So I think my 5 year old Alta exhaust is toast, well at least either the resonator or the muffler, I'm thinking muffler. My car was fairly loud anyway, I also run the Alta header, but it is REALLY loud now. So.......anyone else have to replace their muffler yet? I thinking of cutting it out a replacing with a Magnaflow, as they have the best cfm rating. Or may just replace the entire system with a locally made 2 or 2.25 inch system. So what has anybody else done?

 

I also have an alta exhaust, I haven't had to replace my muffler yet but last summer I had to replace my resonator. I'm waiting for it to go out again and then probably my muffler...

 

You can't go wrong with a custom made exhaust. It just depends on the shop though. After talking to a couple of local shops around here, I opted for the Ireland Engineering exhaust. $380 shipped and I couldn't be happier.

 

So I'm trying to figure what went bad, how did you realize it was the resonator? Did you remove the exhaust and just look in there? We can't do that with the muffler as it's around a bend. Thanks.

 

Nice! Is the Ireland all made up? What muffler do they use, what diameter did you go with? Mandrel bent tubing? SS? Thanks. Oh, is it configured like the Alta, one side only?

 

I'd check for leaks first. Did it all of the sudden get louder? That usually doesn't happen for an exhaust.

 

love to find out how long it should be until I should listen out for the resonator assuming I can't miss it. Is that normally something that needs to be replaced with regularity or so early? And the muffler? Is this exhaust going to be like having my bulldog? Nice looking, you don't see it all the time and its fun to play with but there is always something to fix...

 

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I don't think we have had a single call/email about a bad muffler on our exhausts. We did have a few resonators that went bad...but only 10-15ish out of hundreds. The resonators we have seen go bad come loose in their housings and you can see a bit of packing material on the exhaust tip.

 

Nifty I will hope to never see something like packing material coming out of my tip. I am sure I have many miles to go, until then I will just keep adjusting the bracket until it hangs straight. Maybe a set of these chrome nuts for the bottom will hold it straight. You guys should sell these. Hehe, only the the good ol' USA.
http://www.bullsballs.com/bigchrome.html

 

Nifty I will hope to never see something like packing material coming out of my tip. I am sure I have many miles to go, until then I will just keep adjusting the bracket until it hangs straight. Maybe a set of these chrome nuts for the bottom will hold it straight. You guys should sell these to hang from the bracket you didnt use . Hehe, only the the good ol' USA. http://www.bullsballs.com/bigchrome.html[/quote]

 

I was hearing a and feeling a loud vibration and tinny echoing noise at 2000 rpm or so. I first upgraded my header because I thought the issue was in the pre-cat of the header (and I wanted a performance header ), though after replacing it the noise was still there. Then I removed exhaust and shook and hit with a rubber hammer the resonator piece and could hear stuff moving around. I had to buy a new resonator from Alta for $100, I mean it was a good deal but I don't feel like I should of had to pay when it was only on for a year and a half with a stock header. Alta told me that the new resonator has a lifetime warranty, but since they dont make exhausts for gen1's anymore....

 

We still have resonators here to take care of that!

 

Good to know! Thanks!

 

Yes, it pretty much comes with everything you need. I believe it is a Magnaflow muffler and it is all SS. As far as your current exhaust is concerned, no exhaust will last forever. The packing inside could be slowly burning up. Especially if you have ever had problems with unburnt fuelin the exhaust system.

 

So do you think it could be the resonator? My exhaust has been changing tone for awhile now and I did see some black material on the tips. So you never have seen one of the mufflers go bad? BTW, what muffler do you guys use? How much for a replacement resonator? Thanks.

 

I am not sure if your resonator is bad. You will need to physically check it to find out. I checked with our warranty dept and we have not had any mufflers returned or warrantied. Not sure what muffler is used in our exhaust system, I will try and find out. PM me with your contact info and shipping address and I will get you a price on the resonator. Thanks!

 

if you can, get the car up in the air, bang on the resonator. if it rattles it's done.

the resonator alta used for my r53 exhaust went to hell after a year and a half or so. replaced it with a magnaflow resonator, no problems since.

 

Thanks for the info Was told that the Magnaflow has the best cfm ratings by a guy that can post over in M|U.

 

the IE exhaust is single canister in stainless steel but a different shape than the alta. my brother has the IE and i have a stealth black alta. mine is louder than his, but both sound nice. also, the tips on the alta are more adjustable.

 

my alta resonator was toast after about 2 months... had it replaced under warranty with their new smaller one, and now couldnt be happier. the sound is perfect and i dont have stuff commin outta my tailpipes anymore loll.

the resonator builds a rattle when it goes out, and you will know because it is really annoying. if your exhaust got louder on the other hand... id check your connections and muffler.

 

The tips on my IE are pretty adjustable. Of course I have the single wide mouth tip as the original dual outlet tip was pretty poorly designed. Can't knock them though, IE seems to be about perfomance and not so much on the bling. I like the fact my exhaust does pretty much what the competition's does, but didn't cost me $700. I can spend that extra $300 on a tune.