Question RE: Roush Catback v. Axleback for S197 GT

All,

I picked up a unused set of Roush Xtreme Catback system for a great price. I havent gotten under the car yet to check but I thought I would ask if anybody knows: does the axleback portion of the catback system bolt up to the factory piping? Before I install the full catback, I was thinking to install just the pipes and see how that sounds.

for clarification what im asking is if i can use the factory midpipe and use the Roush mufflers only for now or do i need to use the entire roush piping.

When you say "mufflers", are you referring to the mid pipe resonators, or the straight, non muffler piece that goes over the axle?

Sjay89 said:

All,

I picked up a unused set of Roush Xtreme Catback system for a great price. I havent gotten under the car yet to check but I thought I would ask if anybody knows: does the axleback portion of the catback system bolt up to the factory piping? Before I install the full catback, I was thinking to install just the pipes and see how that sounds.

for clarification what im asking is if i can use the factory midpipe and use the Roush mufflers only for now or do i need to use the entire roush piping.

Click to expand...

First off, a catback exhaust does NOT replace the factory mid-pipe whatsoever, but rather is bolted to the mid-pipe. What your referring to is the over the axle pipes which extend from the mid-pipe to the rear of the vehicle. Being as the pipe diameter of the Roush Catback is the same 2.5" as "OEM" stock, I don't see any reason you couldn't just install the muffler delete/axle back portion to the stock cat-back pipes. However, you can also expect the exhaust to be twice as loud without running the high-flow resonators that are integrated with the Roush cat back pipes. Therefore, if I were in your place? I would install the complete Roush Xtreme catback system if it were my car. Anyhow, just saying

I can't say one way or the other for the Roush but just because the pipe diameters are the same doesn't mean the axle back portion will work with the stock over axle pipes. I tried it with the axle back portion of a Magnaflow cat back and the tips didn't even come close to lining up with the cutouts in the bumper cover.

AHaze said:

I can't say one way or the other for the Roush but just because the pipe diameters are the same doesn't mean the axle back portion will work with the stock over axle pipes. I tried it with the axle back portion of a Magnaflow cat back and the tips didn't even come close to lining up with the cutouts in the bumper cover.

Click to expand...

I had the very same issue with trying to line up Borla axle back mufflers to Magnaflow cat back OTA pipes and could not get the Borla's to line up onto the neck of the Magnaflow OTA pipes properly at all. Needless to say, I had to put the stock cat back pipes back on in order for the Borla mufflers to line up properly. In regards to the OP, I suppose the only way he's really going to find out for certain as to whether the axle back/muffler delete section of the Roush Extreme cat back exhaust fit properly with the stock OTA pipes, is thru trail and error

I had the full system on my car. I removed the axle back section and kept the pipe with the mid resonator (it's what Roush calls it). I then installed another brand of axleback mufflers. They fit just fine. The Roush xtreme is just too loud for me. And I like loud. But I don't like drone, which is what I had. It was slightly annoying with stock manifolds, got a little worse with long tubes, and became unbearable with cats removed.

Prior to pulling the trigger on the Borla ATAK axle back mufflers, I had considered the Roush Extreme cat back exhaust, but despite their high-flow mid resonators, I was also concerned it would be way too loud by running an axle back delete setup. Needless to say, I also don't like drone and wasn't convinced enough as to whether or not the Roush extreme system had any drone issues. According to the research I had done on this site and also from other Mustang forums, the reviews were mixed nearly 50/50. Therefore my final choices were between the Ford Performance M-5230-S FR500S axle back mufflers and Borla ATAK axle back mufflers. In the end, I finally went with the Borla ATAK mufflers as I bought them from one of the forums members on this site for more than half the price of the FR500S mufflers. At any rate, I don't regret my decision in the least bit

Thanks for all the replies. I was referring to the catback pipes. I was wondering if the axleback portion would fit on the stock catback pipes thinking it may quieter than using the "high flow" Roush catback pipes. However, as 06 Red mentioned above, if it'll be better/quieter installing the entire system then I would prefer to just install the entire kit.

I took it to my car to the shop today but they struggled to remove the crappy aftermarket mufflers on the car but it did seem like the Roush axleback pipes would fit on the stock catback pipes..

