Opinion: Upgrade to GM Perf. exhaust vs GM Perf. brakes?

I have a 2024 RST 6.2L and want to mod it using GM Performance parts to keep my warranty, and I just feel better about sticking with OEM on a brand new vehicle.

I'm debating between getting the GM Performance exhaust (the GM one, not the GM/Borla version) or getting the GM Performance Brembo brakes front & rear.

The stock dual quad-tip exhaust sounds better than most stock exhausts, but I wish I could hear a deeper and slightly louder sound from the 6.2, and GM states it adds up to 11hp. But the GM Brembo brake upgrade looks really nice, and I think better braking is a more pragmatic upgrade. I can't justify the expense of doing both, so I want to choose one area to upgrade. Opinions or suggestions? What would you do?

Sean Michael said:

I have a 2024 RST 6.2L and want to mod it using GM Performance parts to keep my warranty, and I just feel better about sticking with OEM on a brand new vehicle.

I'm debating between getting the GM Performance exhaust (the GM one, not the GM/Borla version) or getting the GM Performance Brembo brakes front & rear.

The stock dual quad-tip exhaust sounds better than most stock exhausts, but I wish I could hear a deeper and slightly louder sound from the 6.2, and GM states it adds up to 11hp. But the GM Brembo brake upgrade looks really nice, and I think better braking is a more pragmatic upgrade. I can't justify the expense of doing both, so I want to choose one area to upgrade. Opinions or suggestions? What would you do?

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brakes all day
you can probably remove a resonator or something with the exhaust for $200 and get the sound youre looking for, as long as you leave the cats in place gm aint going to say anything warranty wise

Brakes. That is all.

If you’re not towing or racing the brakes are a total waste of money. You’ll never notice or realize the performance gains and if you ever have to replace pads or rotors they’re significantly more expensive.

I'll jump on the exhaust train here. I have a '21 and 85% of my brakes remaining. I also have a Borla Touring Cat back and really appreciate the sound.

I upgraded the brakes on my 2023 Yukon Denali XL. I don't tow. I don't put my 250 lb in-laws in the back of it and go road trip. I can't afford enough groceries and gas at the same time to overload it. And noise just makes the wife more pissed off. But it will panic stop quicker. We do about 15,000 miles of road trips a year now, and one never knows.

The brake upgrade is front end only. The back is paint. Know that GM makes no brake wear sensors available on the front brakes. Probably saved me a quarter. As expensive as that damn truck is it did make a difference in my monthly payments.

Actually the wife's 2011 Yukon 6.2 with the factory single 3" exhaust was the best sounding factory exhaust I have ever heard. It had a pleasant sound around town and virtually disappeared on the road. I was standing behind it at the dealership and the wife started it. I thought it had Smitty's on it.

A single 3" is what you have now, absent the Y that makes it fake duals. That generates more than enough flow for power. You will not notice 11 hp anyway, which says everything you need to know about the efficiencies of the factory exhaust. My 2023 is a little more subdued, but 72 years and the wife at 70 we don't have enough hearing left for it to make any difference anyway. We could probably run straight pipes and not know it.

However, when I am running 80 mph on a road trip and need to stop it, then that will help get some of that tonnage down to 0. I know everyone will say that it is not the size of the brakes it is the traction of the tires. But I run wider tires anyway and anything that can get more endomorphins going is most appreciated in those stress filled situations.

Now if you really want to make a difference in the power on that Yukon, bolt on a supercharger, or trade it for an Escalade V. I badly want an Escalade V. The wife does not badly want an Escalade V. I did put 380,000 combined miles on CTS V's. The 2005 was not supercharged, but the 2010 was. Both had brake upgrades. Don't let the cost of the parts bother you. I replaced rotors and pads at 150,000 miles on my 2010, and they were track brakes from the factory. In 150,000 miles on my 2005 I never had to replace the brakes. I owned both since new, but never tracked either. 150,000 miles out of a set of serious brakes should reassure you.

Just my experienced opinion.

FYI: GM’s full front & rear performance brake upgrade consists of Brembo, bolt on 6 piston calipers up front and a set of brand new painted OEM calipers exactly like the ones already on the rear of the vehicle.

As far as exhaust, if Borla and GM got together to design a system, I’d take the Borla hands down. Research both and verify if they’re stainless, aluminumized or raw steel. I’d rather deal with Borla warranty issue vs. a dealer who you know is gonna say “We haven’t had those for years. How ya gonna warranty something that’s not made anymore?”

@Eighthtry: couldn't've said it better myself, but I will say:
You know what they say about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure?
Brake rotor (and caliper) upgrades are several pounds of prevention. How much does your SUV weigh?

Sean Michael said:

I have a 2024 RST 6.2L and want to mod it using GM Performance parts to keep my warranty, and I just feel better about sticking with OEM on a brand new vehicle.

I'm debating between getting the GM Performance exhaust (the GM one, not the GM/Borla version) or getting the GM Performance Brembo brakes front & rear.

The stock dual quad-tip exhaust sounds better than most stock exhausts, but I wish I could hear a deeper and slightly louder sound from the 6.2, and GM states it adds up to 11hp. But the GM Brembo brake upgrade looks really nice, and I think better braking is a more pragmatic upgrade. I can't justify the expense of doing both, so I want to choose one area to upgrade. Opinions or suggestions? What would you do?

Click to expand...

Be aware your spare tire will NOT fit over the front wheels with the brembo brakes, the spare is 18inch and you need at least 20 inch rims to clear! Found out the hard way! Gm's responce is to remove the rear tire place spare, take rear tire and use it to replace flat front . 2 tire change for 1 flat! Sux

Exhaust will not add horsepower if you don't get it tuned (and I don't even think you can tune a 2024), especially not a bolt-on cat-back with stock manifolds and cats. Just get you a Super 40 if you want sound, it will not void your warranty unless your dealer is shady enough to try to blame a non-moving part as a cause for some unelated issue.

Brembos all day, but the PPV brakes may be cheaper than the pretty red ones they want to sell you and they're still OEM. Sell me your stock 4-pots afterwards