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If you're wondering why I'm having a custom muffler made (again, actually) but haven't touched the rest of the exhaust system, here's the long story:
I bought and installed a Weapon R style 'header' about a year, or so, after I got the car. Problem was, the rest of the exhaust system, mid-pipe to muffler, would 'rattle' somewhere around 4k rpm. Terrible noise. So I started to save money to upgrade the rest of the exhaust system.
One time, I tried a straight through axleback muffler; it was much too loud. I theorized that all aftermarket straight through mufflers would be too loud; there isn't enough space for a muffler big enough to bring noise levels close to stock. Time to do some research.
I came across an old, out-of-production, style muffler called a twin-loop muffler, which is said to be very quiet. These mufflers were made for Honda Civics and Integras; too big for the Fit. I browsed several pictures of looped mufflers and came up with a design that would be easy to make and fit the Fit.
Sometime last year, the OE midpipe was replaced with a bolt-on from HKS, which worked well. However, OE axleback muffler sounded like it wouldn't last very long. I had to put my idea to the test. I asked a muffler shop to make this:
A two-pipe muffler with a loop on one end, inlet/outlet on the other. And it worked! It made a little more noise than stock, but not too loud. Good enough for me. And it looked alright, I think:
The pipe-end was their idea, by the way. Sadly, there were one or two problems:
1. I asked the shop to put the loop inside the rear bumper so the muffler could be bigger but, over time, the rubber hangers would probably lengthen, causing the loop to hit the bumper.
2. the flange didn't quite fit evenly on the gasket; the bends and welds could be better.
Hello hotkey,
if you are looking for not loud but sporty sound, and add performance, you might want to try using Honda OEM Civic Si muffler/resonator, which also came with bigger pipe diameter 2.25" (better flow).
And since it is original OEM Honda part, it will last very long time and made of Stainless Steel. The Civic Si muffler is almost straight through design (a bit of kink but you can see the light shine through, the Civic Si resonator is straight through).
I add Dynomax bullet straight through resonator/muffler to dampen the sound a bit since I had T1R down pipe and also Noblesse pipe plus HJS high flow cat.
Oh, I also change the stock rubber hanger to urethane one to prevent the muffler/pipe from moving too much so it won't hit the bumper or the body part.
“Track Car Light”
Im new to the world of automotive upgrades
Started with a Progress sway bar
i dont notice to much difference unless I really push it through corners and my mechanic friend who installed it said it adds about 10-15% more stiffness???
Thinking the next possible upgrade is the suspension
Its my everyday drive so I don’t want to go extreme
my goal is to make it similar to track car and on a budget
As far as the suspension goes I’d like to do either the front or back separately for economic reasons
Any suggestions on what parts to use and where to put them?
“Track Car Light”
Im new to the world of automotive upgrades
Started with a Progress sway bar
i dont notice to much difference unless I really push it through corners and my mechanic friend who installed it said it adds about 10-15% more stiffness???
Thinking the next possible upgrade is the suspension
Its my everyday drive so I don’t want to go extreme
my goal is to make it similar to track car and on a budget
As far as the suspension goes I’d like to do either the front or back separately for economic reasons
Any suggestions on what parts to use and where to put them?
What are your wheels and tires? Always start there. 7" wide wheels with a 205 width tire is the first step.
Wheels and tires are stock
ive learned tires are most important but I’m being stubborn about getting them until I learn about how to make my car feel more go cart like lol
Last edited by MontrealFit2012; Oct 11, 2018 at 09:30 PM.
Just my opinion and I suggest you seek more from others, but the stock wheels and tires can't come close to exploiting the stock suspension. I think you have to start by adding mechanical grip (ie wheels and tires) and the go from there.
I totally agree lol
im not actually doing any kind of performance driving
im just reeeeeally enjoying the nimbleness of the car
For me it’s about learning what experts would do if they they already had awesome tires/wheels
My end goal is just pure handling and no engine mods
tires/wheels are definitely on my list
Last edited by MontrealFit2012; Oct 11, 2018 at 10:16 PM.
Busted mine when i replaced the stock rear cam and shirted it lol! I want to replace all with LED but i will need a load resistor. Will i only need one for each side, or one per led? There are kits here for 2 and 4,so i wondered if i should buy the cheaper per piece 4 pack, or cheaper all in all 2 pack only loads?
Thanks!
Im new to the world of automotive upgrades
Started with a Progress sway bar
i dont notice to much difference unless I really push it through corners and my mechanic friend who installed it said it adds about 10-15% more stiffness???
And that surprises you? That's exactly what adding that sway bar is supposed to do. Also makes the car less comfortable, not that the Fit is a comfy car to begin with.
I didn’t know how stiff the sway bar would be in general maybe I thought I’d notice it more
My mechanic said it is supposed to work in tandem with upgraded suspension not so much a stand alone product
I didn’t know how stiff the sway bar would be in general maybe I thought I’d notice it more
My mechanic said it is supposed to work in tandem with upgraded suspension not so much a stand alone product
Well, now you know. And if you Google "what do sway bars do?", you'll find lots of info your mechanic doesn't tell you; he hasn't the time nor is it his job to educate. Do your own research; it'll probably be "information overload" at first, but keep at it and you'll figure it out.
I think it's worth mentioning that, on the Fit, the rear "sway bar" is really more like a rear brace for the torsion beam. Serves a similar function as a sway bar, but I'm not sure I'd technically consider it a sway bar.
Regardless, it GREATLY improved the handling and straight line tracking at interstate speeds in our GD.
yes
before with no sway bar I noticed I did not like how the Fit felt with hard acceleration while taking those long round on ramps to the highway
Now I hope it feels a bit more like my wife’s Mazda 3 that thing is impressive
I just finished installing the replacement rear rotor today,... lot of stretching, working under the car and wrenching, make me feel like just working out, tired but fresh at the same time
All I need is to drive the car, and the brake pad will automatically cut the paint to create a perfectly round boundary between the painted part and the friction surface part of the rotor
My next project in the next few weeks is to replace my RIGHT FRONT CV Joints, because it start making some clunking noise... no vibration yet though, but I rather change it before it get worse.
EDIT: Just drive around the block to test and make sure no drag on the rotor, now the black paint boundary is perfectly round, but I guess I need to drive more before it peeled it completely
Last edited by BMW ALPINA; Oct 15, 2018 at 03:35 AM.
Reason: picture after drive it around the block
