Northeastern Exhaust Opinions?

[mdmellott]

My stock Nissan muffler has finally rotted out on my '02 Pathfinder SE, 3.5V6, 4WD so I'm replacing everything from the cat pipes back with new exhaust pipes, muffler, and resonator. Original equipment replacements would be easy but very expensive. Upgrades require welding so I can't do it myself. Many direct fit aftermarket exhausts seem sketchy with lots of bad reviews about corrosion and crinkle bent tubes restricting flow. However, I found one brand, Northeastern Exhaust, with all stainless steel construction and mandrel bent tubes that are a direct fit so I went ahead and ordered the parts. The pipes to the muffler are 1.75", slightly larger than the 43mm (1.69") Nissan pipes. The muffler has about the exact same output of 2.25" as the Nissan muffler and the resonator pipes are the same as the muffler. I have no idea yet what this set up sounds like or how well it performs but it is a DIY with all the needed gaskets and center bracket.

Does anyone have any feedback regarding Northeastern Exhaust stainless steel exhaust systems? I have not been able to find any Pathfinder related reviews to form an opinion. I guess I will have one of my own soon enough. I was hoping someone else might have an opinion of their own you could share with me.

[rgk]

No, but please let us know and snap some pictures.

[mdmellott]

Still waiting on delivery for a pair of cat exhaust pipes. Didn't think I needed them at first but found that my current ones are mismatched with the driver side being an old and corroded original and the passenger side being a aftermarket crinkle bent Walker tube product. It will be worth the wait, having all 409 stainless steel Northeastern Exhaust system parts from the cats all the way back. I am impressed with the value and quality build of the pipes, muffler and resonator I have received so far. The intermediate pipes are actually exactly the same size as the originals at 43mm OD, so slightly smaller than the 1.75" I thought they would be, and the tail pipe as well as the pipes between the resonator and muffler are slightly larger than the 2.25" I thought they would be, so those too are just like the originals. The muffler and resonator are also built with the same external dimensions as the original equipment. At about $300, including shipping and taxes, I am very pleased with what I am getting. That being said, I still anticipate some manageable fit up issues. I also found a couple of reviews on Amazon that were favorable toward this set up on their Pathfinders, and no negative reviews.

[mdmellott]

I finally got the Northeastern Exhaust system installed. Aside from the fit up of the intermediate pipes, all the components mirror the Nissan OEM parts exactly. The cat pipe resonators are actually designed and built better than OEM, in my opinion. Adding new rubber hangers (Walker part numbers 35460, qty4 and 35725, qty1), everything was a perfect fit except for the intermediate pipes which I had cut and welded in place so they lined up perfectly with the muffler. (An extra cost of $100) For only $300 plus the welding, this all stainless steel exhaust system is a great value. My low end torque performance is definitely better but that may be because I had an out of balance set up, with one old original and one old Walker cat pipe resonator, which were replaced as part of this new exhaust system. UPSW Auto Parts is the exclusive maker of this exhaust system, available direct or at https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel- ... 465&sr=8-1

[happynole]

Is there any difference between an 01 and 02 QX4 as far as the exhaust? They list an exhaust without the cat delete/resonator and intermediate pipes for the 01-04 Pathy/QX4, but the exhaust you posted specifically states 02-04 models. My 01 needs an exhaust in a bad way!

[mdmellott]

There may be some subtle difference with your '01 QX4 front resonators compared to my '02 Pathfinder. I know for certain that intermediate pipes, muffler, and rear resonator are the same. Neither Amazon nor the maker UPSW Auto Parts shows the front resonators but they do list the exhaust system for the intermediate pipes all the way back. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JC ... UTF8&psc=1
https://www.upsw.com/2001-infiniti-qx4- ... ystem-kit/
There was a subtle difference in the passenger side front resonator on the '01 QX4 that were built in '00 and then later builds in July '01 changed to the same part number as my Nissan. The driver side front resonator has always been the same for the '01 QX4 and the '02 Pathfinder. If your '01 QX4 was one of the later builds (07/01 or later) I think this full package exhaust system would work just fine for you.

[carldu]

Walker and Bosal have a complete exhaust kit also. If you just want to change the sound of your exhaust, replace the stock muffler with an aftermarket one. 4wheelonline has Magnaflow, Flowmaster, Borla and Gibson.

[mdmellott]

Walker and Bosal have a complete exhaust kit also. If you just want to change the sound of your exhaust, replace the stock muffler with an aftermarket one. 4wheelonline has Magnaflow, Flowmaster, Borla and Gibson.

I looked hard to find a well known dependable and long lasting brand for my 02 Pathfinder, aside from OEM high cost parts. I almost went with Walker but I was put off by their crush bent tubes because the "crinkles" of these bends decrease the ID at the bends causing restrictions, power and economy losses. I also read too many bad reviews regarding corrosion. Walker's tech specs call out stainless steel for the muffler body but also an aluminized finish. (on the plain carbon steel tubes I guess, hence the corrosion comments I read about) Except for Bosal, there really wasn't any other direct fit exhaust system I could find for my ride except Northeastern Exhaust. From the cats all the way back for about $300, every tube mandrel bent, and every piece 409 SS, it was a great choice for me and my budget. Bosal was all aluminized steel for the Pathfinder and their costs added up to what OEM parts would run.

