Sportwagon Exhaust Drone

[bluey66]

Help !!
Ive got a great SSV Auto wagon and just had the rear mufflers ripped off and replaced with new Redback 2-1/2 inch sports ones.

The note sounds great, but the drone at 1800 - 2000rpm is unbearable !!

The exhaust joint wanted to put a crossover system from the cats, with hot dogs and said this will be louder but the drone may go away ??

I would appreciate anyones comments or advice on this annoying problem

Cheers

[exwrx]

Australian LS1 and Holden Forums (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=118709) :)

Or get a quieter exhaust.

Seriously the back of the wagon acts like a big boom box and what works in sedans doesnt work in wagons.

[Highway]

Did you just replace the rear mufflers or do you mean you replaced the whole catback with a redback system ?

If you only replaced the rear mufflers you will get a nicer sounding system not to loud with no drone by using either a HM Catback or Powersound system( 2 versions available- 92db & 96/97db) which seem to be quieter than most other systems available.
Check out SenatorMikes sound files in the ride section(Wagon and Senator ) using HM.

Depends how much you want to spend !!

Mike

[bluey66]

Just replaced the back mufflers ........ Cheers

[DaveHAT]

Sadly mate ... welcome to owning a wagon.

Chasing drone probs is bad enough in sedans but IMO worse in a wagon. As said, the cargo area acts like a speaker box and amplifies the problems.

Also ... is yours an auto? Drone seems to be typically worse in autos than manuals and for that reason alone you'll be pushing shit up hill to get rid of the drone.

Although not a VE a mate of mine had full exhaust from headers to tips on his VY and bought a sureflo "quiet" exhaust to try and avoid drone ... IT STILL DRONED!

You can spend many $100s - $1000s fitting headers, different catbacks,cats etc etc etc ... trying to get rid of it but the chance of finding that magical recipe is pretty slim.

Louder exhaust with wagons (esp autos) almost always = drone.
No drone almost always = very quiet exhaust.

[Nidz]

Yeah can't you just change the rear resonator to a quieter one? Maybe consider getting a cargo barrier and then covering it to seperate the back front the front seated area so it's less noticeable..

I've also had a No Drone Surflow custom catback made up for my wagon years ago and yep, it still droned even with stock cats and headers.

I'm searching for a solution as well hence my posts int he Dynamat thread but I don't think there's a lot you can do..

[Highway]

Sadly mate ... welcome to owning a wagon.

Chasing drone probs is bad enough in sedans but IMO worse in a wagon. As said, the cargo area acts like a speaker box and amplifies the problems.

Also ... is yours an auto? Drone seems to be typically worse in autos than manuals and for that reason alone you'll be pushing shit up hill to get rid of the drone.

Although not a VE a mate of mine had full exhaust from headers to tips on his VY and bought a sureflo "quiet" exhaust to try and avoid drone ... IT STILL DRONED!

You can spend many $100s - $1000s fitting headers, different catbacks,cats etc etc etc ... trying to get rid of it but the chance of finding that magical recipe is pretty slim.

Louder exhaust with wagons (esp autos) almost always = drone.
No drone almost always = very quiet exhaust.

Dave I actually had a Sureflow quiet system on my VY Wagon and with the 8" resonators there was no drone at all.
But I did end up along the way with 3.7's that probably helped a bit as well.

Mike

[bluey66]

Thanx guys, will take on board your comments. Will also look into the sound proofing link you posted EXWRX thanx mate, I live nearby to Knox Auto Carpets so will have a chat with them. At the end of the day, I still have the standard mufflers and will throw them back on if the misses refuses to get in the car again !! (Might be a good thing !!)

[crtx]

all wagons drone when upgrading to a hi flow system due to cabin noise its the fact of life.
yet to sit in one which doesn't

[fastestls7]

go the 3.7 dif, with 19 inch wheels at 100kph it will be qbt 1950/2000 rpm, will even feel like your going faster. hehe

[DaveHAT]

Dave I actually had a Sureflow quiet system on my VY Wagon and with the 8" resonators there was no drone at all.
But I did end up along the way with 3.7's that probably helped a bit as well.

Mike

Sounds like you were lucky Mike ... he had 3.7s as well and his droned.

Maybe header choice and design plays some part? :confused:

On my VY wagon which has 3.46, H&M tri-ys, opened cats and redback 2.5" I just live with it.

The sacrifice of extracting more go ... :yup:

[NonSense]

Does this Vehicle have AFM?
If so there is your problem.
When they go into 4cyl mode they drone BAD when a aftermarket exhuast is fitted.

[Highway]

I had the HM Try's also with opened up cats at one stage and then went with sureflow ceramic coated ( from memory) and all was good.Maybe my hearing is gone a bit from all the driving I do for work.

Dave still wanting those racks for the International as I will passing your way probably the end of next week ?
( Paint is peeling a bit but your welcome to them if any use to you )

Let me know.
Mike

[Nidz]

Thanx guys, will take on board your comments. Will also look into the sound proofing link you posted EXWRX thanx mate, I live nearby to Knox Auto Carpets so will have a chat with them. At the end of the day, I still have the standard mufflers and will throw them back on if the misses refuses to get in the car again !! (Might be a good thing !!)

Good stuff.. If you end up getting any good info off them or you decide to invest in something maybe see if you can get a DB meter in the back and do a before and after comparison so we can see how much quieter it is..

