Audi TT RS Exhaust Install: AWE SwitchPath Guide (8S)

Upgrading the Audi TT RS exhaust is the single fastest way to wake up the car's 2.5L TFSI turbo five-cylinder, and the AWE Tuning cat-back for the 8S (2018-2022) is a genuine driveway-friendly install. The factory car makes 394 hp and 354 lb-ft, but Audi buries one of the best-sounding engines on sale behind a heavily muffled OE system. Swapping to an AWE SwitchPath or Track Edition cat-back frees an AWE-rated 30 wheel horsepower and up to 25 lb-ft, drops 28.5 to 36.5 lbs of weight, and unlocks the warbly 1-2-4-5-3 firing-order soundtrack the TT RS is famous for — all without a tune. This guide walks through choosing the right AWE system, the tools you need, and a step-by-step cat-back install at our Tampa, FL shop.

Why Upgrade the Exhaust on a 2018-2022 Audi TT RS?

A cat-back exhaust is the section of piping and mufflers that runs from the catalytic-converter flange rearward to the tips, so replacing it improves flow and sound without touching the emissions hardware. On the 8S TT RS it is the highest-value first modification because it delivers power, weight loss, and sound in one bolt-on. The DAZA 2.5L TFSI inline-five produces 394 hp and 354 lb-ft from the factory and rockets the car to 60 mph in about 3.6 seconds, but the restrictive OE cat-back and secondary muffler choke both airflow and the engine's signature odd-firing howl. AWE's cat-back systems are dyno-developed specifically for this five-cylinder, with published peak gains of 30 hp at the wheels and up to 25 lb-ft of torque at 6,400 rpm.

Just as important on a compact coupe, an AWE cat-back is a meaningful weight reduction: AWE lists 28.5 lbs saved with the SwitchPath (plus mid-pipe) and 36.5 lbs with the Track Edition (plus mid-pipes) versus the stock system. That mass comes out behind the rear axle, where it matters most for rotational inertia and turn-in. Every AWE system is hand-built from CNC mandrel-bent 3-inch and 2.5-inch U.S.-sourced T304L stainless steel with a 0.065-inch wall, and each ships with diamond-black 180mm RS-style oval tips stamped with the AWE logo.

AWE SwitchPath vs Track Edition: Which One Should You Install?

Choose the AWE SwitchPath if you want one exhaust that behaves for early-morning commutes and screams on demand. The SwitchPath uses a 5-cylinder-specific tuned driver's-side muffler paired with an electronically valved passenger-side tip outlet, so you can toggle between a refined closed-valve tone and a full open-valve roar. Choose the Track Edition if you want the loudest, lightest, and least expensive option and never need a quiet mode: it deletes the driver's-side muffler and the passenger-side valve entirely, running in a permanent "valve open" state.

Already own a Track Edition and wish you had the quiet mode? The AWE SwitchPath Conversion Kit adds the valved muffler section so you can retrofit switchable volume without buying a whole new system. All three share the same T304L construction and 180mm tips, so the decision comes down to how you drive. Here is how the three AWE options for the TT RS compare:

Weight-saved figures are AWE's published numbers for each cat-back paired with its mid-pipe(s) versus the factory system.

The Parts You Will Install

Every system below is a direct bolt-on cat-back for the 2018-2022 Audi TT RS Quattro (8S). Prices sit in the $1,075 to $2,775 range depending on which system you choose. All are in stock and ship from NLP Performance.

Tools and Prep Before You Start

A TT RS cat-back swap is a straightforward bolt-on that most experienced DIYers finish in two to three hours; in our Tampa shop we usually have it done in about ninety minutes on a two-post lift. Because it is a cat-back with no O2 sensor relocation and AWE backs it with a No Check Engine Light Guarantee, no ECU tune or software is needed. Gather the following before you lift the car:

• Two-post lift, or a floor jack plus four jack stands rated for the vehicle
• Metric socket and wrench set (10mm, 13mm, and 15mm cover most cat-back hardware)
• Penetrating oil for the factory clamp and hanger hardware
• Rubber-jaw pliers or a hanger-removal tool and a spray bottle of soapy water to ease hangers off
• Torque wrench, plus anti-seize for the clamp bolts
• An extra set of hands to support the OE system as it drops

Let the car cool completely before you begin — exhaust components hold heat for a long time. Disconnect the battery if you plan to route any SwitchPath control wiring, and photograph the factory tip alignment inside the rear diffuser so you have a reference for the final fitment.

How to Install the AWE Cat-Back Exhaust, Step by Step

The procedure is the same for the SwitchPath and the Track Edition; only the SwitchPath adds a valve-control step. Work slowly at the flange and the hangers — those two areas cause almost every alignment headache.

1. Raise the car level. Lift on a two-post hoist or support all four corners on jack stands so the exhaust hangs at its natural ride height. A tilted car makes tip alignment nearly impossible.
2. Support the OE cat-back. Place a jack stand or a helper under the factory muffler assembly so it cannot drop and bend a hanger when the last bolt comes loose.
3. Disconnect the OE exhaust valve. The factory TT RS system uses an electronic flap actuator. Unplug its connector and, if equipped, unclip the wiring from the muffler so it stays with the car.
4. Loosen the mid-pipe clamp or flange. Soak the connection with penetrating oil, then break loose the band clamp or flange bolts where the cat-back meets the mid-pipe. Support the section as it separates.
5. Free the rubber hangers. Spray the isolators with soapy water and work the OE system off each hanger with a hanger tool or rubber-jaw pliers, then lower the factory cat-back and set it aside.
6. Hang the AWE system loose. Lift the AWE cat-back into place and seat it onto the factory hangers first. Start the mid-pipe clamp or flange bolts by hand and leave everything loose so you can adjust.
7. Connect the SwitchPath valve (SwitchPath only). Plug the AWE valved outlet into the actuator and route the SwitchPath control per AWE's instructions. The Track Edition skips this step because it has no valve.
8. Align the tips in the diffuser. Adjust the system fore, aft, and rotationally so both tips sit centered and even in the rear diffuser, matching your reference photo. Even, symmetrical tips are the mark of a correct install.
9. Torque everything down. Working from the mid-pipe back, tighten the clamp and hanger hardware to spec with anti-seize on the threads. Double-check that no part of the system contacts the body or heat shields.
10. Start, verify, and leak-check. Start the engine cold and listen for exhaust leaks at the flange. On the SwitchPath, cycle the valve open and closed to confirm the tone changes and the actuator moves freely.

SwitchPath Valve Setup and Sound Check

The SwitchPath system's whole appeal is control, so spend a few minutes dialing it in after install. The passenger-side valve opens and closes electronically, letting you run a civil, closed-valve tone around town and open the full track volume when you want it. Operate the valve with the AWE SwitchPath Remote per AWE's included instructions, and verify it holds each position through a heat cycle. With the valve closed the TT RS stays cabin-friendly for daily driving; with it open, the odd-firing five-cylinder produces the burbling, rally-flavored howl that makes this engine special.

Expect a noticeable but well-mannered increase in volume even in the closed setting compared to stock, thanks to the freer-flowing 3-inch and 2.5-inch piping. The Track Edition, by contrast, is fixed in the open state and is the loudest of the three — ideal for track days and owners who want maximum drama at all times. Whichever you install, do a final under-car inspection after your first heat cycle and re-check the clamp torque after about 100 miles, since new gaskets and clamps can settle.