I just installed my HKS and the drone is HORRID between 1,800 and 2,400 RPM - cruising around town in the 25-40mph range is driving me batty - I did not install a gasket between the midipipe and the HKS - could this be my problem??? any other suggestions would be appreciated - if I can't get this fixed the stock unit will be going back on this weekend.

 

Wow I don't think I've heard a drone complaint about a sedan single HKS system. But that's exactly where my drone USED to be on my Borla true dual before the X pipe install.

Might try putting the sedan middy back in.

 

EXACT same reason why I ditched my old X02. drove me NUTS on long trips

 

It should have come with a gasket. If it did not I would get a stock gasket and put it on. I have no drone and think it is almost too quiet, but much better than stock.

 

that's normal and it's really not that bad once you get used to it. if not, stock is the way to go for you.

 

Lots of people experience this drone, except with the coupe midpipe and HKS combo. I definitely did not experience it when I only had the HKS though. Just use MM (manual mode) and stay above the droning RPM range. I rarely used MM until I added my coupe midpipe (w/ HKS). I use it now to avoid the drone, and because I can't get enough of my sweet exhaust note

 

Are you sure you're not confusing drone with an exhaust leak? I would suggest tightening all the bolts with an impact gun or heading to a muffler shop and have them do it.

Does your car sound like you swapped a rusted out muffler from an 88 Corolla?

 

The sound at start-up is pure sweetness - driving the car at highway speed 65-80 is almost like stock.
The around town and heavy traffic stuff is killing me. I will get a gasket and tighten up everthing again to see if it helps.

 

I have a Stock 05 Sedan. I have taken my tips off and cleaned them up, but the rest of the muffler looks like poo, and it is fairly noticeable. I am not looking for more power, or more or less sound, or anything really other than a cleaner look. Power gain and weight savings would only be bonuses for me.

I have held off on getting this (or really any exhaust) because of drone complaints. I absolutly love the stock sound and really enjoy its tone. When i want race sound I drive my Z with the ti fuji on it.

So from this thread i have read that if i bolt up the HKS muffler only to my all stock 05, I should be happy with the sound? I cant find any decent sound clips on youtube or in the exhaust compilation sticky of just a stock 05 with muffler only.

 

Wow you're on cams and headers but still use the stock catback? How do you like your big bore TB? Any ecu issues with running that?

 

No thats all for the Z. Its confusing because the signature wont do 2 lines.

 

Oh but I still have the BB TB question. How do you like it?

 

Unfortunately, you are right, it does drone.

However, drone is very subjective from people to people.

For example, when I first owned my stillen TD gen1, I absoluetely loved it for the first two years, I then moved on to stock exhaust. Afterwards, I was testing my luck again with coupe middy and HKS rear section. But once again, I liked it for the first month but sold it shortly after... (switching to 05/06 sedan middy didn't help much)

my 2 cents

 

OP, have you thought about sound insulating your car? You get to keep the exhaust sound when you open your window, but shouldn't hear it with them closed.

 

dynomatting will help but not much, indeed, I did all my doors and the whole trunk area.

btw, I remember someone (it might have been Tony from FI) mentioned that the droning has something to do with the resonance frequency of the cabin.
I am not sure whether having the two extra doors make the cabin more drone prone, since I hear a lot less complain about droning among the coupe/Z guys.