HELP!!! Anyone that has installed a Stainless Works Cat Back System

jcastag · 04-06-2019, 11:47 PM

Before I tell the full nightmare story and the lesson I have learned on this SW exhaust, let me try to get help on the major installation issues I have having with this SW Full Cat Back NPP/AFM $2500 exhaust system. Now keep in mind, I have installed countless systems on cars over the last 25 years of working on cars...NEVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS!

I am hoping someone that has personally installed this system can provide some feedback on thier experience.

I attempted to install per the instructions that came with the system. Removed the full stock exhaust first, pretty easy, but definitely challenging while laying on your back and doing in alone. But stock was removed, no problems, all good.

Right from the get go, installing the left side lead pipe from to the primary cat was an issue. SW gives a 2.25' clamp in the kit, the instructions clearly say 2.25" clamp, but it is NOT possible that a 2.25 clamp will fit on this pipe. The clamp is about the same size as the clamp - fully expanded with the nut taken off, and even then it will not go out the pipe. OEM clamp is 2.5", but that is a bit too big for the pipe as the EOM design pipe has a raised iip around it. I reached out to SW works to tell them the clamp does not fit, they send me another 2.25" clamp and a 2.5" clamp. NEITHER ONE FITS!!!!

Installed the right side lead pipe, appear to be no issues, bolted in.

Install the crossover/x pipe and "seemed" to go on with no issues. I did the rubber mallet and block of wood trick to gently tap and make sure it was seated to the lead pipes. Clamps on loosely, I am not sure, but I still have a feeling its not seated all the way.

Left side intermidiate pipe, slipped on, think this was fine at the time, but once installed I believe this was an issue part as well. More to come once I have the left muffler on......

Right side intermediate pipe. This is I think another trouble spot. Once both intermediate pipes were slipped on, I did the rubber mallet and wood block to make sure they were seated. Right side piple is NOTICEABLY longer (sticks out further) than the left intermidiate pipe, maybe 1.5" or more! There seems to be a major issue here!! Quality control? Cut incorrectly? The other issue here is it seems a bit to close for comfort to the drive shaft....could be dangerous. NOT ACCEPTABLE!

Left muffler and tip pipe, again this seened to go on with no issues, slipped right on. BUT, here is where the potential issue with the left side intermediate pipe comes into play. Once it seated, the tips seem like they are recessed a little too far under the diffuser. I actually had to "unseat" it a bit to make the tips even close to even on both sides. This side actually seems like there is a pipe or part that was vut too short. Again, NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

Now for the final piece, and major problem spot. I guess when there are issues with pieces ahead of this, it all comes out in the end right??

Right side muffler and tip pipe. This is a joke. The tips stick out several inches more on the right side than the left side. And they stick out very far from the diffuser, to the point where about 2/3 of the enitre tip is outside the diffuser. This is either an issue with the right side intermediate pipe cut too long, or muffler pipe too short, or both.

I honestly cannot believe the issues with this exhaust, and at at $2500 price point is truly is NOT ACCEPTABLE and based on numerous times I have reached out to SW with problems on this installation, it should have been resovled by a replacement (and proper) system being shipped to me ASAP!!! YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!!!

Now for the full story.

This has been a nightmare from the start. I actually ordered the exhaust at the end of November. After going back and forth every few days with the vendor, I was given the runaround, shipped, not shipped, ship next week, ship in a few days, etc....

The exhaust finally arrived some time in January!! YES! JANUARY!!

It was a few more weeks before I could get the time to install it, but when I did, I encountered the issues listed above. That was the 1st time I installed it!

Since I could not get it to line up, I went back to it a few weeks later, and uninstalled the ENTIRE exhaust, and reinstalled it again. Guess what??? SAME EXACT ISSUES!

So today, it was a nice day, I figured I would try to finally line this thing up. So I take it entirely apart again, and reinstall yet again! SIX HOURS TODAY taking it apart and fighting to get this piece of garbage aligned. And its not better than it was the first 2 times!!!

I am at the point now where I am going to reach out to Stainless Works as clearly there is a defect somewhere in the manufacturing process, cutting process or bending process that is not allowing this system to install correctly. But to make it worse, I feel that there are issues with a few pieces, and it is not just 1 part.

If Stainless Works is not responsive and does not take accounability for what is most likely an obvious manufacturing issue, I feel that I will need to reach out to my credit card company and possibly an attorney. I have invested probably 16-17 hours in this exhaust, and it should only take maybe 2-3 to install????

To put it mildly I am FURIOUS with this. I should have followed my gut and spent the extra bucks for a reputable exhaust company.

