Bushwacker / Exhaust Woes

Hey guys, long time reader, short time member here chiming in for some input.

So my stock fender flares on my 05 were faded and clear coat had started to peel on the drivers side. After much debate, I pulled the plug and went with Bushwackers. Reading through the directions, they suggest you keep a minimum of 4" from the flares to the exhaust, and with the stock pipe untouched, the distance between is sitting at 2.5". I would think that if the pipe were too close to begin with, I'd see evidence from the stock flares (which appear unaffected).

I was reaching out to any of you folks that are running Bushwackers, have ya'll moved the pipe or just left it as is? Any notice on changes in performance/appearance? I'd rather not go cutting on the pipe if I really don't need to.

Much appreciated.

 

Let me know how it's goes as the bushwacker fender flares will be my next purchase.

 

I've already got the flares on...they look better than I expected, and weren't too bad to get on. I didn't paint them, I think I'll go Line-X next summer and just leave them black, even though the truck is Impulse Red. I've seen them paint-matched, and they look great, but flat black hasn't looked too bad either. It grows on me more and more.