Last month, I swapped out the OEM for the Kinetix. My initial thoughts were that this y-pipe sounded very ricey and resulted in significant vibrations especially at low rpm's. I was not at all satisfied with neither the sound nor the constant vibrations. As a result, I emailed Kinetix to express my concerns.

My first email to Kinetix is below:

I installed your y-pipe approximately a week ago. Almost instantly I noticed substatinal vibrations underneath my seat, especially at low rpm's. It sounds as though the car is flatulating. I thought this might subside after a week or so. However, this has not been the case. Is this normal? I thought that these vibrations may be a result of air leaks, however the installer advised that their were not any fitment issues. What are your thoughts?

Kinetix reply is below:

sometimes, the y-pipe causes the mid section pipe to drop down slightly. There is VERY little clearance between the factory mid pipe and the cross brace underneath the car, generally less than .25" This is what is causing vibrations. Adjust the exhaust or the cross brace to allow for some more clearance.

Thereafter, I took my car into my installer to check to see if their are any clearance issues. My installer confirmed their were infact fitment issues. My follow-up email to Kinetix is below.

I returned to my installer today and requested that they (along with myself) check any potential clearance issues causing the vibrations and excessive noise that I was complaining of (per my prior emails to you). Upon inspection of the y-pipe, we noticed that one of the flex joints (directly under drivers seat) of the y-pipe was touching the
underbody of the car and this was causing the vibrations and noise. I have attached pictures showing the contact of y-pipe to underbody for your review.

After examining the contact point, the service technician attempted to adjust the y-pipe (as well as other exhuast components) to prevent this contact. He un-torqued, adjusted, then re-torqued the bolts of the y-pipe on numerous occassions, to determine if the contact could be prevented.
However, in the end the contact remained. He along with the three other technicians determined that this particular y-pipe had fitment issues and regardless of the adjustments made, a clearance issue would exist and therefore the vibrations and noise that I could not stand would also prevail. As a result, I have no choice but to remove the y-pipe as I can no longer
stand the vibrations caused by it. I am very disappointed as I never imagined that the y-pipe would have these fitment issues. And, I was not anticipating having to pay for an install, removal, and then re-install of my OEM y-pipe. Due to the fitment issues with the y-pipe, I would like to return your product and am requesting full refund.

Kinetix reply below:

well,

I sincerely apologie, and thank you for the pictures, as we will definately look into our test car and the fitment on that vehicle.

We can honor a full refund. Please simply send the y-pipe back to us at the address below, and include a slip of paper including original order info and request for refund.

My follow-up email:

Please be advised that I have fedex'd the y-pipe back to your company. FYI, the tracking number is xxxxx and the estimated delivery date is 10/21. I will follow up once again upon your receipt of the pipe. Also, I have endured considerable expense as a result of this y-pipe not
fitting properly as it should have. This additional expense is as follows:

1) Installation of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from oem to kinetix) = $40
2) Removal of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from kinetix back to oem) = $40
3) Shipping of y-pipe back to your company = $22.10

In my opinion, the fair and honorable thing for your company to do would be to credit me for #2 and #3 ($62.10 - in addition to the $300 that I have already paid Kinetix) as these expenses were a direct result of the poor fitment of your y-pipe on my vehicle.

Please be advised that the above email was forwarded on 10/17 and a similar email was forwarded on 10/28. I have received credit for $300, however I have not even received a response to the above email requesting additional credit for $62.10.

In my opinion, I should be entitled to reimbursement for the expenses I incurred removing and shipping a faulty product. What are your thoughts?

As for all the claims of Kinetix providing exceptional customer service, I think they are average at best. They have only credited me for a faulty product, which I have returned.

 

With all the problems these guys have had with most of the products they sell to us, plenum, cats, and now the Y pipe, makes you sort of wonder, doesn't it? Where's the testing that should be done prior to the release of any product to the public. Any Kinetix stuff for me? No thank you!!!.

Thanks for sharing.

Lou

 

Thanks for the info. Sorry you had to experience all that trouble.

 

I am sorry for your frustration about this, but...

Why didn't you just have the guy who installed the Y pipe remove the metal cross brace, cut a small piece out, weld it back together, and bolt it on again (thereby raising it up just ever so slightly to allow more clearance between it and the new Y pipe)?

As soon as my exhaust/muffler guy saw this brace (I pretty sure it's the same one you're talking about) after he installed my new Coupe midpipe, he immediately noticed that cross brace (and heat shield further back for that matter) was just barely touching the new midpipe, so he asked me if I wanted him to modify the cross brace so it doesn't touch and cause a rattle or vibration..."of course...do what you need to do," I said. ;-) Anyway, after he did what I mentioned above, the cross brace doesn't touch my Coupe midpipe, and the only "vibrations" I hear are from the sweet, deeper exhaust note of the new Coupe midpipe.

Although I cannot speak about this Y pipe; only my experience with installing my Coupe midpipe with a very similar, if not the same issue. I understand and appreciate your frustration, but maybe next time, you should hire a better technician...just a thought.



