stainless exhaust

[Steve Marinello]

I am somewhat unimpressed with SS systems.  That being said, if I wasn't out
of a job, I'd be going with the s-car group purchase right now.  However,
personal experience has shown me that, as Tess relates, SS mufflers can rust
out from the inside just like other mufflers, Audi mufflers included,
obviously.  My S6 avant has a rear Abt put on by the PO and it, along with
the oem center unit, both look perfect from the outside, but on close
inspection one can see that there is the beginning of rusting inside out.

On the '83 urq, I replaced the oem with a custom that was not ss.  After 10
years or so, the Dynomax Super Turbo rear unit did finally go.  There was
also more degradation of the welded bypass replacing the center muffler than
on the original pipe, but it's still on the car.  The '85 urq ss unit
rusted, inside out, after quite a while.  Until it broke through the
surface, it still looked great on the outside, but it was trashed on the
inside as evidenced by the increased backpressure and change  in tone.  It
got replced by a SuperTurbo with a drastic improvement from the existing
condition.

Many ss mufflers are just ss casings.  Some, like Dynomax Ultraflo and
Borla, use all ss internals I THINK.  That still doesn't preclude them
eventually going bad either.  If it's not a good deal, I can't get too
excited about ss at the exorbitant prices charge by many.  There is NO WAY
that I would ever have shelled out $895 on a rear muffler.  Unless I was
doing the whole exhaust, I can't see that kind of money on something that
will barely improve things. The advantage of the Stromung GP for me would be
the improved downpipe.  Other than that, it sure looks good!  Although I'd
still prefer a custom downpipe into dual  2 1/2" (or 3") cats and pipes all
the way back.  

But it's all personal preferences.  I'll have no problem replacing the S6
exhaust with standard non-ss Dynomax Superturbo units or UltraFlo Welded or
SS when the time comes.  I'll cut my costs until I feel like taking the step
of having a custom one built to MY preferences.  Unless Jeff's got a good
deal GP going at the time and I have the $$$.  Buying a full pre-fitted
setup has its' advantages.

Steve

From: "alan pritchard" <alanthecelt at alanthecelt.screaming.net>
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 20:54:02 -0700
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Subject: re:re:stainless exhaust


wow there tess, if i have offended you in anway with my previous post, i
apologise, i agree ss exhaust systems arent always 100% ss, and if they are
there is various grades of stainless,  if the guy you talked to specialized
in headers, i would agree, that stainless steel is not the most suited
material for headers (thats in my opinion wit some experiance with
engineering materials).  Although a good quality ss exhaust sytem, ie from
downpipe back, will always be far more desireable than a mild steel system
of equal quality. That is for our use on the street (racers may have
different opinions).  If anyone has any differing information, please feel
free to pull me up on it. and to those i argue with, really, there is no
offence meant by it



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