lr cat replacment $$$

4dlvr · 24-12-2009, 12:58 AM

anyone replace a cat on a lr focus??

iv herd they can cost a fair bit

melbzetec · 24-12-2009, 08:53 AM

They cost an absolute bomb from Ford Australia.

I ended up with a Ford Racing header and Random Technology hi flow cat from the US for about the same price. (about 3 years ago)

I'd check US sites for a stock cat before buying one here

4dlvr · 24-12-2009, 11:58 AM

my car is struggling to move atm, the cat is so blocked its i am forced to drive it under 2000rpm..

after checking out a few exhaust exhaust shop, im looking at 2-3k...

at that price i am thinking of just welding a 2inch pipe and not worry about having a cat. it will cost me $100 tops

casabonka · 24-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Wow, didnt think they would be that expensive!

DZFord · 24-12-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4dlvr

at that price i am thinking of just welding a 2inch pipe and not worry about having a cat. it will cost me $100 tops

Hippies and tree huggers will hate you

mohit · 24-12-2009, 03:06 PM

Can't you just use a generic aftermarket cat or is the Focus cat some sort of weird contraption? You could also gut out the cat internals so it looks like you at least have a cat.

melbzetec · 24-12-2009, 04:10 PM

Whoahhhh! $2-3K!!!!! They are stretching you a new one!!

Here's one from the states for US $273.00

http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...location=Front

That was a 20 second search!

$221 here

http://focus.c-f-m.com/highflowcatpipe.aspx

If you want, i can also give you a couple of names of US Ford dealers to get OEM

Or I can just get you one delivered for $1500.....

4dlvr · 26-12-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Whoahhhh! $2-3K!!!!! They are stretching you a new one!!

Here's one from the states for US $273.00

http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...location=Front

That was a 20 second search!

$221 here

http://focus.c-f-m.com/highflowcatpipe.aspx

If you want, i can also give you a couple of names of US Ford dealers to get OEM

Or I can just get you one delivered for $1500.....

i have just showed this link to a exhaust shop close by, he told me that magna flow cat would alot of heat shielding as it sits very close to the bumper/radiator etc. i called ford mechanics and they said there is no aftermarket cat unless i get new extractors since they are longer and extend down to the bottom of the car..

are these guys trying to take me for a ride or is this true??

FOCUSonTHIS · 27-12-2009, 10:24 PM

Go the long tube headers and a new high flow cat.

melbzetec · 29-12-2009, 12:05 AM

You could install a Cosworth design long tube header
http://www.mcnewsautomotive.com/Prod...d=M-9430-SVTFC
and a random Technology high flow cat
http://www.mcnewsautomotive.com/Prod...oductid=MA1007
for much less than you've benn quoted, and get much better performance (Go for the SVT version, not Zetec...the Zetec ones from the states are modified to allow for the EGR tube, which Australian LR Focus' don't have).

Or this may just bolt straight on to replace your cat
http://www.mcnewsautomotive.com/Prod...oductid=MA1006

I'd send a email to McNews and get their advice

Australian Ford Dealers know SFA about Focus

Fast Eddie · 29-12-2009, 01:41 PM

I've got the exact item described in Melbzetec's first link above and couldn't be happier with it. Looks a treat too in ceramic-coated version. Now I just have to make the rest of my engine bay "presentable".

4dlvr · 29-12-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

I've got the exact item described in Melbzetec's first link above and couldn't be happier with it. Looks a treat too in ceramic-coated version. Now I just have to make the rest of my engine bay "presentable".

was it a straight replacement???

DZFord · 29-12-2009, 08:19 PM

4dlvr, you can trust melbzetec and Fast Eddie on their reccomendations! These guys really know a lot in regards to LR modification, and I have seen both of their cars personally, and both are excellent examples of a modified LR Focus.

If I was you, I would take this as an opportunity to replace an OEM part with a better, aftermarket product, for a cheaper price than an OEM replacement. I learnt this with my brakes - the front pads and rotors needed replacing after 30,000km, so I replaced the fronts AND rears with better quality aftermarket products, for LESS than what Ford quoted me just to do the front pads and rotors.

Fast Eddie · 30-12-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote: "was it a straight replacement?"

Yes, it was. Although from memory the guys at the exhaust shop had a little difficulty in aligning everything but they eventually worked it out. I'm unsure of what brand of Cat they used (I can find out in you want) but the mufflers are Powerflow.

4dlvr, If you like, I can e-mail some photos of my exhaust set-up??

melbzetec · 30-12-2009, 05:19 PM

From memory, you may have to extend the O2 sensor cable. And there is a chance that you'll throw a check engine light because the sensors change location (did you experience that Eddie?)

Have you been talking to a muffler shop, or only the Ford Dealer? The Ford Dealer will basically only talk genuine OEM.

Note; the header we are talking about is a genuine Ford item installed on the ST170 version of the LR Focus (although Eddie and I both recommend the version with ceramic coating.) The cat we are talking about is non-genuine......but if you didn't want to import that, a good muffler shop should be able to customise a high flow cat for you, as it is a straight through design

(ps Eddie...did your header retain it's shiny "polished" coat, a or did it dull down to grey like mine has?)

4dlvr · 30-12-2009, 08:59 PM

thanks heaps every one.. your help has been more valuable then both ford and exhaust shops..

i will buy the first one melbzetec posted and get a exhaust shop top fit it... cheers..
will post a few pics when its done

Fast Eddie · 31-12-2009, 01:43 PM

Yeah, they knew about the possibility of the Engine Light problems and catered for that and no it hasn't discoloured but (as you know) cleaning my engine bay myself is a difficult proposition so it's just got the normal road-use dust etc on it and it looks as though it'll clean up pretty well.

4dlvr · 23-02-2010, 02:52 PM

for anyone in my position, DIY ftw..

i bought a universal hiflow cat 100cpsi for $100, i unbolted the old cat and bolted the new cat on. its a little hard work but with abit of mucking around its possible

the only problem is the bottom of the cat stays 5cm or so right of thecat back exhaust system, what we did was use a pipe bender to make it fit, and then both bolted and wielded it on just to be safe..

total cost was 100 and about 3-4 hours of work..

so if your not afraid of a challenge save your self a couple grand and diy

4dlvr · 23-02-2010, 02:57 PM

oh the focus also uses 2 oxy sensors, the hiflow came with one, so we bolted the first one up the top, and the second in a custom made hole in the middle of the cat, this resulted in the engine light coming on..
we then re welded that hole and tried again in the pipe just after the cat and it was all sweet after that..

the results are the car revs more freely then every before believe it or not, its slightly worse on fuel maybe .5-1 of of a litre or so, but it also has slight more grunt after 5000rpm