SSAC 1.8T Tiptronic Exhaust Install / Review + Sound Clip
I had been looking for an exhaust since my flexpipe was shot, and it would justify the
purchase of a whole system.
Having looked around at my options, most of the companies charge really expensive prices
$700+ for a cat-back. And there are even less options if you have a tiptronic.
Other then those the only other option i found/read about/saw reviews on forums was the SSAC
cat-back exhaust, and how they were reasonably priced for a full cat-back. Only problem is
until recently i saw a thread here on audizine that they finally had made a downpipe that
will fit in the 1.8t's with tiptronic, as previously i thought i was out of luck cause they
were all for manuals which i read about having more room around the downpipe section.
Anyways after coming across that thread, and reading reviews on their exhaust and quality, i
decided to go with the SSAC because they had good fitment, quality, sound, and best of all
pricing, as per what i read.
I ordered the exhaust off their website, shipping was fast, i ordered it 9/24 on monday at
about 1am, it was at my door wednesday. For reference they are in North Carolina and im in
Pennsylvania.
Fast forward to unboxing this is how it looked,
As you can see, it was packaged well, bubble wrap, packing paper, cardboard cones so the box wouldn't
bend, etc
Out of the packaging, looks to be quality product, metal, welds.
2 Downpipe gaskets and bolts, along with 3 Clamps, not sure why they included 2 gaskets and
an extra clamp, but that is nice to have spares in case you take things apart in the future
and stuff.
Picture of the old exhaust out, mine was easy cause it was seperated right where the flex
pipe connects to the midpipe, i just had to take off a clamp i put there, and remove it from
the rubber hangers.
Also for those who don't know, the stock exhaust weighs a TON compared to the SSAC Cat-back,
i think the whole new exhaust weighs as much as just the stock resonator. With the old system
out, and if you have your spare tire off, thats at least a 100lbs weight reduction.
In my case, I could not loosen the downpipe-cat connection, plus less working room with the tiptronic, I had my pass side cv shield off, the whole airbox unit out, and the pass fender off, i basically grinded off my old flex pipe, then i grinded off/bent in the downpipe hanger by the tranny, took out the 3 coolant tank screws, and disconnected the 2 o2 sensor wires, then unbolted the 3 17mm cat to turbo nuts, and pulled it out as one unit.
Pics below
Next, even though i had pulled it off and had space to work now on the dp to cat connection, it wasnt coming loose, so i got out the cutoff wheel and took off the heads, came apart in a few seconds.
I then hung the muffler, and resonator/midpipe, simple as pie, and everything fits on the stock hangers perfect.
Next is the downpipe/cat, this was the hard part, first thing is, the bolts they sent with the gasket are too big for the stock cat, they did not fit, and i didnt want to drill out the holes in the cat, so i went out to and got 3 bolts, 6 washers, and 3 nuts for like 40 cents, not a big issue. After that the cat/dp would not fit in as one unit, so after messing around, i ended up figuring out a way to bolt the cat/dp connection from behind the strut/above the cv axle, to anyone for future reference, i left my cat unbolted from the turbo so i could have alot of movement to access all 3 and bolt them down tight, the gasket they sent fit perfect, and also the tiptronic downpipe fits as it should with no issues.
After all of that was putting everything back together, hooking back up the o2 sensors, putting the expansion tank in, fender, cv shield and all of that. Next the downpipe+midpipe connections ( they are slip on connections which you then squeeze with the exhaust clamps ), and muffler/midpipe. You also may need to adjust the rubber hangers, they are held on metal connections which are 2 13mm bolts on each one, loosen them and they give you some adjustment room left or right.
Everything fits almost 100%, all i have left is to just adjust the rear muffler so it sits in the center versus to the left of the bumper cutout, other then that its all good.
Pictures from under the car when its on the ground
And pictures of the rear
SOUND VIDEO:
.
Other then some minor issues i had, everything fit well, and im happy with the sound it gives, along with no drone. And it gets a nice deep but loud rumble/tone/gargle, at high rpms which is nice. It also does make my car faster, especially when i had a crack and leak in the old flex pipe, now it pulls hard, and a big difference from before, even when my stock exhaust did not have a leak, you can still notice a big difference in how much smoother the car runs, and it doesnt get that "choked" up feeling when your really on it. All in all for the price i wouldnt ask for anything better, it does what it needs to, sounds great, and improved performance.
Mods on car which may influence sound or my performance gains:
-APR Stage 1 93 Octane Chip
-710n Diverter Valve
-K&N Drop in filter
Questions/Comments welcome.
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Originally Posted by ElliottG
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