[Coup]

I looked hard to find a well known dependable and long lasting brand for my 02 Pathfinder, aside from OEM high cost parts. I almost went with Walker but I was put off by their crush bent tubes because the "crinkles" of these bends decrease the ID at the bends causing restrictions, power and economy losses. I also read too many bad reviews regarding corrosion. Walker's tech specs call out stainless steel for the muffler body but also an aluminized finish. (on the plain carbon steel tubes I guess, hence the corrosion comments I read about) Except for Bosal, there really wasn't any other direct fit exhaust system I could find for my ride except Northeastern Exhaust. From the cats all the way back for about $300, every tube mandrel bent, and every piece 409 SS, it was a great choice for me and my budget. Bosal was all aluminized steel for the Pathfinder and their costs added up to what OEM parts would run.

How is the noise with this muffler? Louder? Quieter? Same as stock? More bassy?

[mdmellott]

Same as stock. Just a great alternative to OEM. Same performance at a significant savings in cost.

[Coup]

Thanks very much for the feedback. I've been looking at this for a while.

[A1218]

Same as stock. Just a great alternative to OEM. Same performance at a significant savings in cost.

How is this exhaust holding up after a few years?

[mdmellott]

How is this exhaust holding up after a few years?

The Northeastern Exhaust system I installed is holding up very well. Still quiet and smooth sounding. The 409 stainless steel will still rust so I coated the muffler and resonator with a good quality silver colored exhaust paint. The tail pipe, I polished to a bright brushed finish, using very fine grit emery cloth and motor oil, which came out looking very nice. Later, I put a wide tip on the pipe, just because ...

[A1218]

How is this exhaust holding up after a few years?

The Northeastern Exhaust system I installed is holding up very well. Still quiet and smooth sounding. The 409 stainless steel will still rust so I coated the muffler and resonator with a good quality silver colored exhaust paint. The tail pipe, I polished to a bright brushed finish, using very fine grit emery cloth and motor oil, which came out looking very nice. Later, I put a wide tip on the pipe, just because ...

Looks great! How short were the intermediate pipes? The system you received couldn’t work as is?

[mdmellott]

Looks great! How short were the intermediate pipes? The system you received couldn’t work as is?

The intermediate pipes were not short at all. The bends in the longer of the two pipes were not precise enough to meet up with the muffler hanging straight and true as it should be. Mating the pipes into the muffler forced the muffler and resonator assembly to be hang crooked so I had a muffler shop correct the fit-up to make everything straight as it should be. Cost me a 100 bucks, not 50, but it was worth it. It would have worked as is but the tail pipe would have looked all cockeyed.

[mdmellott]

The oval shape of the Gibson Exhaust tip was a perfect fit, with the ID matched exactly to the OD of the tail pipe but I had to cut an inch off the pipe so that the tip did not stick out too far. It was kind off pricey at $70 when I got it from Amazon. It just looked too good to pass up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CXMUS6

[A1218]

WIll an exhaust system for a 2004 Pathfinder 3.5L work on a 1997 Pathfinder 3.3L? I am a little skeptical about purchasing the Northeastern exhauast for my Pathfinder because I saw some reviews about fitment issues and I don't want to go into extra expense to weld the new exhaust system up or having fitment issues. I saw a complete stainless steeel walker system for the 2004 Pathfinder on Rockauto.

[mdmellott]

WIll an exhaust system for a 2004 Pathfinder 3.5L work on a 1997 Pathfinder 3.3L?

The 1997 and 2004 exhaust tube configurations look different. They are not likely to be interchangeable as a simple fit-up.

[A1218]

WIll an exhaust system for a 2004 Pathfinder 3.5L work on a 1997 Pathfinder 3.3L?

The 1997 and 2004 exhaust tube configurations look different. They are not likely to be interchangeable as a simple fit-up.

I guess I will have to give the Northeastern exhaust a try, hopefully it bolts up with no issues or modifications needed. This seems to be the best quality avaliable on the market right now.

[obsessed]

mdmellott or A1218

Were you guys able to get this exhaust to work WITHOUT modification? I'm a little unsure from mdmellott's post whether or not it COULD have fit up properly or whether or not he was trying to get the muffler level.

A1218, did you have success with installation without modification?

It's the exhaust I want to buy, but I don't want to do any modifications. I just want to bolt it on and minimize rust.

T

[mdmellott]

Were you guys able to get this exhaust to work WITHOUT modification?

The Northeastern Exhaust systems are sold as a direct fit, with no modifications necessary. However, of all the pieces I received, the two exhaust pipes that go into the front end of the muffler did not line up close enough to fit. Everything else was perfect. I had to have about 6" cut off the ends of those two pipes so that another piece of pipe could be welded on, at a slight angle, to make them fit correctly. This was a quality control issue with the pipe bends. I hope others purchasing these do not have this issue. I could have sent those two pipes back for replacement, and hoped for a better fit with another pair, but I spent an extra $100 and had that small modification done instead.

[obsessed]

Thanks

I went ahead and ordered it anyway since the corrosion issue was the biggest one for me.. I'll post back and let everyone know how it goes.

T