My Berk HFC and CBE experience

GaleForce

Here is my experience with Berk Technology's cat back exhaust and high flow cats.

First I ordered from FBNissan Jomer was very helpful, price was good, shipping was incredibly fast to Canada. I ordered on a Friday and received the exhaust on the following Monday, it came directly from Berk Technology very well packaged.

Big box of awesome next to my Wifes DD


IMG_0987 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Well packaged


IMG_3540 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Very well packaged


IMG_3541 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Found it!


IMG_3542 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Here is one of the right side demon bolts


IMG_3552 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Here is one of the left side demon bolts


IMG_3553 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Comparison shot stock on the left Berk HFC and CBE right.
Stock- heavy, dirty, small tubing
Berk- light, shiny, large tubing


IMG_0998 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Detail shot of the Berk. The whole exhaust is made with this kind of quality.


IMG_3555 by J M Gale, on Flickr

I finished installing everything, went for a test drive ~100km. When I returned home I stuck my head under the car and found an exhaust rod on the right side had begun to slip out of the rubber hanger.


IMG_3557 by J M Gale, on Flickr

I also had a concern about a slight *hiss* sound that was only noticeable when I let off the gas at a slow speed. This noise wasn't heard during acceleration or during downshifting. The slight *hiss* wasn't worrisome, I thought it was normal but since I was sending them an email about the hanger issue I thought I would ask about this noise. This was the first time I did an install involving exhaust so I wanted to make sure it wasn't a possible exhaust leak or something I did or didn't do during the install. I sent the email off to Berk to ask for their advice and expertise. While I waited to hear back from them I did a quick fix by moving the bracket over.


hanger braqcket moved by J M Gale, on Flickr

The people at Berk were quick to respond to my questions and made a suggestion for me to remove the rubber hangers and clean the metal rods with either brake cleaner or Windex. The slight *hiss* did in fact turn out to be a normal sound, a product aftermarket HFC's have on the Z's.


Brake cleaner by J M Gale, on Flickr

After I cleaned all of the rods and moved the exhaust hanger bracket back to the factory location, I opted to loosen all of the hardware connecting the parts of the exhaust and re-tighten them starting at the rear of the car, working my way up to the front. Since doing this I have been been driving the car for a week and am happy to say the exhaust is staying where it should be.

The problem rod, now sitting where it should with the hanger bracket in the factory location,


IMG_3569 by J M Gale, on Flickr

The other side,


IMG_3571 by J M Gale, on Flickr

The rear hangers,
Left side,


IMG_3573 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Right side,


RR Hanger by J M Gale, on Flickr

Here is the rear shot,


berk rear by J M Gale, on Flickr

Conclusion,
The exhaust is very well packaged, very well made... in the USA! Customer service is top notch, quick to respond, even taking the time to edit a photo to demonstrate how the hanger is expected to be.

First thing I noticed was the awesome sound from this combo. It's loud at cold start-up, then quickly mellows to a nice purr. The exhaust is quiet when you want it to be quiet and then melts your face off with a symphony when you put your right foot to the floor! The performance matches the sound. Unreal!

If you are looking for a very well made performance exhaust this should be on your short list!

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delusional

grats on the exhaust. i have a similar set up (berk tp and berk cbe) and absolutely love the sound. berk makes quality products for sure

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Justin1686

Nice review. It gets better with time. Same setup. Congrats

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2009 Touring & Sport Package || Platinum Graphite || 40% 3M Tint || Xpel Clear Bra || Berk CBE || Berk HFC || Stillen Sway Bar || H&R Spacers || Swift Springs || SPC Rear Camber Kit || Thanks to Savage Autosports, VTR, PM, and R.A.D.

joshs09slvrZ

Great thread! I have the same setup as you...even have the Stillen G3 intakes. I had a huge problem removing the driver side cat...so much so that I have an appointment with the Nissan dealership this weekend to remove it. After driving it around for a couple of days, go back under and re-tighten all the bolts. How do you like the sound inside the cabin?

GaleForce

That sucks about your stock cat I hope the Nissan dealer can get you going this weekend!

I keep popping my head under the car to check things out, I've retightened the nuts and bolts, they stayed tight actually.

The sound in the cabin is great. I do find myself driving around with the windows down more often. I also find myself cruising around town near 3000 rpm because that's the sweet spot for a nice purr. Sucks for gas milage driving like that, but who cares. The exhaust is a little more noticeable on the highway, slightly louder than stock and also deeper in tone but not bothersome like the annoying exhaust the young guys in their modded Honda Civic's have.

Honestly, I bought the Berk CBE and HFC because of the proven horsepower gains. The sweet tone is a nice perk to an already awesome set-up.

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joshs09slvrZ

What's funny is that I hear a louder drone when I'm cruising around 55-60 mph at about 2k rpms. Turn up the radio just a few clicks and you don't even notice it. That's what's so great about the setup...you don't really notice it until you get on it...and then you kind of remember that sweet exhaust that you've installed. Any plans on what you'll do next?

GaleForce

I'm not sure yet... possibly suspension, only if I can guaranty the handling will be improved over the stock set-up. I might do a stage 1 FI kit... however I can't use the car to its full potential on the street now, so that would more than likely be wasted money. For right now I'm enjoying the car as much as I can because i'm parking it at the end of October for the winter. Which gives me lots of time to do installs...

What plans do you have for your car?

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GaleForce

Hey Justin, I just noticed you have Swift springs. How do you like them?

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hdskull

Nice setup! I rode in a car today with this setup, it sounded amazing!!

I know you didn't ask me, but swift springs are awesome!! 1.5 finger gap in the front, and a 2 finger gap in the back. Perfect drop for performance and drivability!

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Kenwood DDX616 | Polk DB6501 | Llumar 23% tint | STi-R Clear Lens
SSR Type-F | F.I. 18" CF | Stillen Gen 3 | KW V3

GaleForce

Thanks for the info about the Swifts. I like the look of the drop the Swifts give. I'll have to look at what the "track day" guys are running before I decide.

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joshs09slvrZ

Not sure yet. Was thinking the GTM SC kit...but I have a 7AT...and apparently that kit doesn't do well with an automatic transmission.

Mandingo

Congrats on the success! Same exhaust set up here.
It really does get even better with time. After 2000 miles mine sounds very exotic.
Its like a half Japanese-half Italian supercar sound

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some mods

joshs09slvrZ

^^haha...so true.

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Stillen Gen3 CAI|Berk HFC and CBE|UpRev|15mm H&R front spacers|20mm Ichiba rear spacers|Stillen front and rear sway bars|Yokohama S. Drives|Swift springs|JDM Blinking Fog|8000k HIDs|9% window tinting, 47% on full windshield

joshs09slvrZ

OP...do you hear a rasp in the high RPMs when you're really getting on it?

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Stillen Gen3 CAI|Berk HFC and CBE|UpRev|15mm H&R front spacers|20mm Ichiba rear spacers|Stillen front and rear sway bars|Yokohama S. Drives|Swift springs|JDM Blinking Fog|8000k HIDs|9% window tinting, 47% on full windshield

GaleForce

I'm not sure I'd call it "rasp" but it does get angry sounding, it's like being at a heavy metal concert This exhaust will melt your face and everyone else's face in a two block radius when you get on it in the upper RPM range. I love it... I really need to go do some tunnel runs!

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