Known throughout the industry for racing
exhausts and other engine accessories, Perrin Performance is
a name familiar to most car enthusiasts. The company got started some 18 years
ago by Adam Taft as a regional outfit in the greater Portland area concentrating
on Honda tuning parts. Eventually, Adam realized that the Honda aftermarket was
well-stocked by other brands so he moved on to target another automaker popular
to tuners – Subaru. Soon after, Jeff Perrin joined the party and the company
changed its name.
Since then, Perrin has been a trusted
provider of performance exhaust pipes, cold air intakes, shift knobs, bushings,
and much more. Basically, if it helps an Impreza WRX/STI or a Scion FR-S get
moving, they make it. All of their parts are custom made and known for resiliency. For instance, their line of downpipes and up pipes is recognized
not just for improved exhaust flow, but durability, as well. It all comes down
to this: if it’s Perrin, the quality can be relied on.
For well over a decade and change, the
premier upgrading spot for Subaru turbo models is the exhaust system. It is,
almost unanimously, the first area targeted for customization. While plenty of
drivers will go for a new catback system, just as many hook up with a Perrin
downpipe. The reason is fairly simple. Stock pipes don’t work well. They are
not supposed to. Subaru might give you a turbo, but at the end of the day you
are driving a car that wasn’t meant for sporty performance. The kicker is that
with a few mods here and there, you can have yourself a customized, aggressive racing
machine. That’s where a down pipe comes in.
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| Perrin Downpipe Diagram |
A Perrin
WRX downpipe can be a powerful weapon. Because the factory setup is
laden with narrow tubing and numerous bends, exhaust airflow is choked back. In
order to improve the situation you want more width and less bends. Getting rid
of the OEM catalytic converters also helps. Although a catalytic converter cleans
up the exhaust and filters out some of the fumes, it too, is restrictive.
Perrin designs their down pipes to offer
the kind of dramatic increase in airflow you’ve been waiting for. The mandrel
bends allow for exhaust to move through with less restriction and since the diameter
is wider than an OEM pipe, there is no slowing it down. Turbo spools faster,
horsepower is increased, and the next thing you know, your Subaru is making
some impressive gains.
Perrin
Suspension Upgrades
After you have gone and thrown a slew of
performance enhancers inside and outside of your car, the next step is making
sure your frame can handle the newfound speed. Often times, it can’t. You’ll
notice some shaking, less intuitiveness around turns, wide cornering, you name
it. When that’s the issue, finding ways to improve the suspension is a fairly
high priority, especially if you’re a competitive racer.
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| Perrin Strut Brace |
Perrin’s line of strut braces (or strut
bars, if you prefer) tighten things up for you. Perrin
strut bars replace the flimsy, narrow factory braces with brute-tough
rigidity. The best part is that there are different types to choose from. You
choose by diameter, the higher it is, the tighter the response. And since you
are simply replacing a stock part you don’t have to worry about drilling or
cutting. Essentially, you are loosening bolts, removing a bar, putting a new
Perrin strut bar in its place, and replacing the bolts. It is that simple. You’ll
see that your car is hitting turns without losing the angle. Even on drag
strips where turning isn’t necessary, you’ll still notice better traction. It’s
as if the chassis
being given additional support has made your ride into a monster.
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| Perrin Shifter Bushings |
But it doesn’t end with strut bars. Bushings
play a large role in the Perrin inventory. Bushings are like pads or
cushions. They are found in numerous areas of a car’s chassis and undercarriage
and provide support for stability. The transmission in particular, needs an
added element of firmness in racing situations. It elevates the car’s response
when shifting. Locking down the sub frame promotes better sensitivity. Your
feel of the road improves and so does your performance.
Perrin has a wide variety of
polyurethane and other bushings available. They have different durometers,
depending on what your specific needs are. If you’re a serious driver, this is
one category of products you might not want to ignore.
The
Perrin Way
The bottom line is that Perrin
Performance showcases a full array of accessories meant to give your Subaru or
Scion an advantage on the road. Even if you are not the kind of driver who tears
it up on the racetrack when the weekends come, there are still plenty of
choices available that help give your ride a healthier profile.
UltraRev
carries the widest selection of Perrin automotive accessories you’ll find on
the net. Downpipes, strut bars, up pipes, bushings, intakes...the list goes on
and on. In addition, we offer the most competitive prices around. If you’re
scouring the market for that next great upgrade hop on by our inventory. You
won’t be disappointed.
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