Warrior102 · 04-07-2019, 05:47 AM

I thought this sounded familiar I thought another member had the same issue but it was you. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549608

Anyway, it sounds like you've come to the end of the road and you know what needs to be done, cutting or modifying it will definitely ensure that you own it. Request a chargeback, write to the BBB, your states attorney general, and anyone that will listen. I know this doesn't help but from personal experience, I can recommend AWE, I have the cat back touring (resonated) and it fit like a glove and took maybe two hours to install including jacking the car up.

jcastag · 04-07-2019, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrior102

I thought this sounded familiar I thought another member had the same issue but it was you. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549608

Anyway, it sounds like you've come to the end of the road and you know what needs to be done, cutting or modifying it will definitely ensure that you own it. Request a chargeback, write to the BBB, your states attorney general, and anyone that will listen. I know this doesn't help but from personal experience, I can recommend AWE, I have the cat back touring (resonated) and it fit like a glove and took maybe two hours to install including jacking the car up.

I am honestly so fed up with this piece of crap. The problem is the exhaust "checked all the boxes" for what I needed. Removal of secondary cats, kept AFM in tact and kept NPP in tact.....

Scottyz · 04-07-2019, 08:37 AM

I have never dealt with any catbacks on a 6th Gen Camaro yet but I have to ask:
Are some of the pipes interchangeable from side to side?
I realize you are more than competent to install exhaust but maybe a section has to be flipped side to side. I’ve been a licensed mechanic for close to 25 years and sometimes dumb things can get past you. I’m probably wrong but.....

Anyhow that sucks that you are having this issue. Definitely a kick in the nuts. Hope you get it resolved quickly.

jcastag · 04-07-2019, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottyz

I have never dealt with any catbacks on a 6th Gen Camaro yet but I have to ask:
Are some of the pipes interchangeable from side to side?
I realize you are more than competent to install exhaust but maybe a section has to be flipped side to side. I’ve been a licensed mechanic for close to 25 years and sometimes dumb things can get past you. I’m probably wrong but.....

Anyhow that sucks that you are having this issue. Definitely a kick in the nuts. Hope you get it resolved quickly.

Haha funny you ask... I thought of that too but no all in the right places

OVRKLL · 04-07-2019, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottyz

I have never dealt with any catbacks on a 6th Gen Camaro yet but I have to ask:
Are some of the pipes interchangeable from side to side?
I realize you are more than competent to install exhaust but maybe a section has to be flipped side to side. I’ve been a licensed mechanic for close to 25 years and sometimes dumb things can get past you. I’m probably wrong but.....

Anyhow that sucks that you are having this issue. Definitely a kick in the nuts. Hope you get it resolved quickly.

That was my thought as well...speaking from experience.
Right/Left or Front/Back.

enzia35 · 04-07-2019, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcastag

I am honestly so fed up with this piece of crap. The problem is the exhaust "checked all the boxes" for what I needed. Removal of secondary cats, kept AFM in tact and kept NPP in tact.....

Borla has midpipes and axle back that does the trick. Just saying.

jcastag · 04-10-2019, 12:24 AM

So I gave Stainless Works about 3 days to get back to me and do the right thing... Guess what...

Not a single response from any of the 4 contacts that I have.

Totally unacceptable

Scottyz · 04-10-2019, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcastag

So I gave Stainless Works about 3 days to get back to me and do the right thing... Guess what...

Not a single response from any of the 4 contacts that I have.

Totally unacceptable

Looks like I won’t be using their system.

jcastag · 04-11-2019, 08:10 PM

This has been a super crazy week at work, so I have not had much time to address this on here, or with SW directly. I can say that it looks like they are going to force me to take legal action as they have become very unresponsive.

I feel that after installing, removing and reinstalling 3 times, and with all the detail I gave them on where the issues may be, they should have done the right thing and handled this as a potential defect or warranty issue.

I also made it very clear to them that I feel based on my experience working on cars, but details of the issue, and multiple times installing it, the right thing to do would have been to swap it out. I also told them I would have the original one sent back to them within a week.

Wanna guess what their response was??????

FOR ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THEM SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT!!! Are you F**KING KIDDING ME??????????? They expected me to drive me car from NJ to Ohio for them to look at it!!! As if the 3 days I have wasted trying to install this piece of garbage was not enoough...

So I should now take my car, get a hotel, spend a weekend or maybe more for them to look at an exhaust that I already know does not fit!!!

WHAT A JOKE THIS COMPANY IS!!! STAY AWAY!!!

