Atomic Autosports — Wickliffe, Ohio
2013 Scion FR-S
Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust Installation
At Atomic Autosports, this 2013 Scion FR-S Base came in for one of the most common first modifications on the FA20 platform: a full Borla S-Type cat-back exhaust system. The factory cat-back section was removed and replaced, a new exhaust pipe flange gasket was installed to seal the connection properly, and the car received a courtesy fill before it went back on the road. Focused scope, precise execution, and a car that breathes and sounds the way the platform always should have.
Build Photos
2013 Scion FR-S — In the Shop
2013 Scion FR-S Base, 2.0L FA20 — Borla S-Type cat-back exhaust installation and courtesy fill service.
Borla S-Type cat-back · Factory exhaust removal · Exhaust pipe flange gasket · Hanger and tip fitment · Fluid check and top off · Tire pressures set
On the Car
2013 Scion FR-S — Borla S-Type Installed
2013 Scion FR-S — Borla S-Type cat-back tips installed.
The finished dual-tip exhaust seated square in the rear valance after the factory cat-back was removed. Short clips: the factory system out, the car on the lift, and the Borla S-Type going in.
Build Detail
2013 Scion FR-S — Exhaust Build
2013
Scion FR-S Base Exhaust Build
Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust FA20 2.0L Naturally Aspirated Flange Gasket Hanger Fitment Courtesy Fill Fluid Top-Off Tire Pressure Set
A focused performance exhaust job on this 2013 Scion FR-S Base: the factory cat-back section removed and replaced with a Borla S-Type system, a new exhaust pipe flange gasket installed to seal the connection, hangers and tips set so the system sits square under the rear valance, and a full courtesy fill with fluids topped off and tire pressures set before delivery.
Exhaust System
- Borla S-Type cat-back exhaust system installation
- Factory cat-back exhaust removal
- Mid pipe, muffler, and tip replacement as a matched set
Sealing & Fitment
- Exhaust pipe flange gasket replacement
- Exhaust hanger seating
- Tip alignment through the rear valance
Courtesy Fill Service
- All fluids checked and topped off
- Tire pressures set to specification
Platform Details
- 2013 Scion FR-S Base
- 2.0L four-cylinder FA20
- Naturally aspirated
- Rear-wheel drive coupe
Borla S-Type Cat-Back
The full cat-back section replaced as a matched set. Everything behind the catalytic converter comes off together and goes back on together, which is what keeps the tone consistent and the fitment correct.
Fresh Flange Gasket
A new exhaust pipe flange gasket installed with the system. A compressed factory gasket is the most common source of a leak after an otherwise clean install, and it is a cheap part to skip and an expensive one to chase.
Fitment Set Properly
Hangers seated and tips squared through the rear valance. Exhaust packaging under the FR-S is tight, and a system rushed into place contacts the underbody or sits visibly uneven at the bumper.
Courtesy Fill
All fluids checked and topped off, tire pressures set to specification. Every car leaving the shop gets this check regardless of what brought it in.
Common Questions
Scion FR-S Cat-Back Exhaust Questions
What exhaust system was installed on this 2013 Scion FR-S?
Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio installed a Borla S-Type cat-back exhaust system on this 2013 Scion FR-S Base. The factory cat-back section was removed and replaced, and a new exhaust pipe flange gasket was installed at the same time to seal the connection properly.
What is a cat-back exhaust system?
A cat-back exhaust system replaces everything in the exhaust path behind the catalytic converter. On a Scion FR-S that means the mid pipe, muffler, and tips come off as a group and are replaced as a matched set. Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio installs cat-back systems on the FR-S, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ platforms.
Does a cat-back exhaust add horsepower to a naturally aspirated Scion FR-S?
On a naturally aspirated FA20 engine, the most noticeable change from a cat-back exhaust is the character and volume of the exhaust note rather than a large increase in output. A cat-back system only removes restriction behind the catalytic converter, so power gains from the system alone are modest. Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio does not publish estimated horsepower figures for a modification without measuring the specific car.
