I'm going to be ordering the RB exhaust and found a place that'll install it for $120 + tax. I'm wondering if that's a good deal or not. As far as I can tell, it's a bolt on so I could do it myself but my dad doesnt want me to use jack stands so unless there's some other way I could do it, then really my only option is to have some place install it.

Umm why no jack stands? I wouldn't work under a car without them (unless I had a lift!).

Get some jackstands and do it yourself, its really easy. Just rememeber to use WD-40 to get the stock exhaust off the rubber hangers.

umm, not sure about the Texas area, but i got my exhaust install for 50 bucks.

I would recommend you do it yourself though. good experience. I was doing it myself but one of the bolts just wouldn't come out. and i didnt have any air tools to help.

Jackstands are the safest way to do this in your own garage unless you have ramps.

Back the car up on some ramps. Then you crawl under from the back. That is how I did it when I did the exhaust on my WRX when I had one. I intend to do it the same way when i change the exhaust on the RX8.

$120 to install a catback?! :Eyecrazy:

I decided to be super lazy and I only paid like $50 for mine. Most people here have installed it themselves and said it's not a very difficult proces. (just those damn rubber mounts can be tricky)

Don't be afraid to install it yourself. If you do choose to install it yourself just remember saftey first, use jackstands, wait for your car to cool down and if you are bothered with crap falling in your eyes, wear safety goggles.

The hangers arent that bad!

My dad is worried about the jack stands and doesnt think they're safe enough... and since he's helping pay for part of this I cant really go against that decision. If anyone in the houston area happens to know a good place for this kind of install, any help would be appreciated :)

Jack stands are plenty safe, just exercise caution. What I mean is make sure it is stable before you get under the car. But it is plenty doable on jackstands.

Umm why no jack stands? I wouldn't work under a car without them (unless I had a lift!).

Get some jackstands and do it yourself, its really easy. Just rememeber to use WD-40 to get the stock exhaust off the rubber hangers.


dish soap works better i hear. i made the mistake.

beers :beer:

and 120 bucks is to much. on a rack it is a 15 minute job for a pro.

beers :beer:

Thanks for the help everyone :) I just had a last minute thought and now I'm wondering if the race exhaust is louder or quieter than the normal RB exhaust and does anyone know where a video of it is?

race... versus... street.

race exhaust is much louder.

From the main man himself:

Remember, the idea of this exhaust is more "function" than "appearance". It is hard to make a direct comparison between this race exhaust and a "street" system because it will be much louder, and will be missing a tip. Some of the more hardcore RX-8 owners might consider running this on their car full-time, but I personally find the sound of the REV8 exhaust much more pleasing for daily driving.

Jim L
RB

but from my experience, this rev8 exhaust is very quiet as it is.

hmmm... that being said, do you still like the sound?

yes, i still like the sound, it sounds stock until you gun it. I recommend it if you don't want the exhaust loud all the time.

i was lucky i got my installed for free

I could do in on the floor with jack stand in 20 min tops. go to other shops and check for the price. alway said:"the other shop down the road say they could do it for 30 bucks".
and see if they drop their price to 40 or 50 bucks.

I've been looing at the RP super-cat too... but I cant afford both atm. how does the stock exhaust sound with the RP super-cat? which would you recommend to go with for sound?

(I'm looking for something that's not too obnoxiously loud but not necessarily WOT to notice a difference. I have looked at videos of the exhausts but cant rely on accurate sound in the videos. I havnt seen a video of just the RP super-cat though.)

I posted up an audio clip of the RP supercat and greddy exhaust. It sounds fine... its not raspy a t all.

If you're staying N/A - The RP Supercat is the good way to get more airflow without throwing a CEL.

-hS

I've been looing at the RP super-cat too... but I cant afford both atm. how does the stock exhaust sound with the RP super-cat? which would you recommend to go with for sound?

(I'm looking for something that's not too obnoxiously loud but not necessarily WOT to notice a difference. I have looked at videos of the exhausts but cant rely on accurate sound in the videos. I havnt seen a video of just the RP super-cat though.)


I had the RP Supercat and stock exhaust, not loud at all. Its a little raspy when cold but once it heats up it sounds fine.

I have the RB Race exhaust now and combined with the RP supercat its pretty loud. Its mellowed a bit over the last couple hundred miles (or its causing me to go deaf :ylsuper: ) but at WOT its pretty loud.

Thanks for the help everyone :wavey: I've called 4 places around me now and the estimates for a cat-back have been $120, $136, $125 and the last they said $75-130 depending on how many crossbars they have to remove. So they all seem to be about the same. The one that quoted me $120 was recommended to me by someone so I'm thinking I might just go to that one since they all have similar prices.