Wvdirtroads · 04-11-2019, 08:20 PM

I would just do a chargeback and let my credit card company handle it. Go buy a corsa or borla and get a quality system.

jcastag · 04-12-2019, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wvdirtroads

I would just do a chargeback and let my credit card company handle it. Go buy a corsa or borla and get a quality system.

Yeah I am thinking that as well. This entire process and mess shows why "you get what you pay for"

I learned my lesson here, but in the end, THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH A $2500 EXHAUST SYSTEM!!!

Its not like I bought a system for $200 that would be a $3k exhaust with another company! The price difference is not that much.

But like I said, the way that SW has handled this proves the difference between a top tier company that stands beinhd their products and "the rest".

Am I nuts here, or is them asking me to drive my car from NJ to Ohio COMPLETELY PSYCHOTIC????

I want to make sure that as many people as possible see what I went through here....ITS A JOKE!!!

jcastag · 04-13-2019, 05:48 PM

Still no response from SW.... And keep in mind I have emailed 4 email contacts there... Nothing

Stay away from this company.

Wvdirtroads · 04-13-2019, 07:11 PM

Just be careful how long you wait to do a chargeback. You usually have a certain amount of time to do it from the date of purchase.

04-06-2019, 11:47 PM	#1
jcastag Drives: 2017 Camaro FIFTY 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bluffton, SC Posts: 303	HELP!!! Anyone that has installed a Stainless Works Cat Back System Before I tell the full nightmare story and the lesson I have learned on this SW exhaust, let me try to get help on the major installation issues I have having with this SW Full Cat Back NPP/AFM $2500 exhaust system. Now keep in mind, I have installed countless systems on cars over the last 25 years of working on cars...NEVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS! I am hoping someone that has personally installed this system can provide some feedback on thier experience. I attempted to install per the instructions that came with the system. Removed the full stock exhaust first, pretty easy, but definitely challenging while laying on your back and doing in alone. But stock was removed, no problems, all good. Right from the get go, installing the left side lead pipe from to the primary cat was an issue. SW gives a 2.25' clamp in the kit, the instructions clearly say 2.25" clamp, but it is NOT possible that a 2.25 clamp will fit on this pipe. The clamp is about the same size as the clamp - fully expanded with the nut taken off, and even then it will not go out the pipe. OEM clamp is 2.5", but that is a bit too big for the pipe as the EOM design pipe has a raised iip around it. I reached out to SW works to tell them the clamp does not fit, they send me another 2.25" clamp and a 2.5" clamp. NEITHER ONE FITS!!!! Installed the right side lead pipe, appear to be no issues, bolted in. Install the crossover/x pipe and "seemed" to go on with no issues. I did the rubber mallet and block of wood trick to gently tap and make sure it was seated to the lead pipes. Clamps on loosely, I am not sure, but I still have a feeling its not seated all the way. Left side intermidiate pipe, slipped on, think this was fine at the time, but once installed I believe this was an issue part as well. More to come once I have the left muffler on...... Right side intermediate pipe. This is I think another trouble spot. Once both intermediate pipes were slipped on, I did the rubber mallet and wood block to make sure they were seated. Right side piple is NOTICEABLY longer (sticks out further) than the left intermidiate pipe, maybe 1.5" or more! There seems to be a major issue here!! Quality control? Cut incorrectly? The other issue here is it seems a bit to close for comfort to the drive shaft....could be dangerous. NOT ACCEPTABLE! Left muffler and tip pipe, again this seened to go on with no issues, slipped right on. BUT, here is where the potential issue with the left side intermediate pipe comes into play. Once it seated, the tips seem like they are recessed a little too far under the diffuser. I actually had to "unseat" it a bit to make the tips even close to even on both sides. This side actually seems like there is a pipe or part that was vut too short. Again, NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! Now for the final piece, and major problem spot. I guess when there are issues with pieces ahead of this, it all comes out in the end right?? Right side muffler and tip pipe. This is a joke. The tips stick out several inches more on the right side than the left side. And they stick out very far from the diffuser, to the point where about 2/3 of the enitre tip is outside the diffuser. This is either an issue with the right side intermediate pipe cut too long, or muffler pipe too short, or both. I honestly cannot believe the issues with this exhaust, and at at $2500 price point is truly is NOT ACCEPTABLE and based on numerous times I have reached out to SW with problems on this installation, it should have been resovled by a replacement (and proper) system being shipped to me ASAP!!! YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!!! Now for the full story. This has been a nightmare from the start. I actually ordered the exhaust at the end of November. After going back and forth every few days with the vendor, I was given the runaround, shipped, not shipped, ship next week, ship in a few days, etc.... The exhaust finally arrived some time in January!! YES! JANUARY!! It was a few more weeks before I could get the time to install it, but when I did, I encountered the issues listed above. That was the 1st time I installed it! Since I could not get it to line up, I went back to it a few weeks later, and uninstalled the ENTIRE exhaust, and reinstalled it again. Guess what??? SAME EXACT ISSUES! So today, it was a nice day, I figured I would try to finally line this thing up. So I take it entirely apart again, and reinstall yet again! SIX HOURS TODAY taking it apart and fighting to get this piece of garbage aligned. And its not better than it was the first 2 times!!! I am at the point now where I am going to reach out to Stainless Works as clearly there is a defect somewhere in the manufacturing process, cutting process or bending process that is not allowing this system to install correctly. But to make it worse, I feel that there are issues with a few pieces, and it is not just 1 part. If Stainless Works is not responsive and does not take accounability for what is most likely an obvious manufacturing issue, I feel that I will need to reach out to my credit card company and possibly an attorney. I have invested probably 16-17 hours in this exhaust, and it should only take maybe 2-3 to install???? To put it mildly I am FURIOUS with this. I should have followed my gut and spent the extra bucks for a reputable exhaust company.

