just installed my borla header's and what a sound and feel. really improved low end torque and h/p. i was wondering if you guys have any feedback(good or bad)_?

 

What year is your RS and did you changed the cats as well??

From what I read, they are not supposed to give much HP but they should add quite a bit of torque.

Phil =)

 

Where did you buy them from? That is what I'm looking to purchase next. I've heard that cracking is a big problem with them. Talked to a guy that cracked his first set, bought new ones and those cracked as well. Apparently you can't get any other headers at a comparable price. I still want to try them anyway to go along with my tanabe super racing medallion catback.

 

If it cracks you don't have to pull it off and ship it to Borla. I didn't have to when mine cracked. They told me to contact the place I bought it from which I did. Then Borla talked to the place I bought it from and they agreed that I could take it to a local shop to get it fixed which I did.

All I noticed was a difference in the sound of the exhaust but nothing in the way of torque and in reality it should cost you some low end response since its alot more free flowing then the orignal setup.


I got mine from Rennick Motorsports on nasioc for $195 shipped at the time which was a while ago.

 

I forgot to mention that I took it to Extreme Motorsports to actually have it fixed. I had to get an estimate on the work first however so I could fax it to the place I bought it from so that they could work it out with Borla.

 

For those interested you can buy headers direct from borla and in most cases at a lower price.

 

I want some Borla Headers installed, but the guy who installed my exhaust says that it will kill my warranty and my car will not pass smog (I live in California)...I also don't want a weld to crack and have to deal with the same thing that mysubaruimp dealt with...what do you guys think?

 

I do not know anyone in California who has been denied a smog cert with a Bolra header on their Impreza. The stock header does not have any smog equipment on it or connected to it and therefor you are not altering any of the smog equipment on the vehicle. Borla lists them for off-road use only, but that is because it is so expensive and there is so much paperwork to have them certified for road use in California.

As for voiding your warranty, they can only void your warranty if they can prove that your headers caused whatever failure you are having warrantied. It is just like any other mod in that respect.

As for the problem with cracking:
This usually happend because most people install them improperly. You should always install the header then re-connect your exhaust to it, some people seem to think you should install the header to the exhaust befoer you bolt it up to the engine. This causes undue stress on the headers and can cause them to crack. As a secondary precaution, if you are changing to an aftermarket exhaust, try and find someone to build you one that is flangeless, slips together and is spring loaded at the joints (like a motorcycle system). This allows the exhause to flex under hard driving conditions and relieves stress on the header. Some people say this type of system will have exhaust leakes, but if done right it shouldn't.

 

On my 2000 RS, I installed Borla headers, Random Tech cat and axle back STI muffler, no problems, definite power gain and the sound is awesome.

 

I live in California and I installed my Borla headers about 1,000 miles before I had to go get a smog test. They did not even notice anything different and didn't say anything. I even had the sticker on the window!