Gibson 5601 Cat-Back Exhaust Review

[Justinj360]

When I was researching new exhausts for my 2004 Yukon 5.3L I couldn't find very many detailed exhaust reviews for this generation of trucks. I decided to make a comparison video between stock and aftermarket exhausts to help anyone out who was in the same boat as I was.

Now for the review:
I have used it for over 2 weeks now and am very pleased with it so far. I have noticed better performance and throttle response and as a result about .5 MPG better than before (I monitor my MPG very closely and consistently). I was looking for an exhaust that sounded MEAN when you wanted it to but was quiet enough to have a conversation in the cab and that is EXACTLY what I got. You can hear it while driving at low speeds but any exhaust noise above 25-30 MPH goes away. My truck doesn't have any Dynamat or other sound deadening but I am planning on adding it in the future. It is much louder at idle and startup than the stock one was as you can see in the video. It doesn't bother me and I actually prefer it even when people are around like in a parking lot. I don't feel like it is too loud and obnoxious for other people around.

Feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer!

 

[RaiderRodney]

Thanks for the review it does sound mean! I like it!

 

[Tonyrodz]

Sounds pretty good. Probably sounds a little throatier once it burned in.

 

[95escahoe]

Sounds good where you get the kit from?


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[Justinj360]

Sounds good where you get the kit from?


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Thanks! Realtruck.com had it the cheapest when I was looking

 

[Merc1973]

Sounds great! Thanks!

 

[08HoeCD]

Sounds great. Like a real truck.
If no drone in the cabin, then it's a winner.

 

[Justinj360]

Sounds great. Like a real truck.
If no drone in the cabin, then it's a winner.

Thank you. There is drone in the cab but I believe 98% of it is from the cold air intake. I've had that for years and am very familiar with the sound.

 

[08HoeCD]

CAI = drone?

 

[Justinj360]

CAI = drone?

Yes, the stock intake had 2 big sound chambers to prevent droning. I never even heard it make a droning sound with the stock intake. When I replaced it with a solid tube cold air intake I was surprised by how much those 2 chambers actually made a difference.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yes, the stock intake had 2 big sound chambers to prevent droning. I never even heard it make a droning sound with the stock intake. When I replaced it with a solid tube cold air intake I was surprised by how much those 2 chambers actually made a difference.

I put in a Volant cai in my 03 when it was still stock, and I always heard it when I stepped on the pedal. Just driving nice and easy it sounded like I was romping on it. I don't hear it anymore now.

 

[MikeLade]

I worked for Gibson for 2 years. Their mufflers are chambered (not like flowmaster) and are designed to scavenge the exhaust.

Their main goal is to create better usable power and keep sound under control. The 24" muffler in that kit really helps with that and keeps drone to a minimum.

Nice part is the lifetime warranty. Being the aluminized steel version, it's not covered for rust but it is covered for nearly everything else.

 

[fiatdale]

A lot of people dog on Gibson Exhaust, or write them off as not being that great. I've always been a fan of Gibson - their sound is great, build is excellent, and price is definitely right. I've had them on 3 trucks and pleased with every one of them.

 

[08HoeCD]

A lot of people dog on Gibson Exhaust, or write them off as not being that great. I've always been a fan of Gibson - their sound is great, build is excellent, and price is definitely right. I've had them on 3 trucks and pleased with every one of them.

I've never run Gibson, but every time I hear a video they sound great. I don't understand the bias against them.

 

[MikeLade]

The bias against them is that they aren't a big name like Magnaflow.

Their products are 100% made in the U.S.A. and they stand behind it.

There is no packing in the muffler which means it doesn't have an expiration date. It will not change tone over time like a packed muffler will.

Their business started with RVs. Their goal was to make more low end power and keep it quiet inside. They achieved that and more.

 

[Tonyrodz]

The bias against them is that they aren't a big name like Magnaflow.

Their products are 100% made in the U.S.A. and they stand behind it.

There is no packing in the muffler which means it doesn't have an expiration date. It will not change tone over time like a packed muffler will.

Their business started with RVs. Their goal was to make more low end power and keep it quiet inside. They achieved that and more.

Expiration date? Never heard that before concerning a muffler.

 

[MikeLade]

Expiration date? Never heard that before concerning a muffler.

By "expiration date" I mean that they are guaranteed to wear out due to the packing breaking down.

 

[Justinj360]

ONE YEAR UPDATE:

It's a slow day at work so why not update my review?

This is still a great exhaust all around. It still sounds awesome and hasn't let me down on the performance side. It is starting to look a little rusty but I'm planning on painting the whole exhaust soon.
One thing I had to change after the first couple of months was the length of the rubber exhaust hangers. I reused the factory ones and that made the tailpipes vibrate against the bottom of the rear quarter panel. Getting longer ones solved that problem. That could just be because of how I oriented the exhaust though.