Why should the exhaust flange gasket be replaced during a cat-back installation?
A factory exhaust flange gasket compresses in service, and reusing it is one of the most common causes of a small exhaust leak after an otherwise clean cat-back installation. A leak at the flange changes the sound of the system and affects readings from the sensors around it. Atomic Autosports installs a new flange gasket as part of a cat-back exhaust job.
What is a courtesy fill at Atomic Autosports?
A courtesy fill at Atomic Autosports in Wickliffe, Ohio is a check and top off of all fluids along with setting tire pressures to specification. It is completed on vehicles before they leave the shop regardless of what work brought them in. This 2013 Scion FR-S received a courtesy fill after its exhaust installation.
Where can I get a Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, or Subaru BRZ exhaust installed near Cleveland?
Atomic Autosports is a performance and motorsports shop located at 29251 Anderson Road, Wickliffe, OH 44092, serving Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. The shop installs performance exhaust systems on the Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and GR86, and Subaru BRZ, and also performs motorsports alignment, corner balancing, and track preparation on those platforms.
Context
Why This FR-S Exhaust Upgrade Matters
The Scion FR-S, along with its Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 siblings, is one of the best-supported enthusiast platforms of the last fifteen years. It is light, balanced, rear-wheel drive, and rewarding to drive at real-world speeds, which is exactly why it turns up so consistently at autocross events and HPDE weekends across Northeast Ohio.
Exhaust is where a lot of FR-S owners start, and there is good reason for that. It changes the daily experience of the car immediately, it does not compromise reliability, and it does not commit the owner to supporting modifications the way forced induction does. The parts are available to anyone. Correct hanger fitment, square tip alignment, a fresh flange gasket, and a proper post-install check are what separate a system that sounds right for years from one that becomes a source of rattles and leaks.
FA20 Exhaust Character
The FA20 has a distinctive exhaust note that the factory system deliberately mutes in the interest of cabin quiet. Opening up the cat-back section is what lets that note through, and on a naturally aspirated engine the change in character is the point.
Installed to Stay Installed
A new flange gasket, properly seated hangers, and squared tips are the difference between an exhaust that looks factory-correct and one that announces itself every time the car crosses a driveway. The install is what separates shops.
Scion, Toyota & Subaru Performance Shop in Ohio
Built for This Work
Atomic Autosports specializes in performance exhaust installation, motorsports alignment, corner balancing, suspension setup, brake upgrades, and track preparation for enthusiast vehicles like the Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and GR86, Subaru BRZ, Mazda Miata, Corvette, Porsche, Honda S2000, and more.
Whether you are starting with an exhaust, dialing in a track alignment, or building the car out over a season, our shop focuses on the details that determine whether the work holds up.
Looking for FR-S Exhaust Installation or FA20 Performance Work?
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Schedule Your FR-S Exhaust Installation
If you are ready to get your FR-S, BRZ, or 86 breathing and sounding the way it should, Atomic Autosports can source and install the right cat-back system and make sure it goes on correctly the first time. From exhaust installation and flange sealing to motorsports alignment and full track preparation, we handle the details that determine whether a modification holds up.
Contact Atomic Autosports
Schedule Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ exhaust installation, FA20 performance work, motorsports alignment, and track preparation.
Platforms We Know
Vehicles We Service
We work on the cars that matter to drivers who care. If you’re building it for the track, we know the platform.
Scion
FR-S
Toyota
GR86 / 86
Subaru
BRZ
Mazda
Miata / MX-5
Chevrolet
Corvette
Chevrolet
Camaro
Porsche
911 / Cayman
Honda
S2000
Honda
Civic / Type R
BMW
M Series
Ford
Mustang
Your Car?
Ask Us
Don’t see your platform? We work on most performance vehicles — contact us to discuss your build.
Ready to Prep Yours?
Schedule performance exhaust installation, coilover and suspension work, brake upgrades, motorsports alignment, and full track preparation for your FR-S, 86, or BRZ — or any of the platforms we know. We make sure the car is ready to perform — safely and reliably.