You only need to remove a crossbar if you switch out your cat.

one last question: I've always wondered if it's fine to take my car to a shop to have it worked on because of the fact that it tends to flood if it isnt warmed. If I tell them before I leave my car, should I worry about that?

Mazda dealership installed mine for 60 ... when I had fitment issues later on they fixed it for free !

Yea, tell them not to shut it off cold. there have been occurrances of it happening. but you only need to tell them if your not guna be there. in the case of an exhaust install, you'll be there.

I'll echo what everyone has already said -

Do it yourself. It is VERY easy to do. No need to remove any 'crossbars' or anything like that. (2) nuts where the exhaust meets up with the cat and then remove the exhaust from the rubber hangers. I know many people have said the hangers are a pain.....I had no problems. Used a bit of WD-40 and a big screwdriver - don't be afraid to really pry them off. Probably the hardest for me was removing the exhaust shrouds off the back bumper assm.
I used ramps - backing up them. I think it took me about 1/2hr.

the dealerships will install them? I figured they wouldnt cause of warrany issues and such...

The dealer will do anything you want to pay them for.

The dealer will do anything you want to pay them for.^^^^^

Just be careful what you request :lol:

so should I call my dealer up and ask if they do it/how much it would be? or would it be better to stay away from that?

My dealer knows all the mods I have and they don't have a problem with it, I never lied about to them so they don't seem to mind.

Don't you have a buddy that can help you? It really is an easy install, easier than the Revi. Will your Dad care if you use ramps? Just tell him you paid someone to do it and save your money. :beer05:

well, my dealer say they dont install aftermarket exhausts so guess that option is gone now. I'm gonna see if I cant convince my dad to let me use ramps or something but it seems like he'll pay for the install anyways... so it isnt too much of a concern to me I guess. I dont have any doubt that I'd be able to do it myself, just prefer to not get on my dad's bad side(:cussing:) and especially when money is involved.

then i say... do whatever you dad says. :)

Thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it. :bowdown:

dude, just go to the Gulf Region forum and make a post asking if someone in Houston will help you install it, if you were in the DFW area I'd do it for you ..

well, my dealer say they dont install aftermarket exhausts so guess that option is gone now. I'm gonna see if I cant convince my dad to let me use ramps or something but it seems like he'll pay for the install anyways... so it isnt too much of a concern to me I guess. I dont have any doubt that I'd be able to do it myself, just prefer to not get on my dad's bad side(:cussing:) and especially when money is involved.


I had my Mazda Dealer install mine. They were happy to get to install a RB on one because they were curious. (It was back in the end of 04) I don't remember the cost but I think it was less than 120 or might have been around that but I had the scheduled maintenenace done at the same time. They were really impressed with the exhaust too, they said it was a snap to install and fits perfectly.

Added: I don't know if it's because my mazda dealer is also a Mazdaspeed shop and does full service everything that they do it, but I suspect your dealership might be too busy, why wouldn't they want the business??

I believe for people that don't want to be super loud all the time it's the perfect exhaust. It kinda purrs at idle and lets you know it's not stock, and is tolerable on long trips, but when you go WOT it really gives a nice loud racing sound. It's a perfect balance between loudness and tolerability.

I just got my RB exhaust. I attempted to install it myself, but the 2 bolts that need to be removed from the stock system would not budge. I finally gave up and brought it to a shop near by. They charged me $80 to install it, which I didn't mind paying since my time is valuable, and I'm just too old to sweat my butt off in the garage under a car.

I kept the stock exhaust, but I really don't know what to do with it. What are you all doing with your stock exhausts after you install a new one?

I really love the sound of the RB exhaust. Our local (Austin) RX club is going on a great drive through the hill country tomorrow (our anual bluebonnet drive), and I look forward to showing it off.

^that's what happened to me carls, well just with one of the bolts. pissed me off!

I just got my RB exhaust. I attempted to install it myself, but the 2 bolts that need to be removed from the stock system would not budge. I finally gave up and brought it to a shop near by. They charged me $80 to install it, which I didn't mind paying since my time is valuable, and I'm just too old to sweat my butt off in the garage under a car.

I kept the stock exhaust, but I really don't know what to do with it. What are you all doing with your stock exhausts after you install a new one?

I really love the sound of the RB exhaust. Our local (Austin) RX club is going on a great drive through the hill country tomorrow (our anual bluebonnet drive), and I look forward to showing it off.

keep it till you sell the car then put it back on... then sell the rb and recover some of your cost...

the stock will sell for nothing... the rb will add nothing to the sale of your car when you are done..

beers :beer: