D-MAX gets a King Brown exhaust

There are many benefits to fitting an aftermarket exhaust system to a 4x4’s turbo-diesel engine, and no obvious negatives that I can think of. Well, that is unless you purchase a cheaply made exhaust kit, which from experience don’t fit well and tend to fall to pieces faster than a freshly built Sydney apartment.

We took no chances and opted for a quality Australian-made King Brown exhaust from the team at Pacemaker Australia. This unit, like many other parts fitted to our 2020 Isuzu D-MAX, is the first unit to roll off the production line. The good people at Pacemaker were able to help us out and built this kit from scratch.

We had the team at Advanced Installation Service in Emu Heights, NSW, fit the kit. They had it whipped out and assembled quick-smart, commenting that everything was included and it fit-up easily the first time around – can’t argue with that.

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Check out how strong that exhaust hanger is, and how nice the welds are

As well as being an Australian-made product (which we always love to see), you can tell this is a top-quality bit of kit – just look at the sturdiness of the exhaust hangers and quality of the welds. The material used is a 409 stainless steel, a metal designed to stretch and flex as your vehicle does. The pipework is then coated in Pacemaker’s unique signature brown finish, which is designed to replicate snake skin. Not only does it look cool, this finish will protect the exhaust from the elements for years to come. Pacemaker has been building exhausts for nearly 50 years in its South Australian facility, which certainly gives peace of mind that this kit will last the distance.

So, how does it sound?

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Looks right at home and has added a nice note to the D-MAX

Being a touring vehicle we asked for an exhaust kit with a small muffler, and to keep the vehicle roadworthy we to retained the factory Isuzu DPF (diesel particulate filter). It now makes a nice, deep note, without an excessively loud drone on the highway. You can tell it’s there, especially at idle or when downshifting through tunnels. Another cool point is you can now hear the turbo spool up a bit more, and who doesn’t like turbo noises?

From the seat of the pants, the engine seems to have picked up a little bit of mid-range performance, which is a welcome addition after loading up the D-MAX with accessories.

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With the larger, free-flowing King Brown exhaust fitted, the vehicle’s EGTs (exhaust gas temperatures) have reduced, which is a positive step for engine longevity. It also means if we decide to turn the wick up performance-wise with an ECU remap or aftermarket performance module, there’s room for more safe gains in power. Call it future-proofing.

King Brown exhaust systems are available to suit a range of 4x4s including Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hilux, Prado and LandCruiser, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger.

AVAILABLE FROM: www.pacemaker.com.au
RRP: $899 plus $150 fitment (in our case)
WHAT WE SAY: A quality Australian-made exhaust upgrade kit that’s easy to install, with every nut and bolt included.