2014+ Exhaust Systems & Mufflers

revitupfaster · September 27, 2014

Looks like Dodge Hemi's have the exact same issues with their MDS (aka AFM).

http://www.dodgeramhell.com

Wow!!!!! Looks like they have a lot bigger issue than an exhaust tone. Could you imagine if your whole damn truck starting to vibrate when it went into V4 mode, and this was considered within spec for that paticular design......... I'll take the exhaust note issue any day.

In fairness, this article seems to be referring to trucks iof the 2010-2012 vintage, and not the new versions. Maybe they have some of the problems worked out by now.

Edited September 27, 2014 by revitupfaster

Jay700 · September 27, 2014

So I cut the muffler off welded a 3 inch pipe in left the flapper valve and like it no drone. Went too the dealer ship too listen too a truck with the borla duals. In the end I keep my muffler deleate any day of the week over that way over priced exhaust. Mine sounds way better and silent when cruising at 55. Only time I hear it is if I flog the hell out of it. Like many said best $40 spent so far plus I kept the stock muffler if I ever want it too sound like a electric car.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · September 28, 2014

5.3 with Flowmaster Super 44 single in/dual out muffler with black slash cut tips at 45°. The vid is short because my camera was about to go dead and it stopped recording when the battery went red. I'm planning on doing a better vid later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWAEcry_DQ

ToesonTheNose · September 28, 2014

5.3 with Flowmaster Super 44 single in/dual out muffler with black slash cut tips at 45°. The vid is short because my camera was about to go dead and it stopped recording when the battery went red. I'm planning on doing a better vid later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWAEcry_DQ

man dude that sounds so good and exactly what I want, how is it with windows up? highway driving? 4cy mode? any drone flutter sound? during my city commute alot is spent in 4cy mode. i do take occasional road trips across the state 100 plus miles and silence on the highway would be nice, but man that sounds great. look forward to more vids

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · September 28, 2014

man dude that sounds so good and exactly what I want, how is it with windows up? highway driving? 4cy mode? any drone flutter sound? during my city commute alot is spent in 4cy mode. i do take occasional road trips across the state 100 plus miles and silence on the highway would be nice, but man that sounds great. look forward to more vids

With the windows up since the cab is a "quiet cab" It does make less noise come in the cab, but you can still hear it very well. It's still not annoying loud. With the windows up even in the city you can still hear music and able to talk on the phone. I like listening to both my truck and the music and one doesn't drown out the other so it's perfect for me. Also at speed and then letting off and coasting it kind of lingers which I also like sometimes. It doesn't longer all the time, just some of the time.

Highway driving You can only really hear it if you floor it to pass someone. Especially on the interstate. Other than that you don't really hear it over the wind noise.

It does get a drone in V4 mode, but it doesn't bother me since it sort of sounds like a jake brake on an 18 wheeler and that's the sound I loved when I tried trucking and was in the mountains lol. You can hear the drone most in city speed limits, but on the highway going about 55-60 you don't hear it.

I'm uploading a vid right now that has more of the sound from a standing stop to slowing down. As soon as it's loaded I'll post the link on here.

Edited September 28, 2014 by SilveradoGuy85

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · September 28, 2014

Here's the better vid of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQxoOtyr1qs&feature=youtu.be

pkpouttu · September 30, 2014

What would you guys recommend for a single side exhaust that is loud and still will keep the truck under warranty? Thank you in advance!

revitupfaster · September 30, 2014

Had my GM Borla exhaust installed yesterday. As usual, "what can go wrong,, will go wrong", they somehow ended up with the wrong tips being sent, so for now I'm running "tipless".........apparently they should get the proper ones in by the end of the week.

I'm a little old to be crawling around under the truck, so I opted to have the system installed by my dealer. This may be an "in your driveway" job for some, but a second set of hands and having the vehicle lifted, sure helps. They took the old system out in one piece, but it was a bit of a chore to feed the thing around the rear axel with all the bits and pieces still intact, and holding the new system in place while the clamps were tightened, this was when the installer called for another guy to come and give him a hand.

