Aftermarket CAT - which do you recommend?

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BamaDrewski

New member
I have 15 years on my truck now and I am noticing some sluggish performance and it is looking like the CAT (Catalytic converter). Just checked dealer pricing and they want $1,323 bucks for one at Toyota of Dallas. So, I am looking at aftermarket options.

Magnaflow has a "direct fit" model (#27301) but I have seen where folks on here have had some bad experiences with their products. Walker looks cheap and cheesy but I have no idea if they are any good....

Have any of you replaced your CAT with aftermarket and if so, which one(s) would you recommend?

Thanks!
 
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These trucks dont really like Aftermarket anything.

I've heard of people installing aftermarket Cats and have problems with O2 Sensor code.

Of course, you can always make a O2 sim, and tha'd the the easy way out, But if you're looking for not having to do that, best bet is to stick OEM.
 
The PO on mine had the cat stolen, and had a Magnaflow installed. That was September of '11, and I haven't had any problems to this day.

It'd be a cold day in hell before I drop $1300 on an OEM cat.
 
I had a dealer try to scam me on a CAT. Tried to say I couldn't leave without having the work done (it was going to take 4 days too and I was in the middle of executing military orders). I told them I was calling the cops and the keys practically flew into my hands. Thank you Toyota of Redding, CA. You have a special place in my heart.

Anyway I replaced mine with a MagnaFlow high flow cat and haven't had a lick of trouble out of it. No codes after almost 4 years.

Anyway later on
 
Well, I stand corrected.

Guess the people that have aftermarket cats didn't know what the hell they were doing. Lol
 
Doc2012 said:
Well, I stand corrected.

Guess the people that have aftermarket cats didn't know what the hell they were doing. Lol
Click to expand...

I think they are referring to the mufflers being crap, not the cats. I have had good luck with Magnaflow cats on other vehichles and would put them on my t4r no problem.
 
RedSled said:
I think they are referring to the mufflers being crap, not the cats. I have had good luck with Magnaflow cats on other vehichles and would put them on my t4r no problem.
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IDK. Maybe they didn't know what the hell they were talking about.

I know that if my cat ever goes bad, it's getting gutted and an O2 sim is going in...

Cheaper and quicker. And no problems with CEL.
 
Doc2012 said:
Well, I stand corrected.

Guess the people that have aftermarket cats didn't know what the hell they were doing. Lol
Click to expand...
Lol I might be the one that beats the statistic. I have a lc header, MagnaFlow cat and muffler and I haven't had any codes.
 
Thanks for input and feedback everyone. I have looked at the Walker and the MagnaFlow cats and the MagnaFlow appears to be much better in quality and build than the Walker.

I do understand the MagnaFlow mufflers have had some issues but everyone who has had a Magnaflow CAT and has commented here, seems satisfied.

There is no way on God's green earth I am going to put out $1,300+ for a OE cat. At that price, it is almost a quarter of my truck's current value. That wouldn't make much sense to me.

Final note; every where I look it says the MagnaFlow "direct fit" for my truck is the 27301. Is this the part you guys have used on yours? Amazon has it for around $273 with free shipping......
 
Ive ran magnaflow on vehicles for over 10+ years. Never had one fail. Now on a 4runner, the muffler may fail if you hit it when offroading. They dont like to be hit and it breaks the internals and it will raddle. Now ive never heard of the cats having much issues.

For what its worth my buddy has had a magnaflow installed for years on his 4runner and never had an issue.
 
Millerad1651 said:
The PO on mine had the cat stolen, and had a Magnaflow installed. That was September of '11, and I haven't had any problems to this day.

It'd be a cold day in hell before I drop $1300 on an OEM cat.
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Ditto to Millerrad1651 observation on MagnaFlow Cat.... actually we have the high-flow MagnaFlo Cat. No problems with passing Arizona Emissions for the last few years with all the engine mods passing exhaust through it. Hope this help

For what it's worth, the mag cat is coupled up to the Borla cat-back exhaust (14659) purchased on Amazon. It comes with a nice tip and a sweet sounding drone. We have had no problems with either.

