Vibrant Performance Catback Exhaust Review

[Skin441]

Received mine today. Fedex threw it around like a football I guess. There were dents in the resonator muffler. And one hanger was bent. WTF. I fixed the hanger but will have to live with the dents, I really dont care it's under the car, but still. Performs well too. By the way it was placed on a FA5 out of the box. The clamp will work for us FA5 people. The length difference is barely two inches. And the clamp is nearly 4 inches. I welded a 2 inch 2.5 diameter peice to the cat side peice, then still used the clamp. It was easier for fitment and adjusting the way it sat. Not too much louder than the stocker either. It sounds great when wot. Paired with my hondata and injen the motor performs really well now. I am just going to wait for vibrant to release their header. And that will do it. Pics to come it's raining in So Cal. Weird.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Skin441

Received mine today. Fedex threw it around like a football I guess. There were dents in the resonator muffler. And one hanger was bent. WTF. I fixed the hanger but will have to live with the dents, I really dont care it's under the car, but still. Performs well too. By the way it was placed on a FA5 out of the box. The clamp will work for us FA5 people. The length difference is barely two inches. And the clamp is nearly 4 inches. I welded a 2 inch 2.5 diameter peice to the cat side peice, then still used the clamp. It was easier for fitment and adjusting the way it sat. Not too much louder than the stocker either. It sounds great when wot. Paired with my hondata and injen the motor performs really well now. I am just going to wait for vibrant to release their header. And that will do it. Pics to come it's raining in So Cal. Weird.

I thought it never rains in Southern Californina Can't wait for my exhaust to arrive. I am planning to have a wild installation party this weekend. Springs and Exhaust

Hey is the Hondadata worth it? It's a chunk of money for a little program.

[Skin441]

It's a little pricey, but i think it is worth its weight in gold I think it is one of the mods that you either love it or don't have it and love to hate it. I live so close by to Hondata I had to get it. The car accelerates quicker, and you definetly know the difference between hondata and non-hondata si. I would never go back. Oh yah it took me 18 minutes to install the exhaust. With welding...word.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Skin441

Received mine today. Fedex threw it around like a football I guess. There were dents in the resonator muffler. And one hanger was bent. WTF. I fixed the hanger but will have to live with the dents, I really dont care it's under the car, but still. Performs well too. By the way it was placed on a FA5 out of the box. The clamp will work for us FA5 people. The length difference is barely two inches. And the clamp is nearly 4 inches. I welded a 2 inch 2.5 diameter peice to the cat side peice, then still used the clamp. It was easier for fitment and adjusting the way it sat. Not too much louder than the stocker either. It sounds great when wot. Paired with my hondata and injen the motor performs really well now. I am just going to wait for vibrant to release their header. And that will do it. Pics to come it's raining in So Cal. Weird.

I got my Vibrant Exhaust today via Fed Ex and the Resonator also had 3 dents on it. One fairly large (silverdollar size) and a couple of small dings.
That kinda $ucks. Not sure if it happened via the Fed Ex shippment or while packaging at the manufacturer. I checked the Muffler and it is okay.
I know you probably wont see it unless you really look for it since it is under the car but it still kinda bums me out
I will install it this weekend and hopefully wont find any bent hangers.

I saw from someone elses post that installed his on an 07 Si that he had problems with the hangers at the muffler pushing the tip too close to the bumper and the paint was comming off the bumper. Plus his clamp is leaking exhaust and he torqued it down as hard as he could.
Well, lets see if I can get it installed without other problems.

[CorSport]

^feedback given to Vibrant today on packaging.

I appreciate it guys.

Tai
CorSport

[CorSport]

Straight from Vibrant.

We have been reading the posts on the 8th gen civic board and are well aware of the comments. We are repackaging the systems and improving on the “void fill” in each box. This will eliminate any problems attributed to packaging.

As for crazy courier handlers…I can’t do anything about that!

Tai
CorSport

['06Siguy]

subscribed.

[Anubis]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

I saw from someone elses post that installed his on an 07 Si that he had problems with the hangers at the muffler pushing the tip too close to the bumper and the paint was comming off the bumper. Plus his clamp is leaking exhaust and he torqued it down as hard as he could.
Well, lets see if I can get it installed without other problems.

I just want to say that after installing my vibrant exhaust tonight I can honestly say that this is NOT a bolt on system, at least not if you don't want leaks. No matter how hard you tighted the clamp exhaust leak is still present. The clamp is the biggest waste of time, and the dumbest idea i have ever seen. I would say take the exhaust to a shop to have it done, and get the two non-flanged pipes welded. I did the install myself and now i have to get it welded anyway due to leaks from the clamp. Trust me it can't be done.....

That said even with the crappy leak the overall design, and sound of the system is amazing. Nice deep tone, not rasp at all, no drone at all at least not enough to matter. I am happy with my purchase, but i wanted to give a heads up to you guys who plan to install it yourself.


P.S. my resonator had dents in it too........

