Car mufflers are one of the most sought-after aftermarket exhaust parts, as many people don’t like how their stock muffler makes their car sound and they look for ways to change it. Most stock mufflers are designed to reduce and deafen the sound, which is not something most gearheads want. If you’re not satisfied with the way your car sounds, and want to look into replacing your stock muffler with an aftermarket performance one, there are a couple of important factors to consider.
First and foremost, when shopping for aftermarket sport mufflers, you need to consider the fit. In order to get the right fit, you need to consider whether your vehicle has a single or a dual exhaust system so that you can determine the number of inlets you’ll need from the new muffler. Next, you need to consider the pipe diameter and get a muffler that matches it. And lastly, you need to consider how much room you have available for the new muffler. The dimensions of the new muffler should allow for proper clearance under your car, and the muffler should snugly fit in the confines of your car’s undercarriage.
The next thing you need to consider when shopping for sport mufflers is the style. There are chambered, turbo and straight-through mufflers.
- Chambered mufflers are designed for muscle cars and street machines, as they reduce noise while still providing a throaty performance sound. These sport mufflers utilize a series of inner chambers that are set up at specific lengths to reflect sound waves against one another. As that happens, they cancel each other out, which results in reduced exhaust noise.
- Turbo mufflers use perforated tubes that guide the gases through the muffler in an S-shaped pattern. Although more restrictive than chambered and straight-through mufflers, this design allows gases to pass through more tubing for improved noise reduction.
- Straight-through mufflers allow for maximum gas flow, and thus, horsepower. They feature a straight, perforated pipe that’s wrapped inside a sound absorbing material. These sport mufflers are ideal for racing, as they minimise restriction and provide your vehicle with an aggressive sound.
And lastly, you need to consider the material the muffler is made of. The two most popular materials are aluminised and stainless steel. Both of these materials are superior to the materials stock exhaust mufflers are made of, which is typically mild steel. Aluminised steel is more affordable and more lightweight, but stainless steel is more durable and has superior rust and corrosion resistance properties.