Can someone define exhausts for me

[noclue02]

ok im assuming this would just be a "talk" type thread. I am curious can some define what a cat back exhaust is exactly. Yeah it is an embarrassing question.lol. I was looking at exhausts and I can see the obvious H-pipe and X-pipes defs. I am assuming that a cat back means the pipes continue straight back without connecting. Is this assumption correct? Just something I was wondering about. Thanks

 

[wmburns]

A "cat back" exhaust system means everything from the cats backwards to the exit at the rear of the car.

Normally, there is a flange just behind the cats. This makes an easy point to split the exhaust system. The after market exhaust replaces everything from the flange backwards. This leaves the factory cats in place. By doing it this way, if avoids the expense of new cats as well as other issues that replacing the cats would entail.

 

[noclue02]

Oh ok. Thanks that was very helpful. I guess the phrase CATBACKS makes complete sense now...I appreciate it.