hey there, so yesterday i took off my exhaust to see what it sounded like without it cause i saw a cool STi without it and it sounded awesome, but the G didnt sound so good when i took it off pretty raspy...(i didnt even leave the neighborhood cause it would have been embarassing lol)

But i digress. Anyway when i removed the midpipe, the middle part of each gasket was crumbling away. These were the gaskets that came with my ARK grip exhaust, and they feel like low quality, condensed-cardboard cutouts. when i start to tighten back up they are bent like S shape... then when all is tight together, i put that middle exhaust support bar back on (which i prob shouldnt have cause even with a rag wedged in, it still makes noise against the fat middle part of the exhaust (which is why ive had it off since i first got the ARK grip exhaust many months ago))

Now after all is tight and ready to go, i started up the car and its still a little loud, definitely sounds like theres a hole in some of the gaskets... one of my friends with an evo 9 says it sounds so sick now lol...kinda like the warble sound of his car i dont really mind mine now cause it does sound awesome, but i'd rather have the smooth sound of the ARK back

To summarize, my question is this. Are metal gaskets better to use, and if so, where can i find some good quality metal ones?

Thank you

 

Fast intentions uses metal gaskets on theirs, according to the owner there you have to buy from them direct, I wasn't able to find them anywhere. Some of those cheaper ones are meant to be replaced after each time you take it apart put it together again.

also I heard some RTV sealant added to the gaskets helps a lot too, to help prevent them from getting burned through.

 

^ that, or u could just use high temp red RTV instead of the gasket for now.

 

According to FIs site, it costs $30/gasket ...anyone knoww how much an OEM gasket would cost?

 

There are totally different than OEM. FI's gaskets only made to work with their system. If you have an ARK, I'd contact them to the gaskets.

If you do want the FI ones, call Tony on the phone. He quotes me this via their contact page for gaskets:
2 bolt gasket (each): $10.50
3 bolt gasket (each): $12.50
All new hardware for the X Pipe: $7.00
Shipping through UPS ground to you: $12

I think the stock ones are graphite, you can get them on rockauto.com for reasonable price I think. But since you have ARK, I would contact them on what to use.