How to Install Borla
Borla is one of the most recognized names in the aftermarket for a reason---this company was one of the very first to begin offering full bolt-on, catalytic converter-back (aka cat-back) exhaust systems capable of increasing a vehicle's performance and sound without altering its emissions compliance. Borla's extensive history in this field means that the company can offer a wide variety of well-engineered exhaust systems custom designed for thousands of different applications. Cat-back system installations rarely take more than an hour or two, but the time, tool and skill requirements will vary by application.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Wheel chocks
- Floor jack and jack stands (2)
- Spray-on penetrating oil
- Reciprocating saw or pipe cutter
- Metric and standard sockets, full set
- 3/8-drive ratchet and ratchet extensions
- Torque wrench
- Torx bits, full set
- Pry bar
- Tape measure and marker
Instructions
-
-
1
Kick a set of wheel chocks under the front of your car's front tires. Slide your floor jack under the rear of the car and raise it far enough so that you can crawl underneath. Install jack stands and lower the car onto them. Spray all of your stock exhaust system bolts with a liberal amount of penetrating oil and allow the car to sit for 15 minutes while the oil works its way into the bolt threads.
-
2
Saw all the way through your stock pipes just ahead of the rear axle and just behind the stock muffler using a reciprocating saw. Slide the muffler off of its rubber hanger and remove it from the vehicle. Remove the U-shaped pipe segment lying on top of the rear axle.
-
-
3
Remove the section of your stock exhaust system that connects to the catalytic converter. Most cars utilize a bolt-on pipe assembly, in which case you will simply unbolt the pipe at the catalytic converter flange. If your vehicle uses a weld-on converter, use your reciprocating saw to cut the pipe about 5 1/2 inches from the converter. Remove the remaining pipe segment.
-
4
Slide a clamp over the expanded portion of the new mid-pipe (single exhaust) or X-pipe assembly (dual exhaust). Slide the expanded pipe over the pipe stub protruding from the catalytic converter and tighten the clamp(s) to 35 ft-lbs. If your exhaust system is a bolt-on, then you'll bolt the new pipe to your catalytic converter flange using the original hardware. If your exhaust utilizes a rubber tube in the pipe, plug it in. Some Borla exhausts will incorporate the axle-rise portion into the main tube, while other systems will utilize a separate axle rise segment.
-
5
Mount your new muffler so that the input faces the front of your car and hangs in the position you desire. Slide a muffler clamp over the expanded portion of the muffler assembly input. If your system utilizes a separate axle rise (the part of your exhaust that bends upward to clear the rear axle), slip it over the axle and slide its expanded portion over the main tube end. Plug the other end into the muffler assembly.
-
6
Check the exhaust system for clearance and for tip alignment. Tighten the supplied clamps to 35 ft-lbs. Carefully lower the car to the ground, and have an assistant keep an eye on your brake lines and wiring to ensure that no clearance issues develop as the suspension compresses.
-
7
Start the car and check for exhaust system leaks. A spray bottle full of dish detergent and water will help you detect leaks. Set the spray bottle to "stream" and squirt water onto all of your tubing joints. Bubbles indicate a leak in that location.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit White sports car image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
