URD Spec-U Exhaust, 2016+ Tacoma V6 AC/LB, DC/SB

What route did you go? The same Vibrant resonator Yzkiley used? I'd love to hear an audio clip.

 

I went with the vibrant resonator. It sounds much better. I will try to get a clip next time I go for a drive.

 

Is it just me, or are the flanges on the Spec-U front pipes just painted mild steel? Not stainless like the rest of the piping and flanges?

I'll take a pic later, but when I was working on the install last night, the flanges that bolt to the front cats really look like they've been spray-painted silver... They're noticeably different in texture and color relative to everything else.

Update: here's a pic. If that isn't spray paint, what is it?

 

I also want to point out this Spec-U exhaust drones like hell.

After a couple days with it stock, I had to do something so I installed a Vibrant 1142 resonator (https://vibrantperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=47) in the same spot a couple other people have, in front of the muffler and after the V-band joint. This is the quietest resonator Vibrant makes; much more quiet than a bottle-style resonator, they claim. It reduced the drone by about 20-30% (subjective), without affecting the rest of the sound by much, but it's still head-ringing between ~2000-3000 RPM. Right in the band where your RPMs fall most of the time... At higher revs this exhaust is almost silent. It's too quiet at high revs and really boomy at common cruising RPM!

This isn't my first performance exhaust on a daily driver, but it sure is the most droning. I just emailed URD requesting advice.

 

Yep.... it's extremely annoying at certain RPM's. I've been considering adding a hemholtz resonator as well.

 

URD replied back. To paraphrase, "No one else has reported dissatisfaction with this exhaust, so it must just be you." Yeah, sure. I doubt I'm the only person in this thread that has written to URD.

I wonder how the nifty equal-length sound would be affected if I installed a resonator on just one of the exhaust legs before they merge? Only the driver's side 2.25" pipe has enough straight length in it to allow easy install of a resonator. Maybe something like this: https://vibrantperformance.com/cata...=1701&osCsid=6a76c5efca50c0471cf2e64ac674eee0

The passenger side header has only a very short section of straight pipe. Even a 12" resonator might be out of the question without serious re-work.

 

anyone have or know the length of the magnaflow muffler that's used on this system? Im looking to getting it but want to change out the muffler to a different one

 

I ended up taking off my URD Spec-U (even after installing a resonator) a few days ago after having it installed for about 9 months, because the drone was more than I could stand. While I miss the bark when blipping the throttle for a downshift, the peace and quiet of the stock exhaust is fucking bliss.

 

Yea that’s why I want to change the muffler itself. Magnaflow sucks IMO. Major drone from my experience. I have a corsa performance diesel muffler that gives off zero drone in cab. I just like the equal length and size everything else the spec u has.

 

The Magnaflow muffler body is 22×12×5.

I like the equal-length sound a lot, too, but the build quality on this exhaust is subpar. The merge/collector piece was a real bear to get aligned with the post-cat runners. There's also no flex joint in the URD exhaust, unlike the stock one, so sometimes the engine is trying to move in ways the URD exhaust doesn't like... You get some creaking/flexing sounds from the exhaust just driving casual in town around 2000 RPM, and if you're full-throttle for an extended time at that RPM (like driving up a mountain road) it gets even worse.

Also, one of the exhaust hangars on the URD was welded wayyyy off angle -- it would have rubbed against the frame if I hadn't cut it off. Oh, and the exhaust doesn't use flanges and gaskets: it's all slip joints and clamps. URD doesn't get a free pass on that just because it's aftermarket. At this price range there are other aftermarket exhausts going the extra mile to use flanges.

These issues, combined with the owner's cavalier attitude towards customer complaints, have completely soured me on a $1200 purchase. Buying it was a bad decision.

 

thanks. I appreciate the info!

 

Having swapped back to the stock exhaust, I realize now that I lost some low-end power (up to ~3000 rpm) from the larger pipe diameter of the URD.

Yes, I also gained some high-end power with the URD, but overall I think the truck is more driveable with the stock exhaust, and I can live my life without excessive drone on the highway.

 

Finally installed mines on TRD Pro. There was a revision made to it as shown in the video below.

https://youtu.be/A0LhPalnAgM

I changed the magnaflow on the spec-U system with a black widow 10” widowmaker muffler. Here’s the first start up video with revs to redline. Didn’t get to drive it around yet. Will have vids later.

https://youtu.be/UaqNuGsJ7Ek

 

Wait this sounds good

 

Thank you sir!

 

@BearWithMe: someones a druid around here.

 

That does sound very good. I just ordered the exhaust, if mine sounds like this I’d be very happy. So it now comes with a resonator?

 

Yours will not sound like this..... he has changed out the muffler from the one supplied in the kit....

 

Accord to gadget, that was the latest revision. I changed out my muffler that it came with. I think yours will sound a lot milder like the ones here but pretty similar to mines. I can’t vouch for that though since I never did test it with the provided muffler.