I’m not a big fan of the flexible joint used at the Cat join on these cars – cheap and too Hit and Miss IMO, especially with the ridiculous amount of engine-movement! Also a bit of a pain to remove/refit given the access, especially the LH bolt.

The most important design feature of the 2bular version (apart from being the largest available on the market), is the welded flange at that sprung joint.If, for instance, your aftermarket Cat had a sliding, loose flange, the mating distance between the two flanges is greatly increased. This compresses the two springs past their design/operating length, so less flexibility!

Some owners have cut a coil or two out of the springs to get the bolts started but again, that loses a lot of the flexibility and given the ridiculous amount of engine-movement on these cars (have I mentioned that already?) – not a good idea.

One tip for easier re-fitting is to compress the springs in a vice (be very careful here – at least wear some safety glasses), and tie them up with some small dia MIG welding wire. This makes getting the bolts started in the header/manifold flange a lot easier – just don’t forget to cut the wire when you’re finished!

Price: £399 + Vat (currently 15%)