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Home > Performance Mods > Exhaust > What Is The Difference? Axleback or Catback

What Is The Difference? Axleback or Catback

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Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


I've heard this very same question over and over again, so why not create a post about it


^ cat back exhaust

as the name implies, a cat-back exhaust connects directly to the back of your vehicle's catalyst converter and as the picture shows, a full cat-back exhaust kit contains everything you need to bolt on with no welding required (in most cases)

why would you connect an exhaust directly to the back of your catalyst converter? You'd connect a cat-back exhaust system because it relieves the most back pressure from your vehicle's exhaust.. back pressure is the restriction of gases from escaping your car's exhaust...

what..?

Okay, imagine trying to blow air from a tiny straw... say.... a coffee stir... if you've tried it, you'll know it's pretty hard and your face may turn blue...

next imagine blowing air from a straw you'd normally get from a milkshake.. a much bigger straw allows more air to escape..

put this analogy in reverse and try sipping a milkshake with a tiny straw and you get the picture.

A good straw size (pipe size) for a normal car (with NO turbo) is about 2.5 inches in diameter.

A turbo needs to allow more gases to escape, so they need a bigger pipe, say 3 inches in diameter.

What is an Axle Back?



^Axle-Back exhaust

since I've explained what a cat back is, does and how it works, this explanation becomes a lot simpler. An axle-back exhaust connects to where your car's axle is (on most cars) It consists of the muffler and a short pipe, that's it.

an axle-back is also referred to as rear section

You will not gain as much power overall with an axle-back because it still uses most of the stock pipes which are restrictive. You will see minimal gains (1-2 whp) with most axle-back exhausts, this is because a good fraction of the exhaust restriction lies inside the stock muffler itself. This isn't as much of a gain as you'd get with a full cat-back exhaust which are normally 5-7 whp (wheel horsepower)
[#] Jul 01, 2007 04:16am
ThetCPope

Reg'd: Apr 04, 2007

Vehicle Designer

Thanks Orin, that helped understanding it alot.

[#] Jul 01, 2007 04:21am
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


^i'm glad to hear that-yw

[#] Jul 01, 2007 04:21am
Vicious

Reg'd: May 03, 2005

El Chupacabra

How dare you post a pic of an xB exhaust. Blasphemy!!



The Thread Killah
[#] Jul 01, 2007 05:55am
Mayo

Reg'd: Feb 14, 2007

The Guru

Great explaination.

But on a follow up question: Say someone gets a custom exhaust with an axleback, not a catback, what would they use to connect the catylitic converter to the axle back? The stock piping? or is there something with another name for that?


"gonna wash my car before i take a nap.. can't rest well knowing i've got the entire cast of A Bug's Life on my bumper" - Vicious
-- Want to post a "For Sale" thread? Check out the rules first.
[#] Jul 01, 2007 12:25pm
SqMK

Reg'd: Dec 31, 1969

Ultimate Window Washer

Will most tC catbacks still use the stock rubber hangars? I've always wondered if we needed to do anything special to get a catback on our cars.

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[#] Jul 01, 2007 12:37pm
o7SCIONtc4gg

Reg'd: Feb 07, 2007

Scion Guru

tha cat back i got, used tha STOCK hangers. perfect fit. as u can C in tha pics ive posted in my exhaust thread



[#] Jul 01, 2007 01:05pm
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


Mayo wrote:
Great explaination.

But on a follow up question: Say someone gets a custom exhaust with anaxleback, not a catback, what would they use to connect the catylitic converter to the axle back? The stock piping? or is there something with another name for that?


You can create your own exhaust starting with just an axle-back, the term would be called "custom exhaust"

to start:

most likely would involve an s-pipe (you can also add a header before the s-pipe)

then you'd have the mid-pipe (very similar to what you see in the cat-back picture)

from the mid-pipe it connects right to the part where an axle-back connects..

there are quite a few users here that instead of going with a cat-back kit, they've created their own "custom" exhaust.

edit
I'm pretty sure you'd have to weld in your own catalyst if you go full custom

[#] Jul 01, 2007 02:19pm
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


SqMK wrote:
Will most tC catbacks still use the stock rubber hangars? I've always wondered if we needed to do anything special to get a catback on our cars.


the cat-back kits made for the tC will use the hangers already in place, just as 07SCIONtc4gg has said.

[#] Jul 01, 2007 02:20pm
Web

Reg'd: Apr 17, 2006

THE SHADOW

Orin: Doing a great job answering the questions. I agree with all that Orin has said.


If anyone else has questions and Orin is overwhelmed with them, please feel free to PM me about them too . (I've got a 50% custom setup )


Ignorance is bliss....305 fo life!...haha...Poser
[#] Jul 01, 2007 07:41pm
Mayo

Reg'd: Feb 14, 2007

The Guru

Ohhhh ok. Wait, I might still be confused, lets check: If you get a catback and want a custom exhaust. You dont need to get a midpipe?


