scott1094

Just finished the install of a Magnaflow 16732 cat back exhaust. Does it drone? Oh YEAH!! From about 1300 to 1800 RPMs under a light load there is a loud and intrusive drone. Car is a 2000 coupe with an A4 and 3.15:1 gears. I had done the searches and found no comments of drone but, drone it does. I'll just have to learn to live with it as I cannot absorb the cost and get something different. Live and learn. Maybe this post will save someone else the experience.

Scott

raydawg357

Interesting, I install a set of 16732 about 4 months ago in my 04 and I haven't experienced any drone yet. They are throaty but not too loud. I love them.

Mr.TT

I had Magnaflow 15713s that droned too. Idle was good, WOT sucked, drone on the highway. Was not impressed.

strand rider

I have a magnaflow end system, don't know the model number, that connects ahead of the axle and has mufflers and four outlets. It came with the car, and I am no expert.

I have never experienced any droning at any speed. I have a convertible so the resonant frequency has to be different from your car. It is loud, but that's it.

From my other hobby, i have spent a lot of time considering resonance and control of same. You need to move the resonance frequency somehow.

Perhaps you could wrap the pipes out of sight to change the resonance modes. It might be possible to change the length of the pipes and hide it with the tips. I don't like that idea much, but it points the way. Perhaps finding a body section that is broadcasting to the interior might help. Everything resonates, all you can do is move the frequency out of the problem area.

I've been on a lot of work boats that laid one inch thick solid lead plates completely under the main deck to control noise, but don't think that will work out for your problem. It would give you a one of a kind car though.


My only exhaust negative is that the nameplate bracket snapped off of one side and I need to find a muffler shop with a tig welder, as the regular welders on stainless will attract rust. Magnaflow only replies to customer service inquiries via canned email, as far I can tell. So i am searching on my own, off of an incomplete dealer list as my first attempts for repair.

I prefer a quiet car, but it did give me a little extra when going against a full factory stock car, which is my set up, except for the exhaust section. Or it could have been the gearing, it was a short go.

had to return for an edit. My magnaflow part is 15713. i got curious and listened closely . With the top up, I do get a slight drone effect in early first gear, had to listen for it. goes away about 2200 rpm I like the product. Guess it shows there are no free rides, and the GM engineers do manage a correct result once in a while. I wonder where the resonant frequency is on the pipes that report no drone. Perhaps moved so far up the power band that so much is going on it is not noticed? I always reason that it is hard to out engineer the original engineer, so aftermarket stuff often results in answers to different problems. My pipes obviously had a different primary product focus than the stock exhaust, I enjoy the results, always fun to start the thing.

Grizzly Ben

You've just save me some money. I was thinking of a magnaflow cat back for Christmass. Santa's good for me !!

But i just can't live with drone at cruising speed, it's a no go for me. I'll be searching for something else...

Chilliwack vettes

Thanks for the 'personal experience information' heads up.

scott1094

I put some miles on it today and there was drone. Since I need to re-tighten everything I'll double check and make sure nothing is touching and maybe adjust the tips differently. They did come awfully close to the center storage compartment. Thanks for your input.

Scott

Cybermind

I used to have the Magnaflows and never experienced any drone whatsoever. They were just too quiet and I have recently switched to Corsa Xtremes.

Soooo, maybe you need an X-pipe. It helps with eliminating drone. Magnaflow make a nice X-pipe.

woodman300

Soooo, maybe you need an X-pipe. It helps with eliminating drone. Magnaflow make a nice X-pipe.[/QUOTE]


i have the magnaflow with x-pipe and it drones too. almost unbearable for long periods. i will be changing mine out soon with zo6 Ti. i do like WOT though. and the tips look really good too.

1KLRTOY

I've had a GHL and MagnaFlo X pipe on for 8 years still sounds great and zero drone

James2002z06

I have the same exhaust plus headers and x pipe my car sounds great are you'll sure you know what drone noise sounds like

2002redvette

I have the 15763's. lots of drone from about 1500 to 2000 rpm. I really don't mind it that much. WOT sounds absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!

Z06ster

Scott... sorry to hear about your drone issue. Don't feel bad, I think many of us go through this experience. I initially bought Borla Stingers which do sound great, but drone crazy... I couldn't wait to remove them and regretted the purchase. After 3 months, I bought Corsa Pace Car catback which I highly recommend for you. I've had it on the car for 6 years and love it... and no drone even with long tubes! Hopefully, when you make the swap, you should be able to sell your current exhaust on the forum... that's what I did so the financial loss wasn't too terrible. Good luck

killain

When I wanted to upgrade my exhaust on my 2003 1SC coupe I talked with James www.countycorvette.com and from his experience he recommended the[B] 'Corsa' [/B]"Pace Car" cat back system and next to putting the Michelin Pilot Sport PS/2 ZP tires on the vette, it was the Best investment so far. The sound is fine and when you hit it to WOT, it is wild. Overall it is great, and out on the turnpike, no drone at all. Even after a 7 hour drive, you can get out and can still hear my wife asking about the trip. Great product from a great company. the folks at countycorvette.com have always pointed me in the right decision making process.

duegatti

I'm a manual owner who has read these threads for almost a year, and am now a happy Borla Stinger owner. I basically never drove below 2 grand before I got the exhaust, so I experience no drone. Below 2 grand, I wonder if these exhaust systems are just letting us hear that we are lugging our motors. If these automatic transmissions don't downshift at 1700 rpm - what about solving these exhaust problems with a transmission tune? If the autos are stuck at 1700 rpm at 70 mph, what is the engine speed in the next lowest gear?

92GA

My Magnaflows drone at a steady speed till about 60 mph, then gets quieter. I have a a4 with 315s. stock size tires. When I first bought the car I was thinking on taking them off. The drone didn't bother my wife at all so it must some can hear it and others can't. I did make a partition that really helped , but I can still hear the drone, just not as bad as it used to be. My son-in-law has the corsas on his C6 and I like the Magnaflows sound better. Guess that's why they make so many differant setups.

Vetteman Jack

Sorry you're having problems with the dreaded drone on the exhaust. I had the same problem with my B&B Route 66 catback I had on my '00 - ended up putting an X-pipe on the car and I'd say 95%+ of the drone and popping went away.

On my '03, I have a Corsa Indy Pace Car exhaust - absolutely no drone. It is an exhaust I would highly recommend if you want great sound but no drone.

Ralm1953

I installed the Corsa Indy Pace exhaust and my wife loves them, we can drive for hours and NO DRONE at all. Sounds great at WOT and at idle - great. They are part 14111, had a local Corvette shop install and tig welded all the points so they are on tight.
If you going to do exhust do these or if you want more go to the EXTREMES, no drone either.

shadowman1

I bought the Magna Flow 16732 cat back and with a CAI I had no drone. A few days ago I installed heads, cam, LG long tube headers w Xpipe and high flow cats. No drone to speak of. I would check to make sure nothing is touching anywhere.

David Shiel

but I expected more cabin noise and drone when I replaced the stock exhaust which was designed to limit same. I put the MAM catback on, and it is now delightfully noisy in and outside the beast. Had it computer road tuned, which for some reason loudened and deepened the sound output, and now it rocks with sound and drone. The tune really pepped up the idle noise output. My advice is to seriously consider leaving the stock on if you don't want some drone and increased cabin noise. I had a stock exhaust 71 coupe 350/350 which sounded nicely mean like a Vette should, and now my 01 does.