question
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 705
Likes: 1
From: the LA-town, CA
a w203 cÖuper
question
Im really sorry for my ignorance on asking this question. 
Im just beginning to know about cars and their engines. So if someone is willing to help me out, please do.
Can someone explain a catback. And why people remove it? would it affect the performance of the car?
--My basic knowlege about a catback is cleaner air and its a noise reducer.
****Im asking this question because when i had my resonator removed, the guy told me about the catback and told me he was not willing to touch those because its a risk. I then forgot to ask him what it is.
Im just beginning to know about cars and their engines. So if someone is willing to help me out, please do.Can someone explain a catback. And why people remove it? would it affect the performance of the car?
--My basic knowlege about a catback is cleaner air and its a noise reducer.
****Im asking this question because when i had my resonator removed, the guy told me about the catback and told me he was not willing to touch those because its a risk. I then forgot to ask him what it is.
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
'13 250 Coupe
A catback is a replacement exhaust that is from the cat to the axel back to the muffler.
When your replace your exhaust it makes your car significally louder, stock exhaust is usually the quietest. Im not sure it cleans the air more, all exhauts just move fumes from the engine to the back of the car.
Anyways that guy just probably didn't want to touch your car since it is a benz and all.
Oh yea here is a another defination of a cat bac
Cat-back
Cat-back (also cat back and catback, and more recently axle back) refers to the portion of the exhaust system from the outlet of the catalytic converter to the final vent to open air. This generally includes the pipe from the converter to the muffler, the muffler, and the final length of pipe to open air.
Cat-back exhaust systems are a very popular aftermarket performance enhancement. They generally use larger diameter pipe than the stock system. Good systems will have mandrel-bent turns that allow the exhaust gas to exit with as little back pressure as possible. The mufflers included in these kits are often glasspacks, again to reduce back pressure. If the system is engineered more for show than functionality, it may be tuned to enhance the lower sounds that are lacking from high-RPM low-displacement engines.
When your replace your exhaust it makes your car significally louder, stock exhaust is usually the quietest. Im not sure it cleans the air more, all exhauts just move fumes from the engine to the back of the car.
Anyways that guy just probably didn't want to touch your car since it is a benz and all.
Oh yea here is a another defination of a cat bac
Cat-back
Cat-back (also cat back and catback, and more recently axle back) refers to the portion of the exhaust system from the outlet of the catalytic converter to the final vent to open air. This generally includes the pipe from the converter to the muffler, the muffler, and the final length of pipe to open air.
Cat-back exhaust systems are a very popular aftermarket performance enhancement. They generally use larger diameter pipe than the stock system. Good systems will have mandrel-bent turns that allow the exhaust gas to exit with as little back pressure as possible. The mufflers included in these kits are often glasspacks, again to reduce back pressure. If the system is engineered more for show than functionality, it may be tuned to enhance the lower sounds that are lacking from high-RPM low-displacement engines.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 705
Likes: 1
From: the LA-town, CA
a w203 cÖuper
Thanks i appreciate that...
Another question...I already know that by replacing my catback with a better one will enhance my performace, but how about just remiving it at all? I've read some threads on another forum and they were talking about removing the catback and putting a straight pipe on it. Would that help?
Another question...I already know that by replacing my catback with a better one will enhance my performace, but how about just remiving it at all? I've read some threads on another forum and they were talking about removing the catback and putting a straight pipe on it. Would that help?
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
2003 Mercedes C230k Coupe
Thanks i appreciate that...
Another question...I already know that by replacing my catback with a better one will enhance my performace, but how about just remiving it at all? I've read some threads on another forum and they were talking about removing the catback and putting a straight pipe on it. Would that help?
Another question...I already know that by replacing my catback with a better one will enhance my performace, but how about just remiving it at all? I've read some threads on another forum and they were talking about removing the catback and putting a straight pipe on it. Would that help?
Sounds to me like you having a lot of confusion ~ and im pretty sure you are ACTUALLY talking about a CATalytic converter, which is a part of most exhaust systems. This differs quite a bit from a "CAT- back exhaust" (referring to the remaining exhaust system AFTER the CATalytic converter. You can read up on the catalytic converter and find out about how it reduces pollutants in the air, etc, and there are people who replace them with a straight pipe, or a high flow cat. The cat-back system simply allows you to by an aftermarket exhaust that gives a better sound, debatable flow, and lets you keep your car smog friendly.
