Solo Performance Exhaust Kit (Axle-back and others)

[majesticix]

Brand: Solo performance
Price: $405 + tax (did not pay for shipping)
Purchased From: Solo Performance Direct in Buffalo, NY


Installation: Bolt On
Installation Time: Installed by Solo, but 30 minutes tops.

Quality of Part: 10
Product Performance: 8*
Would you Recommend to Others: Yes

After much debate, I finally settled on an exhaust setup after demoing some systems from Solo Performance. I had the opportunity to demo their V2 kit with J-pipe which sounded pretty good, but what was most impressive is the elimination of drone. Shortly after hearing this, Solo released their Hi-flowing cats and Axle-back kit. So yesterday, I drove over to Buffalo to get an exhaust hammered out.

I decided on the axle-back for cost and flexibility (since I can mate any header system up in the future). I didn't expect to get much of a volume increase over their V2 kit (or my washer mod), but I was told it would blow me away, and so it did.

On 8 cylinders, this thing rocks. No drone, quiet on the inside, explosive on the outside. It has a deep roar that as one G8 onlooker said, sounds very similar to the Borla system. The reason I gave this kit a 8, for now, is because with AFM engaged at highway speed, the kit is quite loud and unpleasant. This is what (hopefully) the adjustable J-pipe will address. Since no G8 is the same, Solo ships these kits at a factory default location for the J-pipe which should work for most people. In some cases, you may need to slide the pipe up or down to "tune" out the less desirable notes.

Once it is nice out, I will attempt to adjust and see what happens. At this point, on 8 cylinders this thing roars. If you have AFM disabled, then you have nothing to worry about.

On another note, their V2 kit with J-pipes has no drone in either 8 or 4 cylinders...but it is also quieter than the axlebacks. I heard the hi-flow cat with Mach balanced system and it was truly remarkable. Very angry and mean on the outside, but tame on the inside. Can't comment on the effect of AFM, but no drone with 8 cylinders.

[majesticix]

Oh, and the Solo team are very good guys. Very knowledgeable and easy to work with. How many guys have calling hours to midnight? Solo does.

[majesticix]

Adjusted the j-pipe this morning and did experience an improvement below 50mph on AFM (sounds like stock for the most part). Will be on the highway this afternoon and will report back on the real problem area for AFM.

[NickelnDime]

how is the sound when afm kicks in?

[thegreatob]

Bump!

[majesticix]

Good bump. I've been driving for awhile now with my Axleback kit. I love it. AFM didn't improve with adjustment (actually got a bit worse). The stock setting for me yielded the best results. It is respectable sounding below 68mph. Above 68mph, and AFM starts to get annoying...the worst part is the constant on/off of AFM (which mine is aggressively tuned). If it stayed on, it wouldn't be so bad.

I'd say if you drove a lot on the highway (which I don't) and plan to keep AFM engaged, you might consider a Solo catback kit. They seem to be a bit quieter. The sound of the V8 though is superb, and AFM engaged isn't bad at 65 mph. Gets noisy at 74mph though for my tastes. I will throw it into manual mode if it really annoys me, but usually I can tolerate it if AFM stays active. If I'm in a hilly area, the constant on/off drives me nuts.

Very good investment though. Damn good sounding in most aspects.

[BlackGT5]

I have a Solo catback (V2 + J's) and the AFM "noise" was annoying so I had to turn it off with my Cortex. My driving is mainly highway (i.e. above 68 mph). Adjusting the J's does not help the AFM noise.

[majesticix]

I heard V2+J's with AFM engaged at highway speeds and it was quite a bit quieter than my Axlebacks (although overall it was quieter which makes sense). You could hear it, but much more tolerable.

Adjusting the J's actually induced some vibration for me so I returned it to stock position and that seems to work best.

