aFe Exhaust System

I installed a complete aFe Exhaust System this weekend on my 2006 Taco. This installation included new SS Headers w/ cats, SS Y-Pipe, SS Cat Back, and SS Polished tip.

First thing I did after purchase and delivery (by the way, the guys at aFe were great.) was to read the instructions and get the Taco on stands and gather the tools and expendables required to do the job. After that I sprayed all bolts / nuts with penetrant. I am doing this in my garage at home on the floor.

Next day (sat) I started the disassembly of my exhaust system. Started at the rear moving toward the front. Used an offset grinder with a metal cutting blade to help ease the removal. My Taco is almost 14 years old with 147K on the clock. I am not interested in saving my old exhaust except the exhaust manifold. One issue is that once I start, there is no return to the old system. Kind of painting myself in the corner. Removing the old exhaust is pretty easy up to the exhaust manifold. Some of the 12 MM nuts on the exhaust studs on the exhaust were really rusty and did not want to budge. So I applied applied heat and melted bees wax and even more penetrant. It is very important to get your 12 MM socket or wrench completely on the 12MM nut. Otherwise you will round the nut off and then you will be in a world of hurt and have to remove the stud. Bad Mojo on that. Be very careful with those rusted 12 MM nuts. Get some help to make sure from under your Taco to make sure you are on those 12 MM nuts. In order to get to the exhaust manifold nuts I removed the front wheels and mud flaps inside the wheel well and Air Cleaner.
Getting the exhaust manifold off was the most difficult task. Take your time, use lots of penetrant. Get fully on those 12 MM bolts.

Sunday, I started to assemble the new exhaust. Started with the new exhaust headers. New exhaust manifold gaskets do not come with the new aFe Exhaust, so I had previously ordered a new set that is multi layer steel from Mahle. They cost more but they are premium gaskets. I had to have help mounting the exhaust manifolds. The space is tight so your need one person underneth the Taco and one above. I had purchased new exhaust nuts and they went on fine but you need to be somewhat of a contortunist to get to a few. I used blue Loctite on the nuts. I used a wrench on most from various positions. Once the headers were bolted in the rest of the exhaust was no issue. Just assemble everything losely and then align and tighten the exhaust system. Oh, as I assembled the header back exhaust I used anto seize liberally on any fastener.

Heat cycled the Taco and let it cool, then checked the header nuts for proper tightness while it was on jack stands. The front O2 Sensors had to be taken off their mounts so they could reach each other. The rear O2 sensor were long enough. So far no issues, no leaks. But the Taco is back in service. During normal driving the truck in not too loud, but when you floor it it sounds like sporty and is a little loud, not too bad.

This was a difficult install and I would not recommend doing this unless you are a good mechanic. There are many possible pitfalls with the exhaust manifold. But I am very happy now that it is done.

 

I have to figure out how to upload pictures again as I have done it in some time. SO,.. give me a while and I will post the pictures.

I got a Check Engine Light a few days after installing the exhaust system. Truck runs fine. I am pretty sure the CEL is coming from the rear O2 sensors. So I ordered a set of Sensor Extenders and installed them. So far the CEL is not illuminated. SO far.

If that does not work I will build and install a Low Pass Filter in series with the O2 Sensors.

Been keeping a eye on the Nuts and Bolts on the Exhaust System to make sure nothing loosens up. SO far,..so good.

 

By the way. The performance of my Taco is much much better with the K&N Intake and aFe Exhaust System. Probably need to look at a Tune to get the most out of the mods. Alot more air is flowing through the engine now so the Air Fuel mixture may need to be tweeked.

Was looking at the stock toyota exhaust manifold. What a POS. It reminded me of a Model A Ford Exhaust Manifold. Very primitive. I do not understand why Toyota would manufacture an exhaust manifold like that. Toyota makes a wonderful truck, but I expected better on that component.

 

I was interested in getting the manifold and y-pipe combo, but was wondering how it was with the check engine light and being able to pass emissions. The details say it uses a high flow cat and was wondering what code it threw and were you able to fix it?

 

Placebo effect

 

This thread is worthless without pics!

