Exhaust FAQ
Are your exhausts street and/or smog legal? Do your catbacks have CARB exemption numbers?
The vast majority (over 95%) of our exhaust systems are smog legal and are street legal when used with the included silencer.
Some of our exhaust products are race products designed for racing or off road use only, please check with your local and state laws.
Catback exhausts do not require CARB exemption because they are bolted after the catalytic converter and maintain stock exhaust routing and sensors.
What is the difference between Tsudo exhausts and other brand "x" exhausts?
Tsudo exhausts are all made completely out of T304 stainless steel, the best stainless steel in the industry.
Other and "brand name" companies may use aluminized mild steel, painted mild steel, or cheaper stainless steel to save costs.
Tsudo exhausts are also all constructed with mandrel bent tubing.
All the mufflers and resonators used in the exhaust systems are straight-through design, having good muffling capacity while producing the best performance.
Why is T304 stainless steel better than other types of steel (mild, aluminized, T430 steel)?
T304 stainless steel has the highest corrosion resistance compared to T430 and other grades of stainless steel.
It will never rust and is the strongest steel for use in exhaust systems.
Painted mild steel and aluminized steel will eventually rust/corrode and fail over time when the coating of paint/aluminum easily corrodes through
Why is mandrel bent tubing better?
Mandrel bent tubing has a uniform diameter throughout the bend, a 2.5" mandrel bend would be 2.5" all the way through.
This keep performance up and exhaust flow high and efficient, maximizing the performance potential of the system.
A crush bent pipe is literally crushed into a bend, making the diameter smaller where the bend is made.
A typical 2.5" crush-bent pipe could only be 2" in diameter (or even less!) at the bend.
A picture of a crush bent (left) and mandrel bent (right) pipe is shown below.
Why can't I just have any exhaust shop make an exhaust system for me?
A mandrel bending machine easily costs in the tens of thousands of dollars, so most exhaust shops can ONLY make crush bends for their piping.
This results in piping that won't perform as well as a mandrel bent system.
The typical neighborhood exhaust shop also would not stock high quality stainless steel piping.
The low quality aluminized steel that is normally used will rust and corrode from the moisture and heat in the exhaust system and is not as durable as T304 stainless steel.
How do I remove the silencer? Is the silencer removable? (Applies to systems that include a silencer)
The silencer is pre-installed into the muffler tip from the factory and can sometimes be lodged in the tip because of shipping.
The silencer can be removed with a hook device, usually a thick coat hangar or tool.
Any competent exhaust shop would also be able to remove it for a small or no fee.
How hard is it to install the exhaust system? Can you install it for me?
All of our exhaust systems/components are built for straight forward installation with just hand tools.
ALWAYS use jack stands and wheel chocks on level ground. Safety should always be the first priority when working on your car.
We do have installation services for customers that pickup from our location. Please contact us for more details or to schedule.
What is an axle-back / cat-back / header-back / turbo-back?
These terms refer to the section of the exhaust that the new system replaces. The "-back" suffix refers to the piping from that section and back (ie. a cat-back system is from the catalytic converter and back).
An axle-back usually refers to only the rear section (right after the axle, rear beam suspension, etc). Generally it would just be the last bolt-on section with the rear muffler.
A cat-back (also called CBE Cat-back Exhaust) system replaces all the piping that bolts after the catalytic converter, and includes an axle-back section.
A header-back exhaust connects to the exhaust header or manifold, and generally includes a pipe to delete the catalytic converter (sometimes called test pipe or cat-delete pipe) with a cat-back system. Some header-back exhausts are race systems designed for off-road use, which remove emissions equipment for maximum horsepower and torque power gains.
A turbo-back (also called TBE Turbo-back Exhaust) system replaces all the piping connected to the turbo (including the turbo down-pipe, catalytic converter, and piping). This is designed to minimize exhaust back-pressure after the turbo to allow for shorter spool time and faster response. A turbo-back system usually replaces the stock down-pipe and cat-back exhaust system, and deletes the catalytic converter. Turbo-backs are also available in street-legal designs with high flow catalytic converters to increase performance while remaining street legal (in most states).
In general, axle-back and cat-backs do not modify emissions equipment and are considered aftermarket original equipment replacement parts. Sometimes an axle-back may also be called a cat-back depending on the design of the exhaust system.
High Intensity Discharge FAQ
Why is HID better than standard blue replacement bulbs?
HID lamps are 35 watts while traditional halogen bulbs are 55 watts.
Even though HID lamps use less power, they produce 3 times more light than standard halogen bulbs.
Lower wattage does not mean less light output, HID technology is inherently more efficient than standard filament technology.
Can I install the kit myself?
For anyone who is mechanically inclined, this installation is considered "do-it-yourself".
The kit is "plug and play" with your stock headlight wiring, with typical installation time approximately thirty minutes to a hour.
Our kits are ready to install right out of the box and come complete with everything that you will need for installation.
Can I re-install the original halogen bulbs after the HID kit has been installed?
A big concern is whether or not you can bring the vehicle back to its original factory condition.
Our kits install with little or no modifications to your vehicle, with no splicing of the original wiring necessary to install the kit.
If necessary, the entire kit can be removed and the original halogen bulbs replaced.
What is the warranty for HID kits?
The warranty covers manufacturers defects in bulbs and ballasts for a period of one year from the date of purchase.
Warranty of parts will be directly through with us, for a no-hassle and easy exchange
Any physical damage or modification of the kit or parts voids the warranty.
All warranty claims must be pre-approved and shipped back to us with postage prepaid.
Return shipping to the customer will be covered by us as part of the warranty claim.
Are HID kits safe to use on stock wiring?
Because of the increased efficiency of HID technology, they actually use less power than your original bulbs.
This means your stock wiring harness can be used to provide enough power to the lights, without burning or damaging the harnesses
Which bulb size does my car use?
You can find out which bulb is correct for your vehicle here
Can I convert my high beams to HID? (assuming your vehicle has separate low and high beam bulbs)
In most cases, it is not recommended to replace your high beam with a HID conversion.
Because HIDs require some warm up time (about 10-15 seconds) when turned on, it is not useful for a quick "flash" or as a signal while driving.
You can take advantage of an HID conversion for your high beam if you plan to use them for a constant period of time, such as for offroad or unlit roads.
What is a "single beam" and a "dual beam" / "bi-xenon" HID kit?
A "single beam" kit fits the same bulb socket, but will only work as a low beam with no high beam functionality. A "dual beam" or "bi-xenon" kit has a separate high beam function.
Some vehicles use a single bulb with two filaments built into the bulb which has both low and high beam function built into one bulb.
For these vehicles, you will lose the high beam functions on your headlights when installing a "single beam" kit.
However, the adjustment in the bulb capsule will compensate for the loss of high beam, and it will be alot brighter than your halogen high beam and yet not blinding for other drivers.
Are there any issues I should be aware of?
Vehicles with daytime running lights (DRL) will have to have them disabled, usually by removing the fuse.
Vehicles with DRLs may decrease the power supplied to the bulb by up to half, which is not enough to fully power the HID.
