The Noise Conundrum!
Discussion
Now, 99% of the time I love the noise my Cerbera makes; a deep rumble at tickover, demented buzzsaw at full chat, and the inevitable artillery barrage on the overrun. Perfect for the 60 mile round-trip cross country blast to work once a week during the warmer months.
But on a longer journey, at "normal" motorway speeds, it's a boomy, headache-inducing PITA. I took a trip down to the Sunday Service at Silverstone from Telford at the weekend at it was hard work, and I felt sorry for my 5 year old lad that always comes along with me to these events, we can only communicate via hand signals until we leave the motorway!
Now I know that there are quieter exhaust systems available. I bumped into another Cerbera and owner at Oulton Park last month, and he had the Silverstone Performance exhaust with linked decat fitted to his. I just scraped through the noise test at bang on 105dB with Decibel Devils up both pipes, whereas he sailed through at 101dB with no additional silencing.
The thing is, I spent some time watching from the pit straight whilst he was on track, and it just sounded too quiet to me, still nice but missing that head-turning soundtrack.
I just wonder if there's a way to lose the in-car boominess at 3 to 4 thousand revs, but keep most of the drama when pushing on. My Cerb's got a custom decat stainless system with single silencer/backbox per side with over-size 3.5 inch tailpipes.
Would it be worth trying to replace the silencers for ones with more baffles and standard size tailpipes? Also mine doesn't have the x-connected decats and I've heard that can reduce the noise to some degree?
Edited to show the correct 'quiet' exhaust system.
But on a longer journey, at "normal" motorway speeds, it's a boomy, headache-inducing PITA. I took a trip down to the Sunday Service at Silverstone from Telford at the weekend at it was hard work, and I felt sorry for my 5 year old lad that always comes along with me to these events, we can only communicate via hand signals until we leave the motorway!
Now I know that there are quieter exhaust systems available. I bumped into another Cerbera and owner at Oulton Park last month, and he had the Silverstone Performance exhaust with linked decat fitted to his. I just scraped through the noise test at bang on 105dB with Decibel Devils up both pipes, whereas he sailed through at 101dB with no additional silencing.
The thing is, I spent some time watching from the pit straight whilst he was on track, and it just sounded too quiet to me, still nice but missing that head-turning soundtrack.
I just wonder if there's a way to lose the in-car boominess at 3 to 4 thousand revs, but keep most of the drama when pushing on. My Cerb's got a custom decat stainless system with single silencer/backbox per side with over-size 3.5 inch tailpipes.
Would it be worth trying to replace the silencers for ones with more baffles and standard size tailpipes? Also mine doesn't have the x-connected decats and I've heard that can reduce the noise to some degree?
Edited to show the correct 'quiet' exhaust system.
Edited by firewallguy on Wednesday 22 October 22:15
I drove back from an Anglesey track day last year with the Devils left in, and they didn't make much difference to be honest.
The bypass valve thing is certainly something I've thought about but it's beyond my limited mechanical ability I'm afraid.
I have some bolt on ACT trackday silencers, which fit over the existing tailpipes, so not really useable on the road due to how much they stick out. I suppose I could look at getting the exhaust modified to allow the tailpipes to be swapped for silencers like purpleliabilitie's, although I'd have to replace the ones I've got as they are designed to fit over the 3.5 inch tailpipes.
The bypass valve thing is certainly something I've thought about but it's beyond my limited mechanical ability I'm afraid.
I have some bolt on ACT trackday silencers, which fit over the existing tailpipes, so not really useable on the road due to how much they stick out. I suppose I could look at getting the exhaust modified to allow the tailpipes to be swapped for silencers like purpleliabilitie's, although I'd have to replace the ones I've got as they are designed to fit over the 3.5 inch tailpipes.
Milky400 said:
A mate of mine has a monaro vxr with a electrically switchable silencer. Amazing piece of kit. I must say my tuscan is extremely quiet at 60-70 cruising not sure if it's been fettled with previously but suits me for long journeys and been commented on how quite it cruises.
As much as I love the noise at full pelt I must say its nice to be settled on a run
If I had the self control/patience to keep between 60 and 70 on a long run it isn't actually too bad, but going just that bit faster to keep up with everyone else puts it right in the 'boom' zone.As much as I love the noise at full pelt I must say its nice to be settled on a run
I've been reading some older posts that say linked decats can take the edge off the noise so I may consider that in the future.
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