Q4X4

Yeah, the VQ35 is much different than the VG33. I have both engines. The VQ35 in a G35 coupe and the VG33 in the QX4. Based on input from various boards, the removal of the resonator caused a drone/rasp with stock and after market exhausts. I think you may be right though. The resonator may eliminate the rasp; however, the drone may be from the muffler itself. I may put the resonator back on if I replace the cats. I am getting sporadic CEL (I think P420) indicating the cats may be operating inefficiently. I almost have 150,000 miles..

The resonator is the hot dog shaped pipe that is located after the cats and before the muffler. What I meant about replacing the resonator, is to make sure it is installed with the new exhaust. I made the mistake of installing the new exhaust without the resonator and now I have a drone/rasp at ~3,000 rpm. Need some time to put the resonator back on. Hope this helps!

I removed the resonators from my exhaust and there is droning/rasp at ~3,000 rpms. I recommend to replace the resonators, not just remove them. $30 for each resonator including labor sounds fair. This was on a VG33 engine and the exhaust was replaced from the cats with 2.25-inch piping and a Magnaflow muffler.

I have a 97 QX4 and replaced the exhaust with custom piping and a Magna Flow muffler. As I recall, the piping was replaced after the cats with 2.25-inch piping and an 18-inch Magna Flow muffler. Make sure the resonator is replaced.