Regards..... 8sm
 
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Early in 2014 I installed a Walker muffler (#55054) and cat (#53287) on a '97 4Runner V6, 5 speed, federal model. Purchased from Amazon for $152 and $185 respectively. I later sold the original cat to a metal recycler and got about $60, thus reducing the Walker cat's price to about $125. Lamentably, the original muffler brought nothing but a smile from the garbage collector.

Over 5000 miles later, no CEL, and fuel economy matches original specs.

I also had to replace the muffler hanger. This is the piece that includes the nuts into which the bolts at the muffler/cat junction thread. It was about $35, as I recall. That piece isn't available aftermarket, so far as I could determine.
 
This may be a dumb question, but how do you know when the catalytic converter is bad? Mine is a 97 with 115000 miles. Im coming from a couple of z71s and an old ford bronco so im used to v8 power.
 
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A few weeks after I bought my 4Runner, some unscrupulous, worthless person stole my original cat and ripped off my O2 sensor while I was volunteering.

I was not about to buy another OEM cat for two reasons; one the outrageous price, and two the fact that it could be stolen again. I rolled the dice with a Magnaflow cat off of Amazon. And 3,000 miles later, it is still doing its job with no CELs to speak of.
 
ToyotaBrah said:
A few weeks after I bought my 4Runner, some unscrupulous, worthless person stole my original cat and ripped off my O2 sensor while I was volunteering.

I was not about to buy another OEM cat for two reasons; one the outrageous price, and two the fact that it could be stolen again. I rolled the dice with a Magnaflow cat off of Amazon. And 3,000 miles later, it is still doing its job with no CELs to speak of.
Click to expand...

Hey ToyotaBrah: Thanks for the post. I have decided to go that route as well and get the MagnaFlow from Amazon. Looks like it is $20 or more bucks cheaper there (and with free shipping).

QUESTION: Did you buy the "direct fit" and if so, did it go on as easy as they say? Thanks man for any input!!!!
 
Check on Vibrant. I have a Vibrant Hi-flow GESI stainless racing cat part # 7525. this one: Vibrant Performance ::. under my 4runner and i highly recommend it.

do your research on cats before you buy any of the cheap ones. I did a ton of research before picking up this bad boy. there is a reason they are cheaper.... (non-metal substrates.....) lots of the cheap ones also fail offroad because of the vibrations.
 
BamaDrewski said:
Hey ToyotaBrah: Thanks for the post. I have decided to go that route as well and get the MagnaFlow from Amazon. Looks like it is $20 or more bucks cheaper there (and with free shipping).

QUESTION: Did you buy the "direct fit" and if so, did it go on as easy as they say? Thanks man for any input!!!!
Click to expand...

Yep, mine was the direct fit cat. It matched the factory piping diameter, so I just had a shop welded it on. I think you'll be happy with this cat.
 
BamaDrewski said:
Thanks for input and feedback everyone. I have looked at the Walker and the MagnaFlow cats and the MagnaFlow appears to be much better in quality and build than the Walker.

I do understand the MagnaFlow mufflers have had some issues but everyone who has had a Magnaflow CAT and has commented here, seems satisfied.

There is no way on God's green earth I am going to put out $1,300+ for a OE cat. At that price, it is almost a quarter of my truck's current value. That wouldn't make much sense to me.

Final note; every where I look it says the MagnaFlow "direct fit" for my truck is the 27301. Is this the part you guys have used on yours? Amazon has it for around $273 with free shipping......
Click to expand...

The part you are talking about is probably more than you need. If you just need the cat, and not the O2 sensor mounts, Amazon has a universal fit Magnaflow for $100...double check, but I think this one will fit. It cam just be welded in place along the exhaust.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000G...419392620&sr=8-1-spell&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
 
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[MENTION=25434]BamaDrewski[/MENTION]:

Is yours a federal or a Cali?


Do you have to do smog tests?

Just do this, and don't worry about the cat at all.

If you don't have smog tests that is.....

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/175242-how-make-your-own-rear-o2-simulator-$5.html
 
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