Ok, so for example if I had true dual exhaust and I only had 2 cats and there were right after the headers on both would the "catback" part be all the exhaust that is behind the cats/after the cats??? If not then explain which part would be? Thanks.

 

usually, the cat's are more toward the back of the h/x-pipe. stock they have 4. one on each side before the h/x and one on each side after. thats why theyre called cat-back, but, on 4-cyl's, 6-cyl's, and some v8's that only have single exhaust, youll have the manifolds, or headers come down, go into one pipe, then, the cat will be back there somewhere in line, then, youll have where the TAILPIPE and muffler connect to that. hence, catback, "after cat" exhaust is sometimes used instead of catback. hope that helped ya out some

 

So in other words a cat back is any exhaust system that bolts from the cats back.All exhaust systems have a break in the pipes right behind where the cats are.

 

what he said. he simplified it

 

So in order to utilize a "true" dual exhaust system on a single-exhaust v6 for example; you would have to get an x/h pipe to replace the straight single mid pipe and have that lead to the dual mufflers? And does the x/h pipe lead straight to the cats and/or does the x/h lead straight to the mufflers or is their another pipe you would need to connect them?

 

the H/X is the pipe which contains the catalytic converters.

exhaust goes from the motor to the headers to the midpipe (h or x pipe) and then to the cat backs (mufflers + piping)

 

Ok so redass02GT your saying the cats dont come in to play until after the midpipe, then the mufflers piping then finally exhaust tips???

 

thats what I meant to put....

 

if you have cats, they are located in the midpipe. if you have an off road midpipe, you have no cats. when you are ordering a midpipe, that is the time to figure out whether you want cats or not. that make sense?

 

the "catback" has nothing to do with the actual catalytic converter. "catbacks" are after the catalytic converter, hence the name catback. the midpipe is what has a cat in it.