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Sport Wheels, Alum. Pedals, Tint, Z Tube, K&N, Coupe Midpipe<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by bsgoren on 11/07/04 07:32 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I am not a big promoter of the y-pipe any more. They look great, but the sound and performance gains are minimal to none, at least in my case. If you really want a good fitting y-pipe, the JIC Y-Pipe worked w/o incidence on my car.

I think I'll still preach the gospil of cats, plenum and z-tube, but will remove the y-pipe portion from the sermon... [img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Crawford "total package" is looking better and better to me...

 

It was not the cross brace that was the cause of the vibrations. Their was ample clearance between the cross brace and midpipe.

The main problem was that the driver side flex joint was touching the underbody of the car and regardless of adjustment we were unable to create clearance. This was the cause of the raspy sound and excess vibration.

 

Ok...got 'ya. Sorry for the confusion. Anyhow, like Neffster said...you're probably better off with the stock Y pipe anyhow. You could try the Coupe midpipe...it's awesome! ;-)



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Sport Wheels, Alum. Pedals, Tint, Z Tube, K&N, Coupe Midpipe

 

When I got my kinetix cats installed i had a very loud and noticable vibration coming from underneath the car due to the cats being shorter than the stock cats, we adjusted the headtshield and played with the exhuast hangers and it got better, than in two days it was gone. I guess the flex joints broke in and havent heard anything since. I feel like kinetix gets it too hard ,i am very pleased with all my products from them, the v4 plenum has done nothing but make me happy as well. Maybe you should of driven it around a bit more to see if it all settled in. The flex joints stretch and will a little more time i bet you could of solved your problem...

2003 Laser Red 6 spd coupe
Stillen Intake w\ Z tube
Kinetix HiFlo Cats & Plenum
U/R Crank pulley, 19" Gun
Metal DTM Kruez 10's.....
w\ Nav...

 

The stock y-pipe is not better than most aftermarket Y-pipes. It has been clearly shown by pictures alone that the stock Y-pipe has some bad bends and restrictive collector. If you are looking for a stock diameter Y-pipe the only choices I know of so far is the Kinetix and the NFC Motorsports. I have the NFC y-pipe myself and it fits fairly well. Had to use a bit of muscle to adjust it into final position before torquing down. Anyways besides that minor inconvience, the pipe fits good and the build quality is quite good. I've had no trouble with the pipe at all so far and the sound is good. No added volume, just a slightly deeper tone at lower rpm's. The only other thing some people may be concerned with is that the NFC y-pipe does not have any flex sections. Not sure if NFC is still around though as their website doesn't seem to be around anymore or down.

04' G35S 6MT Ivory Pearl, Willow, Premium
Z-Tube / NFC Y-Pipe / Custom Mid-Pipe / 350 EVO Rear Sway/ '03 350Z Shocks and Springs

 

Again, I have no experience wih any of these aftermarket Y pipes, but I almost got into the $190 TD Y pipe group buy, but decided to get the $235 Coupe midpipe instead. After a few people posted their neutral to somewhat negative impressions upon receiving and installing the new Y pipe (most said they didn't hear or feel a change in sound or power), I decided it wouldn't give me the real noticeably deeper exhaust note I was looking for.

I wanted a deeper (not necessarily louder) exhaust note -- more like the G35 Coupe and FX35/45, and maybe a little HP increase (which has not been determined although the Coupe midpipe is less restrictive than the stock Sedan's midpipe). SO, I figured for about the same $$ as the aftermarket Y pipe, I'll get what most people have highly recommended here on G35Driver.com...with the Coupe midpipe (with stock Y pipe) and Z tube of course ;-), the sounds of my G35 make me smile from the time I start her up (deeper exhaust note from the Coupe midpipe really noticeable from 0 - 2k rpm) to when she winds up to redline (Z tube of course from 3,500 rpm - redline)!



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Sport Wheels, Alum. Pedals, Tint, Z Tube, K&N, Coupe Midpipe

 

i just bought the kinetix y-pipe last week. i noticed the fitment issues that sux2bu had. sorry man. i realize that a lot of these problems about clearance are related to the coupe. any thoughts about the fitment for sedan's? the clearances are a little different between the two. bottom line is that the stock y-pipe isn't an engineering marvel, and nfc doesn't offer flex joints (which could create problems down the road), so this seems by best alternative.

 

Get the UT ypipe, no problems here.

 

Agreed... get the UT Y-pipe... no fitment issues whatsoever and fits like a glove. I guess that's the price premium you pay for something that has been test fitted on multiple cars and tried out. My mechanic even mentioned the great fitment, the nice welding, yada yada yada...

Nice little growl when you open it up too... no complaints here! [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

 

did you guys who got the ut y-pipe need that adapter for the larger outlet to fit the oem size mid-pipe?

 

people should have it to maximize the HP numbers. you'd probably be loosing 1-2 HP if not used. but some think its not worth the headache over to attach and weld, especially if you dont know a really good muffler or welding guy. bottom line:

people should have it to maximize power, but its not entirely necessary

matt


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