"gonna wash my car before i take a nap.. can't rest well knowing i've got the entire cast of A Bug's Life on my bumper" - Vicious
-- Want to post a "For Sale" thread? Check out the rules first.
[#] Jul 01, 2007 11:26pm
Aciidsneaker

Reg'd: Feb 24, 2007



Well thanks for the info Orin, must of had a write up day eh? well sweet. I would like a new cat-back exhaust.



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[#] Jul 02, 2007 08:53am
swiftprov

Reg'd: Jun 14, 2007

Scion Guru

orin your great at these expanations!!! i like how you make visual comparisons ie straws for this and the gas mask for the intake thread. keep up the good work!!!

[#] Jul 02, 2007 09:48am
Web

Reg'd: Apr 17, 2006

THE SHADOW

Mayo wrote:
Ohhhh ok. Wait, I might still be confused, lets check: If you get a catback and want a custom exhaust. You dont need to get a midpipe?


If you buy a catback system, it's not a custom exhaust. There would be no point in buying a catback if you wanted custom b/c it's not custom....it's as the manufacturer of the part designed it.

I'd consider an exhaust to be custom when 50% or more of it is just pieced together and not all purchased in a box.


Ignorance is bliss....305 fo life!...haha...Poser
[#] Jul 02, 2007 09:49am
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


swiftprov wrote:
orin your great at these expanations!!! i like how you make visual comparisons ie straws for this and the gas mask for the intake thread. keep up the good work!!!


thanks! I believe it's nice to have simple easy to visualize explanations. If I can help explain stuff, I'll do my best.
[#] Jul 03, 2007 12:51am
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


one more thing I've noticed while browsing exhausts on the Internet...

an axle-back exhaust is also referred to as rear section

*updated*

[#] Jul 15, 2007 01:20am
SqMK

Reg'd: Dec 31, 1969

Ultimate Window Washer

Thank you for this thread, Orin!

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[#] Aug 05, 2007 08:06pm
youngflyer

Reg'd: Jul 07, 2007

Scion Guru

im not positive on the answer, but for the tc, ive never heard an aftermarket exhaust that is not loud. the more quiet it is, the more restrictive it is. for the price of an exhaust, there are other ways of increasing horsepower while keeping an original exhaust. Also even by putting an C.A.I on, your tone is going to be a tad louder because it is going to be flowing more gasses out!

ThE JeWiSh PiMp
[#] Aug 05, 2007 08:18pm
Orin

Reg'd: Dec 08, 2005


SqMK wrote:
Thank you for this thread, Orin!


not a problem, I enjoy writing it up






Kurisutaira wrote:
im actually curious is there such a thing that i can upgrade my exhaust and increase horsepower but not increase the sound? i have my factory exhaust and i dont want it to be loud seriously i have actually creeped up behind people while its running and bumped them in the ass with my front end they never heard me comeing i want stealth!!!!!!


I'll create a new thread to answer this question
[#] Aug 05, 2007 08:18pm
kampboy

Reg'd: Sep 20, 2007

Oil Changer

First of all, thanks a mill for creating this thread. But damn, I feel kinda stupid now for ordering that axleback tanabe concept g xhaust. I paid $450 for everything..I could have toss him $200 more and get a catback xhaust.!!!!


what do u guys think about tanabe ?

[#] Sep 20, 2007 11:11pm
Crucial-Ink

Reg'd: Sep 16, 2007

Chief Mechanic

Wow man... insane write up! Dang... good job man


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[#] Sep 20, 2007 11:43pm
alpha_zulu

Reg'd: Dec 13, 2007

Detailer

So would it be possible to buy an axle back exhaust (say the TRD for the tC) and then later on down the road replace the other pipes?

No sig for you! Come back one year!
[#] Jan 20, 2008 02:32am
Web

Reg'd: Apr 17, 2006

THE SHADOW

alpha_zulu wrote:
So would it be possible to buy an axle back exhaust (say the TRD for the tC) and then later on down the road replace the other pipes?


Yes. The midpipe bolts to the axle back so it can be replaced seperately.


Ignorance is bliss....305 fo life!...haha...Poser
[#] Jan 20, 2008 01:26pm
alpha_zulu

Reg'd: Dec 13, 2007

Detailer

Awesome well that's reassuring. I plan on getting the TRD Axleback and in the future changing out the rest of the pipes.

No sig for you! Come back one year!
[#] Jan 20, 2008 10:08pm
h2oyelnats

Reg'd: Jul 05, 2008

Detailer

that helped a lot thanks !

[#] Jul 07, 2008 03:27am
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