Vacuum actuated exhaust cutout on b8.5 a4

[a4dalt]

Hi, just wondering if theres anyone out there who has installed a vacuum actuated exhaust cutout on their B8/8.5 A4. I have a 2014 A4 Quattro 2.0 tfsi with the single side exit exhaust. Before i order a kit I'm hoping for some info on the topic. Ive never tapped into vacuum lines before so if anyone has installed one of these before if they'd be able to help me out with finding the best line to tap into or if i should install a boost tap.

Im also concerned about clearance for the cutout itself. I'd prefer to install it as far back as i can between the resonator and muffler, but it looks like it might be a tight fit.

This is the kit i plan on buying from ECS tuning.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...pdk=AAAABgQEBA

Any help/advice is appreciated!
Thank you.

[Theiceman]

i dont know anything about that ... but you do realize your vacuum source will be instantly gone as soon as your turbo kicks in if you tap to your intake manifold right ?

This is why turbo cars have a dedicated vacuum pump to supply the brake booster . That is not an easy place to tap into either , and even if i could, im not sure id want to be experimenting with the brake booster vacuum supply line ..

just my 2 c.

[Smac770]

Anything to do with the intake system is clearly a bad idea for this purpose. The vacuum pump on this car is mounted on the rear end of the head, and supplies vacuum to the heat exchanger coolant shut-off valve, the intake manifold flaps actuator, and the brake booster. You can see the involved lines here, https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post13792031

I'm fairly certain the ECS kit has come up here before. Just be sure not to f it up, or at least put in a one way valve where you tap the factory routing, unless you like loosing brake boost to the unexpected.

[BradyBoi55]

Hi, just wondering if theres anyone out there who has installed a vacuum actuated exhaust cutout on their B8/8.5 A4. I have a 2014 A4 Quattro 2.0 tfsi with the single side exit exhaust. Before i order a kit I'm hoping for some info on the topic. Ive never tapped into vacuum lines before so if anyone has installed one of these before if they'd be able to help me out with finding the best line to tap into or if i should install a boost tap.

Im also concerned about clearance for the cutout itself. I'd prefer to install it as far back as i can between the resonator and muffler, but it looks like it might be a tight fit.

This is the kit i plan on buying from ECS tuning.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...pdk=AAAABgQEBA

Any help/advice is appreciated!
Thank you.

I would suggest an electric cutout. Either one that plugs into the cars phone charging port or one that you can integrate into a fuse. Either for the sunroof or something like that. Not something that is used all of the time such as the fuel pump. I actually have an electric cutout and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/ECCPP-Electri...NsaWNrPXRydWU=
That amazon link will work.

I bought mine off of summit racing. I cant send a link to you because their website must be down.

[a4dalt]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I was also having second thoughts about taping into a vacuum line. I would definitely rather go the route of an electric cutout.

I appreciate the help. Ill post an update if i end up getting an electric one and how it turns out :)

[BradyBoi55]

Just make sure you have room! The only room for the cutout on my exhaust was right off the flex pipe. After I saw that I completely remanufactured my entire exhaust just for the single cutout. Your best bet would be to have an exhaust shop install it for you.

[A4B8 2.0tfsi]

LOL who's trousers are you planning to wet, with your i4 exhaust noise.... lmfao that's one pointless purchase.

But yes, go with an electric version, and then when you grow up and turn 18, you can sell it to another kid.

[a4dalt]

LOL who's trousers are you planning to wet, with your i4 exhaust noise.... lmfao that's one pointless purchase.

But yes, go with an electric version, and then when you grow up and turn 18, you can sell it to another kid.

Yikes not sure why you have to be an asshole. I was just looking for some advice. I personally like the sound of the cutouts with the 2.0. I don’t need to look for validation from other people from the sound of my car just out to have some fun that’s all.


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[a4dalt]

Just make sure you have room! The only room for the cutout on my exhaust was right off the flex pipe. After I saw that I completely remanufactured my entire exhaust just for the single cutout. Your best bet would be to have an exhaust shop install it for you.

I haven’t had the time to get it on the lift and check for clearance yet. I’ve read that it can be a pretty tight fit. was it worth the work for the cutout ?