[Skin441]

Yeah..the clamp is so so. I don't know why you would have leaks though the two pipes join together and the clamp holds them in place. The exhaust searches for the easiest exit i.e. muffler. When I got mine I put it on an FA5 so there was a 2inch gap with the clamp just to see what the sound was like and if it leaked. No leaks with a 2 inch space between the two split pipes. That was just a quick test, I then took it off and welded it together and conjoined the two for the 2 inch gap. I'll load a photo tomorrow. I would suggest welding it anyways. Less vibrations plus ensured seal. If you lived by me you could just come by and I would put a nice weld on for you. A muff shop should only charge 40 bucks max to do it though. Have about 300 miles on system now and it is sweet. The hangers can be messed with if it sits to close to bumper, if so grab a box wrench of good length place it over the far side hanger and give it a quick tug, should raise about a 1/2 inch. Then use a jack to hold the muffler in place get it positioned where you want it and tighten the three bolts. Done...

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I just want to say that after installing my vibrant exhaust tonight I can honestly say that this is NOT a bolt on system, at least not if you don't want leaks. No matter how hard you tighted the clamp exhaust leak is still present. The clamp is the biggest waste of time, and the dumbest idea i have ever seen. I would say take the exhaust to a shop to have it done, and get the two non-flanged pipes welded. I did the install myself and now i have to get it welded anyway due to leaks from the clamp. Trust me it can't be done.....

That said even with the crappy leak the overall design, and sound of the system is amazing. Nice deep tone, not rasp at all, no drone at all at least not enough to matter. I am happy with my purchase, but i wanted to give a heads up to you guys who plan to install it yourself.


P.S. my resonator had dents in it too........

Wow, that confirms what I feared all along that the clamp isn't really sufficient enough to keep the two ends together since there is always a tiny gap that will push out and cause a small exhaust leak.
I may just wait until I can get it to a shop and have them install it and weld those two pieces.

I think Tai already send a complaint to Vibrant about the dented Resonators.
Personally, I don't think it's Fed Ex's fault but the way the system is packaged and the resonator can bang freely against a pointed exhaust hanger that's why probably one of those hangers was bent a bit.

I can't wait to get the thing installed and hear the roar. Just wish Vibrant wouldn't have opted for cutting the pipe which may have cost them a little bit in shipping but it sure costs us more because we can't install them ourselves without the fear of constant exhaust leaks.

[Anubis]

I went to a shop to have a piece welded in place of the POS clamp. When he was done the manager asked me to throw him a "few bones" and we called it even. The sound is much better now, and no more exhaust leak. Very deep, yet not crazy loud until you . It really is a good system it is just a shame they ruined it with the stupid clamp. All in all though I would purchase it again.

my $.02

[kamikaze84]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I went to a shop to have a piece welded in place of the POS clamp. When he was done the manager asked me to throw him a "few bones" and we called it even. The sound is much better now, and no more exhaust leak. Very deep, yet not crazy loud until you . It really is a good system it is just a shame they ruined it with the stupid clamp. All in all though I would purchase it again.

my $.02

Off topic, but how much is "a few bones"?

[cas909]

wow, sorry you all have are having problems with this. im using the clamp and its holding up just fine. a slight rattle when warming up but thats it. no leaks of any kind that i can tell. i do agree that they should have welded the pipes together. so far, very happy with it.

[nyblksi]

Originally Posted by Anubis

I went to a shop to have a piece welded in place of the POS clamp. When he was done the manager asked me to throw him a "few bones" and we called it even. The sound is much better now, and no more exhaust leak. Very deep, yet not crazy loud until you . It really is a good system it is just a shame they ruined it with the stupid clamp. All in all though I would purchase it again.

my $.02

sucks for u, i have no problems with my clamp

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by kamikaze84

Off topic, but how much is "a few bones"?

I think a few bones constitutes about half a rack

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by nyblksi

sucks for u, i have no problems with my clamp

Just make sure that you check it often because constant vibrations while driving and going over bumps eventually will loosen that clamp. It's just not an effective long term solution, more like a band aid.

I will install mine with the Clamp and see what happens but eventually I will have it welded just to be safe

[Robk20]

i m waiting for the f***ing clamp since 3 weeks now !
damn it

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by Robk20

i m waiting for the f***ing clamp since 3 weeks now !
damn it

I would have taken it to CarX or Midas and have them weld it. Why wait that long for something that works mediocre at best anyhow.
Get that system installed and weld the two pieces!

[freakvision03]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

I would have taken it to CarX or Midas and have them weld it. Why wait that long for something that works mediocre at best anyhow.
Get that system installed and weld the two pieces!

how do you figure the clamp works "mediocre" at best?

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by freakvision03

how do you figure the clamp works "mediocre" at best?

Because it has shown to be the cause of exhaust leaks with a lot of people that have installed the system with the clamp.
Even if it doesn't at first it stands to reason that it is possible with regular driving and flexing of the chasis that the clamp could loosen up and cause vibrations and exhaust leaks. If the clamp is so effective why is Vibrant the only one that is using it among all the other systems out there?