Replacing a muffler... what to look for?

[n0tdan]

What factors into the noise level of a muffler?
What should i look for if i want to replace an aftermarket muffler which was intended to make it louder?

For instance from

http://www.thepartsbin.com/cat...&Ntt=+D2217702&x=0&y=0

Disadvantages of getting a weld on vs an oem ($30 vs $130+) muffler?

Looking to go as quiet as possible for as cheap as possible.

Muffler experts! help!

🙂

 

[herrjimbo]

depending on what vehicle it's going on, i would think an oem muffler would be more quiet than anything else.

 

[Bignate603]

Most aftermarket mufflers, especially the cheap ones, aren't application specific. A quiet muffler is tuned to the vehicle to cancel out the dominant (or most annoying) frequencies. The frequencies from each engine are different so a muffler that isn't designed for that specific vehicle isn't likely to be as effective at killing the dominant frequencies for that particular engine.

 

[radioouman]

Go OEM.

 

[SJP0tato]

Are you replacing an aftermarket "loud" muffler on a car you've purchased?

I agree with the replies so far, for least amount of sound go OEM. If OEM is too expensive look for "OEM Equivalent".

One more option is to weld in a resonator/glasspack in the exhaust to help quiet things down a little.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If you want quiet, usually OEM is the way to go. Most aftermarket ones are either made to be cheap, or made to be louder and/or have more of a sound come in.

...and some just are made to look "cool"*.




*cool is up for debate and often fails miserably.

 

[n0tdan]

Thanks for the input 🙂 I guess it looks like I'm looking for an OEM replacement.

 

[nwfsnake]

I got a Walker muffler and pipes to replace the rusted stock muffler and pipes from the cat back on my son's Accord. Easy bolt on using stock hangars and hardware. Nice and quiet also. www.rockauto.com