Best Headers for the BRZ, FR-S, 86 and GR86: 5 Top Picks Compared
The best header for a BRZ, FR-S, 86 or GR86 is an unequal-length (UEL) header for most owners: it is the part that gives these flat-four cars their signature rumble and fills in the midrange, and the five picks below start at $525. Second-generation (2022–2026) owners should look at the PLM FA24 UEL ($550), the Tomei UEL ($711) and the PLM Catted UEL ($895); first-generation (2013–2020) owners get the PLM FA20 UEL ($525) and the aFe Twisted Steel catted long tube ($1,153). Every pick is an active listing in our catalog, with the exact year range from its title repeated in its section — read it before you order, because the two generations do not interchange freely.
Two honest notes that apply to every header on this platform. First, catted versus catless is a real decision: a catted header keeps a catalytic converter in the system, a catless one does not, and your local rules and inspection regime should make that call, not a forum thread. Second, a header changes how the engine breathes, so plan on a matching tune as part of the same project rather than an afterthought.
1. PLM Power Driven FA24 UEL (2022–2026 BRZ/GR86) — $550
The default second-generation pick. PLM's Power Driven unequal-length header is built for the FA24 in the 2022–2026 BRZ and GR86, $550 — the least expensive way into the UEL sound and midrange character these cars are known for once the header goes on.
2. Tomei Expreme UEL — $711
The Japanese-brand option: Tomei's Expreme unequal-length header is listed for the 2022–2023 BRZ/GR86 and the 2013–2021 BRZ/FR-S/86, $711. If the badge on the part matters to you as much as the part itself, this is your pick — and the listing's wide year span makes it worth a second look for either generation.
3. PLM Catted UEL — $895
The PLM catted UEL header, $895, is the pick for owners who want the unequal-length layout with a catalytic converter in place. It costs more than the catless PLM options above, and for a street car that has to pass inspection, that difference is the whole point.
4. PLM Power Driven FA20 UEL (2013–2020) — $525
First-generation owners get the cheapest ticket in this roundup: the PLM FA20 UEL for the 2013–2020 BRZ/FR-S/86, $525. Same formula as pick one, sized for the FA20 cars — rumble and midrange first, everything else second.
5. aFe Twisted Steel Catted Long Tube — $1,153
The premium first-generation option: aFe's Twisted Steel long tube header is 304 stainless steel, includes a cat, and is listed for the 2012–2017 Toyota 86/FR-S/BRZ, $1,153. Long-tube layouts are the flow-first end of the header spectrum, and the stainless construction is what you are paying for.
After the header
A header is one piece of the exhaust path — pair it with the rest of the system and the chassis work in our BRZ and GR86 coilover guide and wheel fitment guide. And when the car sounds faster, make sure it stops like it too: our JDMuscle big brake kit for the 2022–2026 BRZ/GR86, $1,400, is the pairing we recommend.