04-07-2019, 05:47 AM	#2
Warrior102 USCG Retired (MKC) Drives: 2018 2SS 1LE Black Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 679	I thought this sounded familiar I thought another member had the same issue but it was you. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549608 Anyway, it sounds like you've come to the end of the road and you know what needs to be done, cutting or modifying it will definitely ensure that you own it. Request a chargeback, write to the BBB, your states attorney general, and anyone that will listen. I know this doesn't help but from personal experience, I can recommend AWE, I have the cat back touring (resonated) and it fit like a glove and took maybe two hours to install including jacking the car up. Last edited by Warrior102; 04-07-2019 at 06:54 AM.

04-07-2019, 08:37 AM	#4
Scottyz 2019 ZL1 1LE MY GOON Drives: 1980 Z28 Big Red. Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Stoney Creek Posts: 2,061	I have never dealt with any catbacks on a 6th Gen Camaro yet but I have to ask: Are some of the pipes interchangeable from side to side? I realize you are more than competent to install exhaust but maybe a section has to be flipped side to side. I’ve been a licensed mechanic for close to 25 years and sometimes dumb things can get past you. I’m probably wrong but..... Anyhow that sucks that you are having this issue. Definitely a kick in the nuts. Hope you get it resolved quickly.

04-10-2019, 12:24 AM	#8
jcastag Drives: 2017 Camaro FIFTY 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bluffton, SC Posts: 303	So I gave Stainless Works about 3 days to get back to me and do the right thing... Guess what... Not a single response from any of the 4 contacts that I have. Totally unacceptable

04-11-2019, 08:10 PM	#10
jcastag Drives: 2017 Camaro FIFTY 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bluffton, SC Posts: 303	This has been a super crazy week at work, so I have not had much time to address this on here, or with SW directly. I can say that it looks like they are going to force me to take legal action as they have become very unresponsive. I feel that after installing, removing and reinstalling 3 times, and with all the detail I gave them on where the issues may be, they should have done the right thing and handled this as a potential defect or warranty issue. I also made it very clear to them that I feel based on my experience working on cars, but details of the issue, and multiple times installing it, the right thing to do would have been to swap it out. I also told them I would have the original one sent back to them within a week. Wanna guess what their response was?????? FOR ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THEM SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT!!! Are you F**KING KIDDING ME??????????? They expected me to drive me car from NJ to Ohio for them to look at it!!! As if the 3 days I have wasted trying to install this piece of garbage was not enoough... So I should now take my car, get a hotel, spend a weekend or maybe more for them to look at an exhaust that I already know does not fit!!! WHAT A JOKE THIS COMPANY IS!!! STAY AWAY!!!

04-11-2019, 08:20 PM	#11
Wvdirtroads Drives: Silverado Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: West Virginia Posts: 82	I would just do a chargeback and let my credit card company handle it. Go buy a corsa or borla and get a quality system.

04-13-2019, 05:48 PM	#13
jcastag Drives: 2017 Camaro FIFTY 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bluffton, SC Posts: 303	Still no response from SW.... And keep in mind I have emailed 4 email contacts there... Nothing Stay away from this company.

04-13-2019, 07:11 PM	#14
Wvdirtroads Drives: Silverado Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: West Virginia Posts: 82	Just be careful how long you wait to do a chargeback. You usually have a certain amount of time to do it from the date of purchase.

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