Performance Exhaust Upgrade
Apexsupplydirects upgrades exhaust systems from cat-back to full header swaps. Mandrel-bent pipework, correct hanger positions and a tune check that confirms the ECU is happy. If you want a note that sits right at cruise, we tune the pipe size to your engine, not to a generic recipe.
What goes into a performance exhaust
Pipe diameter, collector length and muffler type all shape both the note and the torque curve. Too big and you lose scavenging low in the rev range. We measure the factory system, check what the ECU allows, and build the replacement to suit. Every joint is TIG welded or uses band clamps, hangers are replaced rather than reused, and clearance to the body and suspension gets checked when the car is on the ground, not just in the air.
- Mandrel-bent 304 stainless tube sized to the engine's flow, not one-size-fits-all
- TIG welds and band clamps on every joint, no crushed pipe bends
- Replacement rubber hangers fitted so the system sits clear of the body
Backpressure is not a rumour
The old myth says an engine needs backpressure. What it actually needs is gas velocity. Too large a pipe slows exhaust pulses at low rpm and torque drops. We size the tube to keep velocity high at road speed, which is where you actually spend the day.
Fabricating since 2012
Built by people who weld for a living
Apexsupplydirects has run a TIG bench on site since 2012. The same fabricator who cuts the tube is the one who welds and test-fits it, so nothing gets outsourced. We keep 304 stainless in common diameters and a small range of flanges on the wall, so a cat-back can usually go from drawing to fitted in one day, provided a scan of the underside checks out.
- One fabricator from drawing to final fit, no subcontracted pipework
- On-site TIG welder with argon purge, so welds inside the pipe stay clean
- Underside scan before quote, so nothing surprises you on the hoist
Exhaust packages and what you get
Quoted from a scan of your vehicle. Cat-back prices include fitting; header swaps include the tune check.
Axle-Back Muffler Swap
- 304 stainless rear muffler and tailpipe
- Reuse factory hangers where serviceable
- Note check at idle and 2,500 rpm
- Street-legal dB reading confirmed
Cat-Back System
- Mandrel-bent 2.5 in cat-back in 304 stainless
- Centre resonator plus rear muffler for cruise comfort
- All new rubber hangers and band clamps
- Clearance and heat-shield check on the ground
Header and Cat-Back Build
- Extractors and high-flow cat included
- Full system TIG welded on the bench before fitting
- ECU checked for fuel trim and O2 readings
- Before and after dyno graph supplied
The path from first call to fitted system
Six steps, and each one gets a checkpoint sign-off before the next begins.
Consultation and engine spec
We log engine code, factory pipe size and emissions gear, then ask about target note and daily driving mix.
Underside scan and quote
The car goes up, we photograph the run from manifold to tailpipe, and confirm what will clear the body.
Pipe and muffler selection
You pick the note from three recorded samples on the same engine. Each sample shows the pipe size used so you hear what you are buying.
Bench fabrication
Tube is cut and mandrel bent, joints are TIG welded with argon purge, and the section is trial-fitted off the car before final assembly.
On-car fit and clearance check
System goes on with new hangers, gets warmed to operating temp, then checked again with the car on its wheels for clearance.
Tune check and note confirmation
ECU fuel trims read at idle, cruise and full load. A drive-by dB reading is provided so you know what the neighbours will hear.
Recent builds on the bench
Customers who wanted a proper note and a clean install, not just a louder muffler.
Exhaust questions, answered
No upsell, no scare tactics, just what actually applies to your car.
Only if the current system is the bottleneck. On a stock engine, a pipe that is too large loses low-end torque. We measure the current system and match the size to the ECU tune and cam, not to a rule of thumb.
Most street kits we fit land comfortably under the drive-by limit for the vehicle class. We give you the dB reading and the testing conditions, so there is a record if you get pulled over.
Usually no. The factory ECU has enough trim range to cope. Header swaps are different because the O2 sensor location moves, so we always check fuel trims after those.
One day in most cases. If the factory manifold bolts come off clean and the underside scan shows no surprises, we can have you back on the road by close of business.
It depends on the resonator choice. We fit a centre resonator by default on daily drivers because it cuts 2,000 to 2,600 rpm drone without killing the top-end note. Track builds skip it on request.
Book an exhaust consult
Send the engine, the year and what you are chasing from the sound. We book exhaust consults into morning slots so you get the car on the hoist before midday.
- +61 7 3824 9176
- apexsupplydirects@gmail.com
- Level 11, 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Saturday by appointment only.