Front Page Articles

Tech: 2015 Mustang Resonator Delete

Photo of author

By EditorTurner

Tech: 2015 Mustang Resonator Delete

Drop the Suitcase

Lethal Performance revs up the sound of its new GT with a resonator delete

By Steve Turner
Photos by Steve Turner and courtesy of Lethal Performance

When Ford designs a new Mustang its NVH engineers walk a tightrope between meeting the company’s noise, vibration, and harshness standards and giving the pony car a personality that befits its performance. For enthusiasts like us, the cars are almost always too quiet.

Looking to add a little more exhaust sound and drop some weight in the process? Lethal Performance’s 2015 Mustang Resonator Delete Kit will do the trick.
Looking to add a little more exhaust sound and drop some weight in the process? Lethal Performance’s 2015 Mustang Resonator Delete Kit will do the trick.

Sure there exceptions like the GT500KR and the Boss 302 with its side-exit pipes opened up. However, in general, we could always use a few more decibels exiting the tailpipes. That said, it might not immediately be in the budget for you to install a complete aftermarket exhaust on your brand spanking new Mustang.

Knowing this is the case, our pals at Lethal Performance created a simple and affordable delete kit for the resonator in the factory exhaust. Known in enthusiast circles as “the suitcase,” this part of the factory exhaust is not only heavy, but it soaks up a bit of the sound exiting the tailpipes.

Measure twice and cut once is the adage. You can use the pipes included in the resonator delete kit to mark the stock exhaust before you cut. Power by the Hour’s Jake Long starts by cutting the front of the stock pipe.
Measure twice and cut once is the adage. You can use the pipes included in the resonator delete kit to mark the stock exhaust before you cut. Power by the Hour’s Jake Long starts by cutting the front of the stock pipe.
Next, Jake removes the factory clamps from the front of the suitcase, and removes the pipes
Next, Jake removes the factory clamps from the front of the suitcase, and removes the pipes

“Not for nothing, but the car is really quiet from the factory. As a Mustang enthusiast, I like my cars to have a louder, more aggressive exhaust tone,” Jared Rosen, of Lethal Performance, explained. “Usually we would design an off-road midpipe to delete the factory cats, but with the design of the new exhaust system on the ’15s a bolt-on off-road pipe was out of the question. That’s because the factory cat on the driver’s side is now built into the manifold where in the past it used to be built into the midpipe.”

“In addition to that, we looked at the stock exhaust on a lift and noticed several things that we believe could be improved upon,” he added. “For one there are a few sections of the factory piping that neck down to 2 inches. There’s also that huge resonator after the cats that just screams ‘cut me out.’ With that said we took a stab at removing the neck-downs and resonator to see what type of results we would get.”

So if you are looking to drop a little weight and add a little sound, follow along as we show you how the crew at Power by the Hour in Boynton Beach, Florida, dropped the S550 suitcase off at the curb with the resonator delete.

“Although there weren’t any performance gains with the resonator-delete kit, the sound of the car was greatly improved. With the resonator delete, the car sounds like a Mustang should. It has a throaty, muscle-car sound, and has no drone whatsoever,” Jared said. “Not bad for a $299 upgrade compared to what some of the other axle-back/cat-back kits cost. Just take a listen to the comparison video and you’ll see for yourself that the delete kit is for sure a winner.”

Finally, Jake cuts the pipes at the rear of the suitcase and Lethal Performance’s Jared Rosen happily carries away the stock exhaust resonator.
Finally, Jake cuts the pipes at the rear of the suitcase and Lethal Performance’s Jared Rosen happily carries away the stock exhaust resonator.
The resonator, a.k.a The Suitcase, isn’t light, so the delete kit will not only improve the exhaust sound, but drop some much-needed weight. After all, lighter is faster.
The resonator, a.k.a The Suitcase, isn’t light, so the delete kit will not only improve the exhaust sound, but drop some much-needed weight. After all, lighter is faster.
While you could choose to have the kit welded in, it is designed as a driveway install thanks to the included stainless-steel band clamps. The resonator delete installs after the stock catalytic converters so it doesn’t infringe on your new Mustang’s street legality.
While you could choose to have the kit welded in, it is designed as a driveway install thanks to the included stainless-steel band clamps. The resonator delete installs after the stock catalytic converters so it doesn’t infringe on your new Mustang’s street legality.
The Lethal Resonator Delete kit is available with either an X- (PN LP-165203; $299.99) or H-pipe crossover (PN LP-165204; $299.99). Jake suggests that you may want to drive your car to a muffler shop and have the rear clamps tack-welded so the tailpipes maintain their proper alignment.
The Lethal Resonator Delete kit is available with either an X- (PN LP-165203; $299.99) or H-pipe crossover (PN LP-165204; $299.99). Jake suggests that you may want to drive your car to a muffler shop and have the rear clamps tack-welded so the tailpipes maintain their proper alignment.
Here’s the completed Lethal Performance Resonator Delete, which makes you wonder why the factory exhaust didn’t come with a simple H- or X-pipe.
Here’s the completed Lethal Performance Resonator Delete, which makes you wonder why the factory exhaust didn’t come with a simple H- or X-pipe.

Comments

comments

News: Ford GT, An American Icon

Feature: 11-Second Coyote F-150

3 thoughts on “Tech: 2015 Mustang Resonator Delete”

  2. Pingback: Tech: 2015 Mustang Axle-Back Install | SVTPerformance
  3. Pingback: Tech: 2015 Mustang Axle-Back Install | SVTPerformance

Leave a Comment