[kje141]

I have/had the same issue with the AFM. Haven't been able to get it back out on the highway, but I have my J-pipes set to 8". They come factory set to 9" (measurement from the end of the capped piece to where the bend begins). Had to actually cut some material off of the end of the capped pieces so I could get it to slide in further to get to 8". With them trimmed a bit I can fully adjust between 8-10". The AFM around the 50mph area seemed much more subdued. Will be interesting to see what it does at the 74 mph range. Worst case I will use my Cortex to turn off the AFM if I can't get it to a better sound level.

[majesticix]

I didn't notice much difference pushed in. With it pushed out I started to get vibration. Solo has said most people have had better success with the Jpipes pushed in. Pitch seems to get higher when pushed in, and deeper when pushed out. 9" stock position seems best for me at the moment anyway.

[kje141]

Wonder if the intakes and tunes have anything to do with the adjustments that need to be made. Intake probably doesn't make any to very little difference, but would the tune have anything to do with different resonances that are coming from the engine? I really need to get my car back out on the highway....live around DC, it isn't always easy to get it up to 75.

[BlackGT5]

I have/had the same issue with the AFM. Haven't been able to get it back out on the highway, but I have my J-pipes set to 8". They come factory set to 9" (measurement from the end of the capped piece to where the bend begins). Had to actually cut some material off of the end of the capped pieces so I could get it to slide in further to get to 8". With them trimmed a bit I can fully adjust between 8-10". The AFM around the 50mph area seemed much more subdued. Will be interesting to see what it does at the 74 mph range. Worst case I will use my Cortex to turn off the AFM if I can't get it to a better sound level.

Several people have mentioned that adjusting the J pipes does not help the AFM noise....this is what I have experienced as well. I played around with different lenghts on the J's and gave up so I just tuned it out. I have the RF CAI and Cortex as well.

[zepcom]

Several people have mentioned that adjusting the J pipes does not help the AFM noise....this is what I have experienced as well. I played around with different lenghts on the J's and gave up so I just tuned it out. I have the RF CAI and Cortex as well.

Agreed. The J pipes that come on the SOLO systems target the v8 "drone" between 1800-2200rpm. The J's would have to be twice as long (good luck fitting THAT under the rear of your car) to target the v4 mode... I couldn't imagine what a dual-dual-J's (one set of two to cancel out the v8 drone, another set to cancel out the v4 drone) would look like under our cars .... talk about a piping nightmare!

I too have my v4 mode tuned out and it's music to my ears.

[Chooch]

So let me ask this, on a bone stock G8GT.... I know, wife wont let me do anything :( , was lucky to even get the car!! when on AFM mode, the axle back with the J's will produce drone at highway speeds.... This was the one thing she would let me due, but I do Hwy commute and at times have kids in the car and dont want to make it unbearable for them.

[kje141]

I don't know that I would call the sound UNBEARABLE. Its noticeable though. Your workarounds to eliminate it would be to secretly buy a Cortex tuner which allows you to disable, or flip over to manual mode while you are out on the highway, that disables AFM as well.

[terryscott621]

So let me ask this, on a bone stock G8GT.... I know, wife wont let me do anything :( , was lucky to even get the car!! when on AFM mode, the axle back with the J's will produce drone at highway speeds.... This was the one thing she would let me due, but I do Hwy commute and at times have kids in the car and dont want to make it unbearable for them.

I wouldn't describe the tone that the AFM makes as drone. It's more like a really low rumble or bass frequency. It can get annoying on long drives and the people in the back seat will notice the sound. The best way to disable the AFM noise would be just thorw it into manual mode. The AFM noise will stop, then when you're city driving just slap in back into regular drive mode. This is what I do. For me at least, the AFM noise really only gets loud from about 68-74 mph.

I do like the idea of secretly buying the cortex without the wife knowing and tuning the AFM off though. :secret:

[BlackGT5]

^This

[Demos-Analem-Kratos]

I wouldn't describe the tone that the AFM makes as drone. It's more like a really low rumble or bass frequency. It can get annoying on long drives and the people in the back seat will notice the sound. The best way to disable the AFM noise would be just thorw it into manual mode. The AFM noise will stop, then when you're city driving just slap in back into regular drive mode. This is what I do. For me at least, the AFM noise really only gets loud from about 68-74 mph.

