Poor Ford Racing axle-back quality, new system time?

[Power4]

I got a set of the Ford Racing GTA axle-backs several months ago and installed them myself. Just a few days ago one of the hangars on the passenger side muffler came right off. It looks like it rusted a little and the weld wasn't very good so it snapped. I decided to take the GTAs off and put my stock axle-backs on today when I noticed that the other side was doing the same thing. The bolts holding the brackets into the frame were way too tight for me to take off with the wrenches I have so the GTAs are stuck on there for now. I emailed the site a few days ago I bought the exhaust from and asked if there's a warranty on them but I have yet to hear back from them.

This is what I'm thinking... The GTAs looked and sounded nice, however the were a little more quiet than I would've liked and clearly they aren't built very well. I would like to get something a little louder and am thinking of ordering some Flowmasters or the Ford Racing GTs which I believe are made by Corsa. I'd have the local dealer install them for me since I can't get the freakin' bolts off.

Here's my question: Anyone know what kind of quality the Flowmasters or Ford Racing GTs are? Will they be able to stand up to rain and snow without rusting apart? Also any idea how much the dealer or a shop would charge me to take off my GTAs and put on the new system?

 

[partsbill]

I have the Ford Racing GT mufflers, they are actually made by Borla for Ford, quality is great, I have no complaints, they have a nice deep rumble at idle and are plenty loud at WOT, alittle drone around 1800 rpm's but it doesn't bother me, I get lots of compliments on how they sound, when you get on it heads turn.

 

[martimus]

Interesting... I've had a set of GTA's installed on my car for a year now and haven't experienced any problems with them whatsoever. After reading this I went out and checked the hangers and I don't see any rust or evident of weak welds. Well maybe you somehow got your hands on a set built on a friday...

 

[Power4]

Interesting... I've had a set of GTA's installed on my car for a year now and haven't experienced any problems with them whatsoever. After reading this I went out and checked the hangers and I don't see any rust or evident of weak welds. Well maybe you somehow got your hands on a set built on a friday...

LOL, maybe. I definitely haven't put any unusual stress on them or driven them through any incredibly awful weather. Just normal daily use. Yet they both broke. More and more I'm thinking I'll pick up the FRPP Stingers or the Borla version.

 

[wbstanggt]

The Flowmasters aren't bad, but I'd go with the FRPP stingers if I were to do it again I think.

 

[kooldawg6]

The Flows I had from 9/06-4/07 made it fine through the winter months with no signs of ill effect. I had to remove them due to broken baffles, but the set I now have have been perfect so far. I read horror stories of how they have the black bodies, that rocks will chip the paint off...not true at all! The only thing I have to do to them is keep the tips shiny. bigcat believes that since we have the O/R H, not all of the "stuff" gets burnt up before reaching the mufflers and "browns" my tips every few days. I used to have to scrub it with metal polish every 2 weeks. bigcat suggested that I try waxing the tips. After doing so, they clean right up with soap and water during every carwash I love my Flows

 

[Power4]

Thanks guys for the responses. My uncle has Flowmasters on his '05 GT and they do sound good. Not much louder than the FRPP GTAs I have on my '07 and I think I want something significantly more aggressive. Since I don't plan on putting in a different mid-pipe any time in the near future I definitely think I'm going to go with the FRPP Stingers. Anyone know what the difference is between the FRPP version and the actual Borla ones?

 

[bigcat]

bigcat believes that since we have the O/R H, not all of the "stuff" gets burnt up before reaching the mufflers and "browns" my tips every few days. I used to have to scrub it with metal polish every 2 weeks. bigcat suggested that I try waxing the tips. After doing so, they clean right up with soap and water during every carwash I love my Flows

glad it is working for you. i have had this set of flows for over two years with no problems. i had another set that was one of the first released to the public when they first came out that had no problems either in the short time i had them. the reason they came off is due to a tech using a sledge hammer on them when they were only a month old to remove them during a fuel tank swap. that ordeal took all summer to get worked out.