Exhaust drone and resonator use

Has anyone here experienced exhaust drone with an aftermarket exhaust AND installed a resonator after the fact that DIDN'T cure the drone? The reason I ask is that I bought a Dynomax cat back with the Ultra Flow muffler that sounds great except for when I'm cruising around town between 45-50mph. It's when the engine upshifts to 5th and the rpms drop to around 1300 that I get a head splitting drone from the exhaust.

This is the only time it happens and yes, I know I can downshift to 4th but I'd rather just lose the drone. I wouldn't mind if the resonator makes the entire exhaust range more quiet so long as it takes away the drone too. I'd just hate to have to pay for a resonator and cut the pipe only to find out that it didn't affect the drone at all.

Most of my google searches result in people recommending someone else try one for his or her drone problem yet I've yet to hear back from someone who purchased one and had it work specifically on the drone.


UPDATE: Okay, so I bought an Aero Turbine AR25 because ourdealsrock.com had one for $45. Unfortunately for me, it didn't cure the drone. On a positive note, the entire rev range sounds better with it but when the automatic upshifts and lugs the engine, the exhaust booms big time. So as per Dynomax's "sound guarantee", I'll exchange the Ultraflo out for the Super Turbo.

So since I've updated my situation I'll update my question out of curiosity.

Is there anyone out there with an aftermarket exhaust AND an automatic transmission that doesn't have low RPM exhaust drone? If so, what exhaust do you have or what steps did you take to eliminate it?

Final Update: I installed the Super Turbo muffler and it did not fix the problem. I do think the Super Turbo muffler sounds better and I prefer the way the engine responds with this muffler vs the Ultraflow but the drone still exists when the engine bogs due to the automatic transmission. I tried the new muffler with the resonator and it didn't make a difference at all. If I had a 6 speed then there wouldn't be any problems as I wouldn't let the engine bog like the auto does but until Toyota revises the gearing (worse mpg than auto) and fixes the rattling clutch/throw out bearings, I won't touch another one of their sticks. Sadly the stock exhaust is going back on this weekend.

 

I had success with adding a resonator to my exhaust setup. You will realize how loud it is once it is quited down a bit.

 

Hey thanks for the response. Did you have a specific speed and or rpm that it droned at or was your exhaust just too loud overall?

 

Is your exhaust dumped and do you have an intake? I have the 40 series Flowmaster and K&N intake and mine is dumped. Mine is a 6-spd and I never have any drone. It sure growls and sounds amazing. I guess being an automatic really can hurt trying to eliminate that.

 

I added the resonator because of a slight drone that after a while became annoying. I noticed it mostly during acceleration and shifting between 2nd and 3rd.

Now having the resonator, I appreciate the over quieter exhaust note that still sounds pretty darn aggressive when you step on it. Don't get me wrong though, it is louder than stock still.

 

Instead of the resonator why didn't you just change the muffler? You could have easily gone to bigger muffler to lower the tone and drone!

 

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. What size/brand resonator did you use and where did you install it?

The exhaust exits the rear passenger side exactly where the factory exhaust exits. The Dynomax has a great deep tone but when the engine lugs at 1300rpm in 5th it is just way too loud. The only way to get rid of it is to shift to 4th untill 50+ mph.

The ultra flow came with the cat back kit but Dynomax has offered to swap out that for a super turbo but I like the fact that the ultra flow is stainless steel.

 

I realize that. I like the performance gain of Aero Turbine. It was also very cheap to add the resonator. ~$50 installed.

I went with the Aero Turbine resonator (AR25). I had it welded in at a local hole in the wall muffler shop for about $15.

 

I've been struggling with this issue for a long time. You're right - there really isn't mush definitive info on fixing exhaust drone. I ended up ordering a Vibrant resonator and it just arrived. I'll have it installed this week and report back.

 

Thanks a bunch guys. I'll check out both the vibrant and the aero resonators.

 

Just wondering if you installed the vibrant yet? Also did you opt for their regular resonator or the ultra quiet resonator? I'm still torn between the ultra quiet and the Aero AR25.

 

Not yet - crazy week at work.
I went with the ultra-quiet
http://vibrantperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1021_1033_1055&products_id=46
It's very pretty sitting in it's cardboard box. maybe tomorrow if I can find a ride from the shop.

 

My drone is 2500-3000 rpm. Climbing hills with the engine in that range is head splitting. (running K&N CAI, DTLTs & Magnaflow cat-back) I really hope this resonator tones it down. I'll keep you posted

 

Thanks man. Let me know how it works out.

 

Well, the drone is coming from the DTLT's! This is happening because you opened up the flow of exhaust right from the engine.

 

bump for update

 

My dad has the Gibson cat back on his 07 and it doesn't drone like that. I just purchased mine and will let you know when I get it in how it sounds in the low and high rpm range.

 

Do you both have V6 automatics?

 

Yes to the V6 and he has the auto and I have the manual...

 

Well, there goes that theory. I wonder if it's just the nature of a straight through exhaust? The Ultraflo isn't really much different from the resonator I bought other than the fact that it's fatter. Hopefully the Super Turbo will fix everything. Thanks for the help everyone.