 

Update on aFe Exhaust installation: After installing the aFe Exhaust I started getting a CEL (Check Engine Light). My TACO ran fine but I wanted to get rid of the CEL. Since I had no CEL until I installed the Exhaust System, I thought my O2 Sensors were good. But I ran the codes and the codes indicated a rear O2 Sensor was bad. So I removed them and checked continuity on the heater portion of the o2 sensor. It indicated 13 ohms on each O2 sensor (good). I tried the O2 sensor extenders and still got a CEL. I tried a low pass filter in series with the rear O2 sensors with no result. Then I ordered a pair of new Denso O2 Sensors from Rock Auto (All the parts you will ever need.) installed them and Viola! The CEL is gone.
The old O2 Sensors had 147k on them, so they were due for replacement. I may replace the front O2 Sensors now for good measure, even though they are twice as expensive and the TACO runs fine.

Looking back, I probably should have replaced all the O2 Sensors when I installed the new exhaust system. As for pictures of the exhaust. There is not much you can see when on the truck. So go to the aFe website if you want some pictures of the exhaust. Warning,..this exhaust system is loud. But as long as you keep your foot out of it, it is OK. But when you put the accelerator down, it IS loud. That combined with the K&N Intake System it is LOUD. However, the truck runs much much better than stock, even with 147K on the clock.

I would not recommend this mod for everyone, but as for me,..I LIKE IT!

 

I have a 2013 6mt TRD Sport and I had the same exhaust installed by a friend since the header installation was way over my head. Which AFE muffler did you get? I got the
Rebel with the two black exhaust tips and it dumps in front of the rear axle. I love the growl when I am running errands around town, but the drone at highway speeds drives me insane sometimes. I spent a lot of money so I am going to try to live with it for as long as I can. Down the road I may swap out the muffler. Thinking about dynomatting the doors and floor to minimize the drone on the highway. I only put a drop in "dry" AFE reusable air filter. Do you think I would get more benefit out of a CAI? Seems like I opened the exhaust side wide open, but didn't open up he intake enough.

First post by the way.

 

I purchased the complete aFe headers w/ catalytic, Y-pipe, cat back with the chrome tips. Earlier I had installed the K&N Intake system. Together these two mods really increase airflow in and out of the motor which translates to more HP.
The only difficult thing about the header install is dealing with corroded nuts on the exhaust manifold. It is not over your head. Te drone is not too bad, in fact at highway speeds, not bad at all. But when you experience WOT it is quite loud.
I am sure I could have squeezed more power if I went without catalytic, but I wanted to maintain some legality regarding emmisions. One could change out the muffler if you wanted a quieter exhaust. Best of Luck!

 

Sounds like we have a very similar exhaust. I did the AFE headers with cats, Y pipe and cat-back as well. Mine drones at highway speeds and idles loudly when I first start it up in morning. Neighbors probably hate me when I start it at 4 am. Luckily I usually drive a different vehicle to work. Going to try to live with it for now.

 

Now that you guys have had this installed for a couple years do you still like the setup?

I have their cai, y pipe, and just bought the headers to install next weekend. I have the trd cat back and plan to stick with it. I'm hoping the headers don't push the sound level to much further. Either way im sure ill have to dynomat the hood, doors, and floor

 

Drooooooone. Droooooooooone.

Buy an exhaust in your twenties so you can hate it in your thirties. It’s the circle of life.

 

LOL I hope I'm able to get a few more years out of it before it starts to annoy me, if it even does [current setup is very mild / no droning] Then at that point it'll just be a toy or ill sell it to the next 20 something Taco lover

 

Welcome to the best damn Tacoma forum on the interwebs

 

Cmon! Let's see the exhaust! I would like to see under carriage pics if possible!

 

Once I get my clutch and headers installed in the next few weeks I'll try to get some uploaded

 

@WebberLander I'm no photographer but here ya go.

Also, I really enjoy this setup! Nice calm and throaty when I'm keeping it under 2k. Then a nice deep brAAAAAP when I lay into it over 2.5k.

I have the whole truck matted too though and I know that makes a difference just fyi

 

Do the headers and y pipe really make a difference in power?

i installed a afe stage 2 intake that was supposed to give me 24hp……didn’t feel it at all. Just a bunch of noise that I hated when going up hills so removed it.

 

@pahaf honestly I really believe it has made a difference. Lower end not as much, maybe just slightly. I really notice it from 2.5k to 3.5-4k. Of course this is all based off of what I feel from driving it, I've not done a dyno test.

I did the same thing. I installed their momentum intake package before messing with the exhaust and I think they claim some crazy numbers with that one as well. I barely noticed any change with just the intake.

Really all of this has been done in preparation to install a maggie