Anyway, the system is installed.....minus the tips, and it has certainly met my expectations. The sound is very mild.........a few notches over stock of course, but definetly "not" what I would call loud or offensive by any stretch. The difficulty is that you really can't hear what it sounds like outside when you are inside the truck. My son is coming on the weekend, and I'm planning on having him drive it while I give it a listen from outside. As has been mentioned here a few times, the sound does apparently gain a little more "Tone" as the system "breaks in". If so, this will be fine with me as the current sound level is well within my expectation parameters.

On my way home from the dealership, I had about a 1/2 hour drive, over good roads, with minimal traffic, so I was able to try all the usual things, to get an idea of the cab sound. The launch sound was a nice V8 rumble as the truck transitioned through the gears, very subdued inside, but with enough of a growl, that I am very anxious to hear what it sounds like outside. Cruising at 50/60/70 mph and the interior noise was pretty much the same as the "stock" exhaust. If you put your foot in it at any speed, and caused a transmission shift, you could hear the V/8 rumble, but again not loud, just a pleasing rumble.

As far as the V8/V4 transitions, virtually non-existent as far as any perceptible change in the audio. I won't say there was absolutely no sound change, because there was a very very slight sound while in V4 mode, but I really had to work to hear it. It was so slight, that unless you already knew what you were listening for, you would'nt hear it at all. All in all, my rating is that 99% of the V4 sound is gone between this truck, and my last 2007 Silverado with the AFM, where I was running a Magnaflow system.

The "in-cab" sound levels are the highlight of this system, virtually the same as with the stock system, except for just that nice V8 rumble upon acceleration. The external sound, is a nice mild low throaty rumble. I know a lot of the younger guys like that "raspy" tone, and this is not the system for them, but If you want what I would call a "Classy" rumble, that will probably please 80% of those that care, this is the one.

The worst part about the GM Bora system is the cost, but if you want that "Adaptive Valve", which I'm sure is what controls the "in-cab" stuff, you have no other choice (by the way, it looks like the Borla Valve is SS, where the "Stock" valve doesn't look to be SS. I don't know, maybe they are both the same, but the original has been in service and that's why it's discoloured) - (See next post for pic of the GM original valve)......I would think the Borla valve will have fewer issues in the long run, whatever it's made of, it looks more substantial than the original to me. I also don't know why the GM Valve is welded directly to the muffler on the outlet side, and the Borla is actually welded in as part of the head pipe leading to the inlet side? What's up with that?????

I'm in Ontario Canada, and being that the initial prices for parts are higher, and the fact that we have to pay another 13% Sales Tax on top of everything, makes this a "Pricey" upgrade. I tell myself that over the life of the vehicle, it's really not that bad, but there is that one thought that keeps coming back....."You gotta be nuts to spend that much money just for a little sound". What the hell.....it's only money, if it ends up giving you pleasure, it's worth it.

Here's a few pics of the system and the install. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to try and give a complete review, and try to answer any questions others contemplating the GM Borla system may have..........I know I had a ton of questions before I bought it.

Edited September 30, 2014 by revitupfaster

revitupfaster · September 30, 2014

Couldn't figure out how, or if I could add another picture to a previous post, but here's a pic of the GM valve........certainly doesn't look as substantial as the Borla version shown in my last post.

REV

russ9443 · September 30, 2014

Had my GM Borla exhaust installed yesterday. As usual, "what can go wrong,, will go wrong", they somehow ended up with the wrong tips being sent, so for now I'm running "tipless".........apparently they should get the proper ones in by the end of the week.

I'm a little old to be crawling around under the truck, so I opted to have the system installed by my dealer. This may be an "in your driveway" job for some, but a second set of hands and having the vehicle lifted, sure helps. They took the old system out in one piece, but it was a bit of a chore to feed the thing around the rear axel with all the bits and pieces still intact, and holding the new system in place while the clamps were tightened, this was when the installer called for another guy to come and give him a hand.

Anyway, the system is installed.....minus the tips, and it has certainly met my expectations. The sound is very mild.........a few notches over stock of course, but definetly "not" what I would call loud or offensive by any stretch. The difficulty is that you really can't hear what it sounds like outside when you are inside the truck. My son is coming on the weekend, and I'm planning on having him drive it while I give it a listen from outside. As has been mentioned here a few times, the sound does apparently gain a little more "Tone" as the system "breaks in". If so, this will be fine with me as the current sound level is well within my expectation parameters.

