Best cat-back aftermarket for C4S?

I am having a recurring check engine light that keeps going back to the passenger side cat throwing a fault. Initial guess from mechanic is the cat on that side is toast. Going to have it diagnosed, but assuming it is, I am considering getting an aftermarket sstl cat-back exhaust system. Shout outs as to the best one from your experiences, and where to buy? Thanks, Roberto '02 C4S, 60K, bone stock, arctic silver

you could buy a oem cat on ebay, you can buy plenty of aft mkt exhaust parts on ebay, or agency power or maxspeed

With apologies for the pedantry, isn't a "cat-back" exhaust system the part after the catalytic converter(s)? So in our case just the mufflers and tips? Before shelling out $$$ on new cat(s), though, it's worth trying a couple of tankfuls of decent gas with a bottle of Techron in each. I had a CEL and P0430 code at one point after filling up with cheap gas. Now I use one BP station exclusively, because it's on the way home from work and has consistently one of the lowest prices around for "top tier" 93 octane fuel around, and no more CEL.

As Jimmy said - "cat-back" means "back of cat" so finding a cat back system isn't going to fix your cat problem

You need new cats not a catback.... I would get an X pipe with High flow cats... if I was in your position.

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...unless you live somewhere that mandates emissions testing. It is correct that a "cat back" exhaust does NOT include cats. The reason this term is so ubiquitous is because it denotes systems that do not affect your emissions. A cat back exhaust will not cause trouble when You get the car smogged; in CA, using ANY other catalytic converter (aftermarket, hi-flow/"sport" cats, and most definitely cat delete pipes) will result in failing the visual inspection, even if you pass the emissions test. The Cargraphic rebuild and buying new OEM or used cats off another 996 are our legal options in CA...

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Or buying a CARB legal weld in replacement.

I see you have 60k on the clock ad 14 years on the calendar, not unusual to need new a new cat(s) if I understand the intent of your question, mine "rattled" sooner than that and eventually popped a code consistent with a failed cat. So I replaced both the cats only (not mufflers or cat-back) with a Fabspeed 200 cell unit and have been very satisfied with it- and they sound better than stock. My car was bone stock too so I understand the angst of the first aftermarket component, but for me it was the right decision as I have been doing more DE's, I plan on lighter wheels and Cup tires next spring.

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+1 for sure, one of my cats started rattling around 65k and rather then the $2k per OEM cat I too went Fabspeed 200 cell sport cat x pipe. The sound is awesome!

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Any problems with emission testing...Fabspeed has a CARB label?

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Fabspeed does state that for California they are off road use only, and NOT C.A.R.B. certified... That is the kicker, I plan on either swapping back in the oem's or doing what I need when the time comes to smog...

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Thanks for the kind words guys! The 996/997s are notorious for factory cat failures, and we are happy to offer a quality Sport Cat X-Pipe replacement that at the same time nets you a bit more sound and performance Factory versus Fabspeed Pricing is at $2295, but fellow Rennlist members get a discount so give me a shout No CARB certification, but will pass a sniff test. You'll have to know someone that won't look at it visually, or swap it out for factory cats every 2 years.

I Do have emissions testing and I still pass with High Flow Cats.... they put our cars on rollers here (like a dyno) and get the readings in 2nd and 3rd gear

Passing the sniffer isn't the issue in California - we have visual inspections, and for some cars (like both of my sports cars) it's mandatory to have them inspected at "STAR" stations. "the STAR Program...establishes performance standards for Smog Check stations and inspectors...these stations and inspectors are provided vehicles that can only be inspected at a STAR-certified station [including] vehicles with emissions levels that exceed allowable state standards and vehicles most likely to fail their next Smog Check. Stations maintain their STAR certification by having their inspectors perform quality inspections on these higher polluting vehicles. " In other words, "we think there's a good chance your car might fail - or you might be one of those people who 'have to know someone that won't look at it visually.'" In addition to more rigorous inspections, the STAR stations are also monitored by the California Air Resource Board to make sure they're not doing favors to any buddies; the small business owners who operate the inspection stations get a smack-down from CARB if they're caught passing a car that should shouldn't have passed. As far as having a buddy who owns a station or "knowing a guy who knows a guy:" For the consumer - A civil penalty of at least $150, but no more than $1,000, may be assessed to anyone who attempts to fraudulently obtain a smog check or inspection. This also applies to anyone who attempts to fraudulently obtain a vehicle repair or hardship waiver, or CAP assistance. For the station owner - Fines and penalties for station owners can range between $5,000 to $250,000...Fines are almost always accompanied by the loss of the smog station's and smog technician's licenses....less serious offenses, usually due to negligence or improper training, the first fine is $1000.00. Subsequent offenses double to $2000 and triple to $3000; and the requirement to attend training classes apply in each case. I "know a guy" I could rely on for my cars to pass visual and the sniffer, but after reading up on how extensively CARB can punish a shop owner for trying to game the system, I reinstalled the factory cats on both the 911 and Corvette. I'd rather lose a couple of peak HP/torque somewhere on the curve than put a friend out of business (or ask for a favor that results in a huge fine...).