I do like the idea of secretly buying the cortex without the wife knowing and tuning the AFM off though. :secret:

So if i primarily drive 80mph i shouldn't have as much of an issue?

[kje141]

So if i primarily drive 80mph i shouldn't have as much of an issue?

Around town I never hear the noise at all, and for me it wasn't necessarily the speed that I was driving cause it happened when I was up at 85mph, it flips on when your foot isn't in the gas. Best way to describe it would be, set your cruise at 72. Now you are cruising along, when you are going up a hill with cruise you don't hear it, as soon as you get over that peak and go down a grade that doesn't require much from the engine it turns on like a light switch.

So now I suppose your options are the secret Cortex, flip to manual mode, or keep your foot in the gas all the time. Tickets might start getting expensive.

[majesticix]

Everyone's definition of drone is different I guess. In my eyes, it is drone. My definition of drone is a constant, annoying exhaust note at cruising speed. Yes, it is very deep, but it is still annoying and noticeable, so for me, it drones with AFM active above 68mph. If you cruised at 80mph, it'll be worse when it is engaged. My wife actually hasn't said anything to my surprise...but I took it down a long trip alone and I had to throw it in manual mode after awhile.

Is it unbearable, no. Can you carry a conversation, yes quite easily. To me, it is well worth the sacrifice because the 8cyl note is just damn good. I have a 2 year old daughter who still manages to fall asleep in the back seat with AFM engaged at highway speeds so it is still family friendly. It isn't a knock on Solo's part, I just don't think you can get 8cyl and 4cyl to both sound this good.

I'm not sure how Corsa compares, but from what I've been told, it isn't as loud as the Solo axleback overall. I don't do much driving above 68mph anyway so this is a perfect fit. If I did, I would just tune out AFM. The sound is worth it.

[terryscott621]

So if i primarily drive 80mph i shouldn't have as much of an issue?

Exactly!!! :thumbsup::headbang::cheers::brock::clap:

[Chooch]

I think I will give it a shot, Worst case is I get the old evil eye from her, and I remove them and sell them and put the original ones back on. Can't spring for a full cat back, nor do I want to mess with the tune and take a chance with warranty issues. Dealer whom believe it or not, is excellent said they dont give a hoot on cat back or a CAI on it so I am good there.

[BlackGT5]

You want to hear about an angry wife....I bought my car without telling my wife. She could not look at me for a few days. I would recommend driving another members car with the axlebacks if you can and see what you think about the AFM noise. If you don't plan on getting a Cortex or other means of turning off AFM, you may not like it.

[Chooch]

[QUOTE=BlackGT5;248412]You want to hear about an angry wife....I bought my car without telling my wife. She could not look at me for a few days. QUOTE]

You know, sometimes that is not a bad thing :) I have seen 5 different G8GT's in my area Hudson Valley NY so finding anothers unless I hit the Floyd Bennet Field NEG* club, may not have he ability to.... That being said, the solos are arond 4 and change, Worst case is they don't pass the Italian Wifes approval and I have to sell them at a loss . Heck worse things I have done... IE Pacesetter Monza system on my old 95 Dodge Neon that would Rumble like a tire had a bubble on the tread like crazy in the rain. She was NOT happy when that happened.......

[terryscott621]

:boxing:

[majesticix]

you should be fine. Good luck with it, it is a nice kit. The dealer comments on it every time I come to visit (in a good way)

[Arrison24]

Just bought and installed the Solo axle backs and replaced my mid muffler with a Magnaflow X-pipe. Sounds good. The biggest issue I had was that Solo couldn't dish out for 4 new bolts to secure the new exhaust? But they'll send me a f%$!king t-shirt and licence plate bracket?. Even if it cost them like $10.00 more, I would've been fine paying extra for the trouble. Making me have to go out in the middle of trying to install a new part is one of the more frustrating things about Doing-It-Myself.