On my way home from the dealership, I had about a 1/2 hour drive, over good roads, with minimal traffic, so I was able to try all the usual things, to get an idea of the cab sound. The launch sound was a nice V8 rumble as the truck transitioned through the gears, very subdued inside, but with enough of a growl, that I am very anxious to hear what it sounds like outside. Cruising at 50/60/70 mph and the interior noise was pretty much the same as the "stock" exhaust. If you put your foot in it at any speed, and caused a transmission shift, you could hear the V/8 rumble, but again not loud, just a pleasing rumble.

As far as the V8/V4 transitions, virtually non-existent as far as any perceptible change in the audio. I won't say there was absolutely no sound change, because there was a very very slight sound while in V4 mode, but I really had to work to hear it. It was so slight, that unless you already knew what you were listening for, you would'nt hear it at all. All in all, my rating is that 99% of the V4 sound is gone between this truck, and my last 2007 Silverado with the AFM, where I was running a Magnaflow system.

The "in-cab" sound levels are the highlight of this system, virtually the same as with the stock system, except for just that nice V8 rumble upon acceleration. The external sound, is a nice mild low throaty rumble. I know a lot of the younger guys like that "raspy" tone, and this is not the system for them, but If you want what I would call a "Classy" rumble, that will probably please 80% of those that care, this is the one.

The worst part about the GM Bora system is the cost, but if you want that "Adaptive Valve", which I'm sure is what controls the "in-cab" stuff, you have no other choice (by the way, it looks like the Borla Valve is SS, where the "Stock" valve doesn't look to be SS. I don't know, maybe they are both the same, but the original has been in service and that's why it's discoloured) - (See next post for pic of the GM original valve)......I would think the Borla valve will have fewer issues in the long run, whatever it's made of, it looks more substantial than the original to me. I also don't know why the GM Valve is welded directly to the muffler on the outlet side, and the Borla is actually welded in as part of the head pipe leading to the inlet side? What's up with that?????

I'm in Ontario Canada, and being that the initial prices for parts are higher, and the fact that we have to pay another 13% Sales Tax on top of everything, makes this a "Pricey" upgrade. I tell myself that over the life of the vehicle, it's really not that bad, but there is that one thought that keeps coming back....."You gotta be nuts to spend that much money just for a little sound". What the hell.....it's only money, if it ends up giving you pleasure, it's worth it.

Here's a few pics of the system and the install. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to try and give a complete review, and try to answer any questions others contemplating the GM Borla system may have..........I know I had a ton of questions before I bought it.

That's the best pic of the adaptive valve on the Borla I have seen. Couldn't find that part number though, might be missing the first digit. I don't think that is the same part as the stock one. The axis for the flapper looks more centered on that one. If we can find that part, should be easy for a muffler shop to build that bypass(or overflow) tube around it too and put it upstream of any muffler.

Truckmed13 · October 1, 2014

Had my GM Borla exhaust installed yesterday. As usual, "what can go wrong,, will go wrong", they somehow ended up with the wrong tips being sent, so for now I'm running "tipless".........apparently they should get the proper ones in by the end of the week.

I'm a little old to be crawling around under the truck, so I opted to have the system installed by my dealer. This may be an "in your driveway" job for some, but a second set of hands and having the vehicle lifted, sure helps. They took the old system out in one piece, but it was a bit of a chore to feed the thing around the rear axel with all the bits and pieces still intact, and holding the new system in place while the clamps were tightened, this was when the installer called for another guy to come and give him a hand.

Anyway, the system is installed.....minus the tips, and it has certainly met my expectations. The sound is very mild.........a few notches over stock of course, but definetly "not" what I would call loud or offensive by any stretch. The difficulty is that you really can't hear what it sounds like outside when you are inside the truck. My son is coming on the weekend, and I'm planning on having him drive it while I give it a listen from outside. As has been mentioned here a few times, the sound does apparently gain a little more "Tone" as the system "breaks in". If so, this will be fine with me as the current sound level is well within my expectation parameters.

