I failed to fit the Stage 2 though because I couldn't get the bolts loose, even if I did though I doubt I would be able to get the pipe off, the rears where on pretty well. I will probably get a mechanic with a lift to do it for me. Like an idiot I minaged to bend my sill lip because I'm an idiot. Sounds pretty good but I will need to adjust the exhaust a little so it's more even. The new Adamesh tips look better then the last model I guess they updated them at some point. Now it's a mesh inside the tips and they use a U bracket to tighten it to the pipe.

Edit: I've bent the sill lip back so it doesn't look so stupid but it will need rust proofing now.

 

How did you manage to bend the sill lip? Also, what were the difficulties fitting the Stage 1 exhaust?

 

Like the idiot I am I decided to jack the car up on the jacking point but couldn't find anywhere suitable to put the jack stand so I made things worse by putting them on the sill lip because I figured it looked strong enough. Boy was I wrong. I made things worse by then attempting to put the jack stand under the rear subframe mounting bracket which also ciertainly isn't that strong either. I stopped before that was destroyed as well. I managed to mend the lip back but the metal has split a bit. I will need to get that sorted for sure. The Stage 1 was a peice of ****, you don't even need to jack the car up at all which meant the damage I caused could have been avoided entirely. Well I say a peice of **** installing the Stage 1 is easy but removing the old exhaust isn't easy at all. The brackets just don't want to budge so you have to wiggle them a bunch and hit them with a hammer to try and get them loose. Installing is dead simple really just slide them on and align everything up and tighten down. Stage 2 isn't possible for me to do simply because I can't jack the car up high enough to get underneither the car. I will get a mechanic to do that bit for me I think.

 

Got the Stage 2 put on now, makes a massive difference. Car sounds really nice now and no drone at cruising speed. There is a slight drone at abotu 3000rpm but you don't cruise at that speed so it's OK.

 

Sounds like you're happy with it, I was considering fitting on straight pipes and new tips in place of rear mufflers only.

But maybe performance wise with bigger pipes it's worth it.

​​​​​Were you able to do the over axle pipes in the driveway or did you end up having it done elsewhere?

And do you notice any enhanced performance with replacing pipes over axle ?

Regards,
AJ

99xk8

 

I had to get my mechanic to do it. I attempted to do it again but the bolts where stuck far to tight. The mechanic said he couldn't even get them off with a power tool so he had to cut the brackets off which I was also going to do but descided not to unless I messed something up. He said I wouldn't have been able to do it on my back as you have to get right up into the car above the axels to get the mounting on properly. I don't see any problem getting the stage 2 and leaving the back pipes as standard. There might be a drone though, I'm not sure. There is a drone with the Stage 1 and 2 on but it's now at about 3000rpm which when accelerating you aren't in that range for more then half a second. As for performance, I couldn't say for sure but it feels faster but that might just be because it actually makes a lot of noise now. I can see why the OEM overaxle pipes aren't good though, if you take them off you can see how crushed they are from the factory. Not a good design at all. You won't be loosing power doing this or torque you could only gain power. Other people suggest about 10-20hp which I would say is very possible. Not sure how much more torque you make but I should think that would go up as well.

 

Thanks for the update, yes I was considering doing this in my driveway as well; and just to have a little insight beforehand is good. I've got ramps and I'm thinking if I back it up onto ramps I might have enough room under there. Ha ! ! ! If the nose doesn't drag....

Thanks again,
​​​​​​ AJ
99xk8

 

I got mine up pretty high up on the rear, the nose was almost touching the floor. Looked pretty funny actually but because the overaxle brackets are closer to the center of the car it didn't actually bring it up high enough for me so you also need to raise the front. If you could do that it should be possible. Just be prepared to cut the brackets off though because mine where really stuck on.

 

I have a friend who kindly let me use the 4 post lift in his garage to fit the Stage 2 exhaust. We'd done the Stage 1 fitting a few weeks earlier which was relatively straight forward. Stage 2 was a different kettle of fish however... Where to start? Firstly, whilst having the lift made general access a breeze, we then had to jack the car up on the lift to allow removal of the original (I think these were the factory fitted pipes from new) pipes, as with the rear springs compressed by the weight of the car, there's no way we could remove the original over axle sections. I actually suspect the exhaust was fitted before the axle when these cars were made, as it was still a hell of a fiddle to get these sections off the car.
Anyway with the original exhaust removed we set about getting the new Adamesh stage 2 exhausts fitted. I guess in essence it was simply impossible to get all the pipe sections married up on the car, even after a few hours of fiddling. I would add that both my mate and I are both very seasoned in all things practical and mechanical, and are never easily beaten. We reasoned in the end that the only way we could get all the sections joined was to cut about an inch of pipe from the front of each of the of the over axle sections of the pipes. This then just about allowed as to get all the sections inserted into each other as required, to then allow for final alignment and tightening of brackets etc. We didn't take the decision lightly, but it proved to be the only way in the end! There was still plenty of overlap on the insertion sections to clamp up (and I mean plenty!).
I would say the Adamesh exhausts are well made decent bits of kit and would recommend them with the understanding re. the above! The original crushed sections of pipe over the rear axles, were a very poor design and must be pretty restrictive, which is obviously not what you need with exhaust pipes! The new pipes sound really nice as well, without being over the top in my opinion. Hope this is helpful.