Fabspeed should buy a bunch of the CARB certified cores and weld them up to new pipes and market them to us poor californians with rattly stock cats. I'd think they'd sell a lot of them over time. The cores are around $250 each...

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+1 Garrett, when you say the cores are $250, you mean the actual catalyst? The part I could have welded into my cats? Or that's a core charge if I turn mine in?

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Hey JJ, hope all is well! Yes, $250 is for the can that you then weld onto your old pipes. This would be easy for someone with a cat jig already like Fabspeed... Think of all those boxsters, 996's, 997's... if I didn't already have a day job...

It isn't just the cores that need to be certified, it is the entire exhaust component. The changes our products necessary for CARB certification would warrant them negligible for performance and sound improvement. It is also ridiculously expensive and time consuming to go through a CARB certification process, the end product would be much too expensive for what it is to try and offset the time and money invested.

If you've ever wondered why the CA car scene has changed so much in the past 50 years, when it used to be the epicenter of the US's car culture, it's CARB. CARB certification pretty much makes it impossible for any small business owner to manufacture and sell a product that might have anything to do with emissions. Ruger and Smith & Wesson don't even bother trying to sell guns in California now due to microstamping and other loony requirements. The California Coastal Commission has done everything they can to keep people who own coastal property from being able to use it as they want. I love living here, but the whole nanny state thing is getting REALLY old.

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How do all the highly modified GTR's, Stangs, Camaro's Evo's ect... get by with that? There are soo many videos on line of highly modified cars all CA plates? The smoking tire's video channel for example

There's an 6-year exemption for smogging new vehicles - so you can do whatever you want to a new car and not worry about it until the 7th year (based on model year, not sales year or year first put into service). The smog situation here had been easy to defeat up until a few years ago when they started dropping the hammer on shops that were gaming the system (like smogging a shop car in place of a customer car, etc.). They have only recently been getting really bad with the visual inspections - previously, if you could get it running well enough to pass the tailpipe sniffer, you were pretty much good to go. Show cars, dedicated track/drag cars, etc. can all be registered PNO (planned non-operation); you don't have to smog them, but you're not legally allowed to operate them on public roads. Anything 1975 and older is exempt - you can build a twin-turbo 1,000 monster Camaro on a 1975 chassis and register it no problem. My nephew did not ask me before he bought a Camaro and bought a '76 - rookie move. RE: performance upgrades: "Engine performance upgrade components such as upgrade ECU, turbo units, exhaust headers, intake manifolds, and other emissions related components can pose smog check problems, however if proof is shown that the upgrade units are legal for use in California (they posses an EO number) or they are OEM parts, they will not cause a vehicle to fail the California smog check." There are lots of other rules that are much harder to enforce - for example, a monster lopey cam that sounds awesome probably isn't legal ("No internal or external engine modifications (cams, pistons, intakes, etc.) may be performed unless the parts are ARB-exempted or EPA-certified for use in the installed engine."), but if you're discreet and the tech can't tell it's not stock (and you pass emissions) there's no way to ding you. There used to be some wiggle room for dropping larger, newer motors into older cars, but now they dictate what chassis/engine combinations are kosher: "Engine and emission control systems must be in an engine-chassis configuration certified by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."

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Professor 5CHN3LL at your service! Very well said and informative information!

I'm still not sure if the OP just wants new cats or completely new exhaust (including cats). So, setting aside the whole cat question, I will offer that I love the Fabspeed exhaust in my C4S. -Eric

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Much agreed. Mike

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Thanks for the kind words Eric!