A/M Catalytic Converters

[Johnny248]

We were working on a Lexus which needed a new converter. Ordered up a Walker. The quality on these is SO bad. I remember at one point in time the Walker exhaust brand was considered to very good. This would not fit if your life depended on it. Ended up ordering a Magnaflow for $100 more. Night and day difference. Out of the box you can see the quality difference. The MF is mandrel bent, the Walker is the "crimpy" type (unsure what the correct term is). Also the flex section and catalytic coverter look to be of better quality. Also, the MF came with gaskets. The Walker did not.

We did another job on a Jeep today. Skipped everything else, ordered another MF. Fit perfectly. Looks good. It is a shame that AM replacement exhaust is crap. Here in the Midwest, you are lucky to see a system last more than two years without rotting out.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Wow! Usually, the opposite is true. Walker cats have a good reputation for fitting perfectly, while Magnaflow cats are known for poor fit

Walker and Eastern are usually the best brands to get for an aftermarket cat.

The good news is that cats are warrantied for 5 years/50k for structural integrity (though only 2 years/25k for catalytic performance)

Most OE exhaust systems aren't mandrel bent anyway.

 

[Johnny248]

Wow! Usually, the opposite is true. Walker cats have a good reputation for fitting perfectly, while Magnaflow cats are known for poor fit

Walker and Eastern are usually the best brands to get for an aftermarket cat.

The good news is that cats are warrantied for 5 years/50k for structural integrity (though only 2 years/25k for catalytic performance)

Most OE exhaust systems aren't mandrel bent anyway.

I guess it's called wrinkle bending. I've never seen an OEM exhaust like this.

 

[researcher]

I guess it's called wrinkle bending. I've never seen an OEM exhaust like this.

View attachment 246398

you're not alone.. I gave up on walker a couple years ago.. They were bought out by some private equity and the quality is junk now! The welds looked like someone with vision problems (or blind) did it. Some of the welds on a muffler from walker were not even complete! The no-name exhaust system I got from Taiwan/china had welds that I have not seen in years, were excellent!

Walker is not a brand I would waste any time on buying now, it's junk, and yes it was really good back in the day!

oh and mandrel bent is definitely how the oem does it..

 

[The Critic]

100% agree. The Walker A/M cats I've installed have been very poor quality lately.

 

[Johnny248]

you're not alone.. I gave up on walker a couple years ago.. They were bought out by some private equity and the quality is junk now! The welds looked like someone with vision problems (or blind) did it. Some of the welds on a muffler from walker were not even complete! The no-name exhaust system I got from Taiwan/china had welds that I have not seen in years, were excellent!

Walker is not a brand I would waste any time on buying now, it's junk, and yes it was really good back in the day!

oh and mandrel bent is definitely how the oem does it..

Perfect example is their QuietFlow mufflers. Claim to be stainless (low quality if so) with a lifetime warranty. The problem is that the rest of the system never lasts. Plus, if you do replace the muffler, the rest of the system is basically going to have to be replaced also trying to get it apart from the muffler. I'm curious how the Brexhaust catback kits are. They come with everything ready to go in a box which is nice.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Perfect example is their QuietFlow mufflers. Claim to be stainless (low quality if so) with a lifetime warranty. The problem is that the rest of the system never lasts. Plus, if you do replace the muffler, the rest of the system is basically going to have to be replaced also trying to get it apart from the muffler. I'm curious how the Brexhaust catback kits are. They come with everything ready to go in a box which is nice.

The BRExhaust has mandrel bends, but it's aluminized steel. If you buy one, drill a hole at the bottom of the muffler, if there isn't such a hole already. Some mufflers are pre-drilled.

I'd say the BRExhaust is worth trying if you can't find a stainless catback for your car.

 

[researcher]

Perfect example is their QuietFlow mufflers. Claim to be stainless (low quality if so) with a lifetime warranty. The problem is that the rest of the system never lasts. Plus, if you do replace the muffler, the rest of the system is basically going to have to be replaced also trying to get it apart from the muffler. I'm curious how the Brexhaust catback kits are. They come with everything ready to go in a box which is nice.

that was the name of the muffler I had, forgot the name, and they're not stainless, well maybe but like you said such low grade quality. I've seen their so-called "stainless" rust out after 2 years, muffler fell off! lol.. done with walker.

The 409 stainless no-name, cat-back exhaust I put on the Civic I found on ebay. It was an exact copy of the oem exhaust but in 409 stainless steel. That's the one that had excellent welds. And yup like the one you were mentioning it came with all the hardware too.

 

[Johnny248]

that was the name of the muffler I had, forgot the name, and they're not stainless, well maybe but like you said such low grade quality. I've seen their so-called "stainless" rust out after 2 years, muffler fell off! lol.. done with walker.

The 409 stainless no-name, cat-back exhaust I put on the Civic I found on ebay. It was an exact copy of the oem exhaust but in 409 stainless steel. That's the one that had excellent welds. And yup like the one you were mentioning it came with all the hardware too.

Northeastern Exhaust?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Northeastern Exhaust?

I have a Northeastern exhaust on my car. So far, so good. I've had it for about 2 years. So far, so good.

 

[researcher]

Northeastern Exhaust?

yup that's the name!! had to go back to my ebay list to make sure.. yup.. really nice stuff

 

[f355spider]

I've never had an aftermarket catalyst last more than a year before it is throwing "low catalyst efficiency" codes. OEM only for me now, not worth the effort otherwise.