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[BradyBoi55]

I needed to refine the exhaust note. Don’t just go with a full straight pipe. Try and keep a resonator in front of the cutout or get a ultraquiet muffler like I did. It refined the sound. If you go full straight pipe it sounds like shit

[BradyBoi55]

When I first put my cutout on it sounded like shit lmao. I put it on right off of the downpipe and I kept it closed until I reconfigured my entire exhaust. I then had to put a muffler in front of the cutout. DONT STRAIGHT PIPE

[a4dalt]

When I first put my cutout on it sounded like shit lmao. I put it on right off of the downpipe and I kept it closed until I reconfigured my entire exhaust. I then had to put a muffler in front of the cutout. DONT STRAIGHT PIPE

Thanks! Good to know. I’m planning on putting it after the resonators and just before the stock muffler. If clearance allows it that is... I’ve seen videos of it straight piped and you’re right it doesn’t sound good at all lol


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[Theiceman]

Personally im not a fan , so i stick to advising technically and not judging.. but that said , an A4 pulled up by me with all kinds of body addons , a horrible sounding exhaust and S4 badging. i as actually embarrased to be sitting next to him at a light . Needless to say when the light turned green it was obvious it was only S4 badging as it made a horrible noise and really didnt go anywhere... i could tell he was giving it his all and i only have a stage 1+ but just sat in his blind spot at 3/4 throttle as there no point in showing him up .

[a4dalt]

Personally im not a fan , so i stick to advising technically and not judging.. but that said , an A4 pulled up by me with all kinds of body addons , a horrible sounding exhaust and S4 badging. i as actually embarrased to be sitting next to him at a light . Needless to say when the light turned green it was obvious it was only S4 badging as it made a horrible noise and really didnt go anywhere... i could tell he was giving it his all and i only have a stage 1+ but just sat in his blind spot at 3/4 throttle as there no point in showing him up .

I appreciate the honesty as well. The advice you gave earlier was also helpful to not go with a vacuum actuated cutout. I don’t have any body modifications on my car yet. Not sure if I will or not. Everyone has their own preferences and styles for their cars and I get where you’re coming from. I’m definitely not a fan of rebadging either.


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[IdahoJOAT]

How did this turn out @a4dalt?

[Theiceman]

How did this turn out @a4dalt?

well after looking how bad my rear subframe was for rust and knowing he is from Thunder bay , i would say its likely his car rusted into the ground years ago .. lol

All kidding aside though you should see if you DM him.. have not seen him here in years.

[bb-tt]

Personally im not a fan , so i stick to advising technically and not judging.. but that said , an A4 pulled up by me with all kinds of body addons , a horrible sounding exhaust and S4 badging. i as actually embarrased to be sitting next to him at a light . Needless to say when the light turned green it was obvious it was only S4 badging as it made a horrible noise and really didnt go anywhere... i could tell he was giving it his all and i only have a stage 1+ but just sat in his blind spot at 3/4 throttle as there no point in showing him up .

Well since someone brought the zombie back to life, agree with you totally these cars sound like shite straight piped, the tts i picked up has an army trix exhaust installed it was set to open at 3k rpm i changes it to 1.7 bar or 5300 rpm. It was not as aggravating at those settings but when i set it to neighbor mode which is supposed to keep the valves closed every time i went wot the valves were opening i ended up bypassing the army trix controller and connecting directly to the vacuum pump so they stay shut all the time. I don't understand the ridiculous price for the army trix exhaust and then using vacuum actuated valves. The electronic actuators for the stock dynamic exhaust are still installed zip tied up in back of the car this summer going to figure out this summer if i can either hook those up to valves or hook up the "AT" solenoid to the dynamic exhaust signals from the ecu.

[dansneet]

My electric cutout sits directly after the center resonator, but before the stock mufflers. The volume is just right. I can open it to be loud, then close it to be as quiet as stock.

It's a b8.5 allroad, so I'm not sure how differently the exhaust system is configured compared to a regular A4, but I thought I'd share anyways.

[Theiceman]

My electric cutout sits directly after the center resonator, but before the stock mufflers. The volume is just right. I can open it to be loud, then close it to be as quiet as stock.

It's a b8.5 allroad, so I'm not sure how differently the exhaust system is configured compared to a regular A4, but I thought I'd share anyways.

I bet they are pretty similar setup..

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