On my way home from the dealership, I had about a 1/2 hour drive, over good roads, with minimal traffic, so I was able to try all the usual things, to get an idea of the cab sound. The launch sound was a nice V8 rumble as the truck transitioned through the gears, very subdued inside, but with enough of a growl, that I am very anxious to hear what it sounds like outside. Cruising at 50/60/70 mph and the interior noise was pretty much the same as the "stock" exhaust. If you put your foot in it at any speed, and caused a transmission shift, you could hear the V/8 rumble, but again not loud, just a pleasing rumble.

As far as the V8/V4 transitions, virtually non-existent as far as any perceptible change in the audio. I won't say there was absolutely no sound change, because there was a very very slight sound while in V4 mode, but I really had to work to hear it. It was so slight, that unless you already knew what you were listening for, you would'nt hear it at all. All in all, my rating is that 99% of the V4 sound is gone between this truck, and my last 2007 Silverado with the AFM, where I was running a Magnaflow system.

The "in-cab" sound levels are the highlight of this system, virtually the same as with the stock system, except for just that nice V8 rumble upon acceleration. The external sound, is a nice mild low throaty rumble. I know a lot of the younger guys like that "raspy" tone, and this is not the system for them, but If you want what I would call a "Classy" rumble, that will probably please 80% of those that care, this is the one.

The worst part about the GM Bora system is the cost, but if you want that "Adaptive Valve", which I'm sure is what controls the "in-cab" stuff, you have no other choice (by the way, it looks like the Borla Valve is SS, where the "Stock" valve doesn't look to be SS. I don't know, maybe they are both the same, but the original has been in service and that's why it's discoloured) - (See next post for pic of the GM original valve)......I would think the Borla valve will have fewer issues in the long run, whatever it's made of, it looks more substantial than the original to me. I also don't know why the GM Valve is welded directly to the muffler on the outlet side, and the Borla is actually welded in as part of the head pipe leading to the inlet side? What's up with that?????

I'm in Ontario Canada, and being that the initial prices for parts are higher, and the fact that we have to pay another 13% Sales Tax on top of everything, makes this a "Pricey" upgrade. I tell myself that over the life of the vehicle, it's really not that bad, but there is that one thought that keeps coming back....."You gotta be nuts to spend that much money just for a little sound". What the hell.....it's only money, if it ends up giving you pleasure, it's worth it.

Here's a few pics of the system and the install. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to try and give a complete review, and try to answer any questions others contemplating the GM Borla system may have..........I know I had a ton of questions before I bought it.

Great review answered a lot of questions I had. If you can post a video once you get your tips. Did you order from the dealer or from an online vendor?

ColoDenali · October 1, 2014

Nice Review. I am thinking the bypass might prevent freezeups in the colder climates as well. That would be a good thing. I still cant decide on the gm borla or the S type.

rxnotec · October 1, 2014

Since you are in Texas you could also go see Kirk Robinson at Kinney's Muffler Shop.

Here is 3 examples of his work.

http://www.kinneysmufflershop.com/kinneysmufflershop.com/HOME.html

Here's a 2014 GMC Sierra

I absolutely love these set-ups. Exactly what I want to do to mine. But just going to black out the pipe instead of having tips.

14SLTZ71 · October 1, 2014

That's the best pic of the adaptive valve on the Borla I have seen. Couldn't find that part number though, might be missing the first digit. I don't think that is the same part as the stock one. The axis for the flapper looks more centered on that one. If we can find that part, should be easy for a muffler shop to build that bypass(or overflow) tube around it too and put it upstream of any muffler.

There is a guy on ebay that sells exhaust adaptive valves. If you scroll through the pics there's one with the part number stamped on it. It's a different number than the Borla valve though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vehicle-Adaptive-Exhaust-Valve-/230981317711

Edited October 1, 2014 by 15LTZZ71

russ9443 · October 1, 2014

There is a guy on ebay that sells exhaust adaptive valves. If you scroll through the pics there's one with the part number stamped on it. It's a different number than the Borla valve though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vehicle-Adaptive-Exhaust-Valve-/230981317711

I saw that one too. I am tempted to try it with an 18in magnaflow or a super 40.