparison test of 4-5 of the major name brands out there could be sone by either a performance company or maybe Car & Driver to determine the differences.

 

[bassist]

Or just do what you want with your own vehicle and don't worry about what others do with theirs.

Or how about people show some respect for others as opposed to behaving like self-centered tossers who make a ton of unnecessary noise to try to be cool?

 

[GA2Dr]

Hahahaha no

 

[Tybh88]

So loud exhaust that only you appreciate isn't disrespectful or self-centered or trying to be "cool"? Lol

 

[CV428]

Here's a handy-dandy flow chart:

Is it a V8?
Yes -> Go for it, either will be fine
No -> Don't waste your money

Man I wish Ford had crammed a Coyote in the Bronco, but here we are. Ecoboosts are decent little engines, and I have never had an issue with my 2.7l. But, they sound absolutely awful with an exhaust. Even the Ford GT sounds like a long mostly-dry fart in a drain pipe.

And please, don't take this as me being a "V8 elitist" or looking down on anyone in any way. I once slapped a cheap glasspack on a '90 Mustang 2.3l (Lima) because 16 year old me couldn't afford an actual muffler. It was horrendous. It really sounded like a dry fart down a tunnel. I eventually couldn't take it anymore, worked some overtime, and slapped a box store turbo muffler on there. I also went through a phase where I wanted the loudest V8 exhaust possible (insecurity from the glasspack on a 2.3l haha), and thought SLP Loudmouths sounded good on a mod motor with a KB on top (it sounded like a constipated elephant trumpeting)

Trust me. Don't put an exhaust on an Ecoboost. Leave it for the V8s, save yourself the time, money, and frustration.

Sponsored