I only get drone @ certain rev ranges and say when there's a heavier load on the exhaust say when it changes down a gear etc.. All the noise appears to come from the rear resonator and not the cats and headers as such. I know this cause I have added components 1 at a time starting with headers, catback and then cats.. each makes it noticeably louder but I think the thing that makes it the loudest is the catback at the muffler.

[bluey66]

Its not an AFM NonSense, but thx for the input......

[redvxr8clubby]

Does this Vehicle have AFM?
If so there is your problem.
When they go into 4cyl mode they drone BAD when a aftermarket exhuast is fitted.

Wouldn't think so - ride lists as 08 Sportswagon - AFM is 09 build.

[Wonky]

Does this Vehicle have AFM?
If so there is your problem.
When they go into 4cyl mode they drone BAD when a aftermarket exhuast is fitted.

NOT NECESSARILY! My 2009 L76 SSV ute has 1 7/8" Pacies, 100 cpsi Ballistic cats and 3" KPM system. It is louder than most but in AFM mode no change in drone!! Just a slightly unbalanced feel to the engine as the pulses went through the exhaust. I asked my wife and she couldn't even tell whether in AFM mode or not. After about 2 days with the full exhaust I did find AFM mode a nuisance due to the unbalanced feel of the car but NO drone!

All fixed now! :nyuk: Dus OTR, mafless tune and no more AFM! :D

[bee444]

I have a MR MUFFLER F1 cat back on my sportswagon although it is manual, have a look at his sponsors section. I have no trouble with drone under normal driving conditions but can make it drone a little bit if I drop down very low in 6th to around 70-80 but thats all, I know he has fitted them to auto wagons so give them a call. Brad and Mal = :goodjob:

[crv8au]

Hi,
I had fitted a HM/Perry "No Drone" system on mine and the drone was unbearable that I went back to standard unfortunately. I wondered later if I should have tried the HM rear mufflers on the standard system and see if that got me some sort of a note. I wouldn't recommend the HM system at all on a Sportswagon, alyhough the note was nice.

[MTC]

Hi,
I had fitted a HM/Perry "No Drone" system on mine and the drone was unbearable that I went back to standard unfortunately. I wondered later if I should have tried the HM rear mufflers on the standard system and see if that got me some sort of a note. I wouldn't recommend the HM system at all on a Sportswagon, alyhough the note was nice.

I'll Go completely against what you say:) I have the hm/perry system on Both My LS3 Senator sig & My ssv wgn No done at all. fantastic system. Good sound, Great price & No Drone.

[Party Pete]

I recently had the rear parcel shelf and behind the back seat in my Monaro covered in dynamat while doing an upgrade to the speakers. It made a substantial difference to the level of exhaust resonance inside the car at low revs. Although I have no experience with a wagon, I would think that covering the floor under the carpet in it should substantially reduce the its resonance with the exhaust.

[V8Wagon]

One name that hasn't been mentioned here is the di-fillippo exhaust. I know they are pricey, but in sedans and utes get the big thumbs up for no drone. I'm very interested to hear from other wagon owners with the d/f system in the wagon, as I'm looking to have my vy done and would rather pay a few more dollars up front than put up with a cheaper system that drones. After more alterations chasing the drone down the track would probably add up to the cost of the d/f system anyway - just my 2c

[bluey66]

Hi guys,
Well I tried dynamat in the back of the wagon, covering all the spare wheel well, and it made no difference at all. I guess the redback mufflers are just no good for wagons. I am a bit confused that some people with different systems say there is no drone, while some say there is a drone ????? I have had a wagon before with sports exhaust with no issue. Believe me, the drone at the moment is really really bad at 1800 - 2000rpm in any gear. You can drive through it quickly, with very little drone, but then the fuel gauge drops like a lead balloon !

Back to the original mufflers for me at this stage.......

[ve/ss]

Hi guys,
Well I tried dynamat in the back of the wagon, covering all the spare wheel well, and it made no difference at all. I guess the redback mufflers are just no good for wagons. I am a bit confused that some people with different systems say there is no drone, while some say there is a drone ????? I have had a wagon before with sports exhaust with no issue. Believe me, the drone at the moment is really really bad at 1800 - 2000rpm in any gear. You can drive through it quickly, with very little drone, but then the fuel gauge drops like a lead balloon !

Back to the original mufflers for me at this stage.......

Drone is a personal opinion. You need to find someone that says they have a particular after market exhaust that they say has no drone and get a ride in that vehicle. I wasted money on 3 exhaust combos before i got one i was happy with. Mine has a manta 3" cat back but is a sedan so probably not comparable.

[MTC]

Hi guys,
Well I tried dynamat in the back of the wagon, covering all the spare wheel well, and it made no difference at all. I guess the redback mufflers are just no good for wagons. I am a bit confused that some people with different systems say there is no drone, while some say there is a drone ????? I have had a wagon before with sports exhaust with no issue. Believe me, the drone at the moment is really really bad at 1800 - 2000rpm in any gear. You can drive through it quickly, with very little drone, but then the fuel gauge drops like a lead balloon !

Back to the original mufflers for me at this stage.......

If you want a ride in either of My Cars to hear for yourself PM me im out Berwick way

[Wonky]

Redback - say no more....... I'm sure some of their stuff is OK but I certainly wouldn't go Redback in a car as susceptible to drone as the VE.