06 T-RED S/C GT said:

Prior to pulling the trigger on the Borla ATAK axle back mufflers, I had considered the Roush Extreme cat back exhaust, but despite their high-flow mid resonators, I was also concerned it would be way too loud by running an axle back delete setup. Needless to say, I also don't like drone and wasn't convinced enough as to whether or not the Roush extreme system had any drone issues. According to the research I had done on this site and also from other Mustang forums, the reviews were mixed nearly 50/50. Therefore my final choices were between the Ford Performance M-5230-S FR500S axle back mufflers and Borla ATAK axle back mufflers. In the end, I finally went with the Borla ATAK mufflers as I bought them from one of the forums members on this site for more than half the price of the FR500S mufflers. At any rate, I don't regret my decision in the least bit

Click to expand...

I was trying to source a used set of the FR500S but couldnt find anything. I picked up the entire Roush catback system (looks unused) for $300.00. Roush system is $1200 in Canada!

Sjay89 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I was referring to the catback pipes. I was wondering if the axleback portion would fit on the stock catback pipes thinking it may quieter than using the "high flow" Roush catback pipes. However, as 06 Red mentioned above, if it'll be better/quieter installing the entire system then I would prefer to just install the entire kit.

I took it to my car to the shop today but they struggled to remove the crappy aftermarket mufflers on the car but it did seem like the Roush axleback pipes would fit on the stock catback pipes..

Click to expand...

I honestly don't know if the axle back delete pipes from the Roush kit would fit the stock OTA cat back pipes or not? it would all depend on whether the angle of the pipes are the same or if their different. What I do know is if you were to install just the axle back portion of the Roush kit to the stock cat back pipes? your exhaust is going to sound way louder by just running the Roush axle back portion which are actually muffler delete pipes with tips. However, If you want the Roush kit to have a more quiet sound? then it would be in your best interest to install the entire system which includes the mid resonators that are designed for that purpose.

Sjay89 said:

I was trying to source a used set of the FR500S but couldnt find anything. I picked up the entire Roush catback system (looks unused) for $300.00. Roush system is $1200 in Canada!

Click to expand...

Trying to source a used set of FR500S axle backs are for sure difficult to come by as folks have been really pleased with them and continue to be very popular. IMO you got a very good deal on the unused Roush Extreme cat back system for just $300.00 as they now retail for $724.99 here in the U.S

The roush axlebacks will fit the stock pipes.

I came across a used set of the FR500S. The only catch is, its part number M-5320-SA supposedly made for 2010 ( facelift bumpers) and the tips are longer. Not sure how they would look on 05-09 bumpers. I asked around but didn't get any solid replies.

The tips from the SA's will just stick out further on the 05-09 bumpers. If that isn't a deal breaker? they're the very same design. Also, if by any chance you don't intend on using the Roush cat back pipes with mid resonators? I just might be interested in buying them from you.

I wasnt sure how far they would stick out. Would it looks ridiculous or barely noticeable. Not sure if im willing to spend $300 to find out lol

I would guess between 1-2 inches

Sjay89 said:

All,

I picked up a unused set of Roush Xtreme Catback system for a great price. I havent gotten under the car yet to check but I thought I would ask if anybody knows: does the axleback portion of the catback system bolt up to the factory piping? Before I install the full catback, I was thinking to install just the pipes and see how that sounds.

for clarification what im asking is if i can use the factory midpipe and use the Roush mufflers only for now or do i need to use the entire roush piping.

Click to expand...

I bought a slightly used Roush cat back system for my 06 GT, I didn’t realize it was off of a Roush so I had to get the tips relocated by a local shop.
They are offered two ways,
One for the Roush bumper center config and the other for the GT config.

Anyway, I had the hot rod cams, cold air and tune with 4:10’s and some other goodies and this setup made me especially popular with my neighbors at 6 am.

The bright side is there was no drone, the car sounded like a beast and was always a pleasure to drive. At least to me! Lol

Update: installed the Roush full catback system, no drone, sounds great. Idle it's nothing crazy at all...Loud when you get on it. Glad I did the install probably one of the best exhaust systems I've had on one of my cars.

Sjay89 said:

Update: installed the Roush full catback system, no drone, sounds great. Idle it's nothing crazy at all...Loud when you get on it. Glad I did the install probably one of the best exhaust systems I've had on one of my cars.

Click to expand...

That's definitely great news indeed. I'm sure your relieved that you installed the full cat back system rather than just the muffler/axle back delete section to the stock cat back pipes which you had originally intended on doing. In the meantime, thanks for the update and congrats