Pros
Construction and fitment were top-notch. The straight-through design of the Aestus mufflers eliminated the restriction of the stock baffled units, bringing up power a little, and elevating the already aggressive exhaust note of the Eclipse into proper territory.
Cons
As axle-back units, power and torque gains weren't drastic. Like too many new cars, the Eclipse uses welded-in catalysts, meaning replacing the entire exhaust would necessitate replacement or removal of the cats. But the increased, 2.5-inch diameter of the Aestus units would make them formidable additions to any "mid-pipe customization" endeavors down the road . . .
Parts
Two mufflers with piping, gaskets, hardware, decals
Tools
14mm socket and ratchet, 14mm open-end wrench, exhaust hanger tool
Installation Time
5 minutes, after cool-down
Notes
One of the changes in the '09 Eclipse GT that differentiates it from previous model-years is the addition of the dual exhaust, which-Mitsu tells us-helps bump hp by three over the past years' single outlet. But its scarcity means that you'll have a tough time finding a mass-produced replacement dual exhaust on the market. Aestus Industries prototyped their axle-back unit on our car, and will be producing them on an order-by-order basis by the time you read this.
Pros
Again, fit and finish were perfect. Mandrel-bent stainless tubing, TIG-welded and laser-cut construction and the inclusion of flex pipe all suggest that these headers were built with durability and longevity in mind. Power gains were large across the board, and the exhaust note of the Eclipse suddenly became badass.
Cons
We've used phrasing similar to "installation is a bitch" at many times in the past . . . but installing headers on a fourth-generation Eclipse GT takes the proverbial cake. Accessing the stock front header's hardware is easy enough, but halfway through our removal of the rear, we began to doubt the existence of any combination of sockets, swivels and extensions that could do the job. And then the front crossmember had to be dropped so we could get the damned things off. It gets better: the RIPP headers reposition all four O2 sensors-a good thing, but it means a little frustration with wire, crimpers, connectors and shrink wrap. Lastly, they remove the cats, which can be a major problem for street car drivers of areas in which emissions legality is strongly enforced. Considering the Eclipse's welded-in catalyst design, there's just no way around this with proper aftermarket headers.
Parts
Header components (two primaries, one "S-pipe", one straight pipe), gaskets, hardware, O2 sensor adapters, wire, instructions
Tools
10-, 12-, 14-, and 16mm sockets, deep sockets and open-end wrenches, extensions, swivel, ratchet, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, wire cutters, connectors and crimper (or solder and iron), exhaust hanger tool, WD-40, patience
Install Time
One full day
By Luke Munnell
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