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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