What are the Best Mufflers?

Internal combustion engines are known to produce loud noises while running. The continuous banging sounds that you hear are the tiny explosions that occur as the air-fuel mixture constantly combusts inside the chambers. The sound pressure from the combustion travels through the exhaust system, bouncing multiple times on the inner walls of the exhaust pipes.

The muffler is an acoustic device that reduces the noise coming from the engine. If the muffler is missing or has a hole in it, your car will be very loud. On the other hand, a collapsed or restricted muffler may cause misfiring and other performance issues. The good thing is there are aftermarket mufflers that meet OEM standards but cost less.

10 Best Aftermarket Mufflers

A faulty muffler can make your vehicle illegal to drive in certain states. Therefore, we advise that you replace a bad muffler as soon as you become aware of an issue.

Without further delay, here are the best mufflers you can find on the market today:

• Kool Vue KV150108
• Evan Fischer RT96110006
• Replacement REPK961115
• Eastern Exhaust EASTEE700466
• Walker WK17886
• Magnaflow M6610416
• Bosal BO145359
• Flowmaster F13717835
• Borla B2540085
• Ansa ANSABW4545

1. Kool Vue Polished Muffler #KV150108

Kool Vue mufflers are meticulously made to improve vehicle performance and dampen engine noise. Kool Vue’s 150108 muffler gives out a mildly aggressive tone, perfect if you want to improve the standard exhaust tone of your car. It is made shed of stainless steel that’s rated to surpass the lifespan of the vehicle it is fit on.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Color/Finish: Polished
• Attachment Style: Clamp-On
• Case Shape: Round
• Exhaust Tip Finish: Polished
• Exhaust Tip Material: Steel
• Inlet Location: Center; Outlet Location: Center
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Dual
• Overall Length: 18.5 in.
• Body Length: 10 in.; Width: 4.5 in.; Height: 4.5 in.
• Sound Level: Mild

Compatible with: Select submodels of 1953-1967 Chevrolet Corvette; 1960-1976 Plymouth Valiant; 1962-1969 Dodge Dart; 1962-1965 Plymouth Fury; 1964-1966 Chevrolet Chevy II; 1964-2005 Chevrolet Impala;1964-1981 Ford Mustang; 1964-1974 Plymouth Barracuda; 1964-1966 Pontiac GTO; 1964-1965 Pontiac LeMans; 1965-1970 Chevrolet Chevelle; 1965-1970 Dodge Coronet; 1965-1970 Plymouth Belvedere; and more.

2. Evan Fischer #RT96110006

There are a handful of good mufflers today but only a few rate high on the list. Take the Evan Fischer RT96110006 as an example—a precision-manufactured muffler that boasts a high level of structural reliability. The RT96110006 muffler is made of aluminized steel to match OE exhaust performance. It comes with a natural finish and is installed in the center of the under chassis.

RT96110006 mufflers replace OE part number 1742062240, and may also alternately fit for part numbers 2103-73821-5 and 1742062240.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Location: Center
• Replaces OE Number: 1742062240
• Interchange Part Number: 2103-73821-5, 1742062240

Compatible with: 1997-2000 Toyota 4Runner Limited and SR5

3. Replacement #REPK961115

Looking for the best muffler for fuel economy can be difficult since a lot of manufacturers out there have the same claim on their products. Quality is one thing but when it comes to price, Replacement beats its rivals with its extremely competitive price tags.

The Replacement REPK961115 muffler is a one-piece muffler that fits 2000-2001 Kia Sephia and 2000-2004 Kia Spectra models. It features a single inlet and outlet and can be attached without any modification prior to the installation.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Location: Center
• Style: One-Piece Design
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Single
• Interchange Part Number: 294-151
• Installation: No modification needed

Compatible with: 2000-2001 Kia Sephia and 2000-2004 Kia Spectra

4. Eastern Exhaust #EASTEE700466

If you’re a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Commander owner looking for a quality muffler replacement, then look no further. Eastern Exhaust offers a range of high-quality Jeep mufflers at decent price tags. Made of premium aluminized steel, the Eastern Exhaust EE700466 is engineered to comply with OE standards. It features a design that allows maximum flow for optimal performance.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Case Shape: Oval
• Internal Construction: Baffled
• Inlet Location: Center right; Outlet Location: Center
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Single
• Overall Length: 37.25 in.
• Body Length: 30 in.; Width: 6.25 in.; Height: 11.75 in.
• Inlet Size: 2.75 in.; Outlet Size: 2.5 in.

Compatible with: Select submodels of 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2006-20010 Jeep Commander

5. Walker #WK17886

Some of the best tuner mufflers on the market are from Walker—with the 17886 Natural Muffler as an example. This muffler is made using rust-resistant aluminized steel with spun-locked heads for superior protection against breakage. It features spot-welded bushings and internal mechanical joints for improved stability—not to mention, it’s quick and easy to install.

The 17886 Natural Muffler from Walker is a viable option not just for replacement but for upgrading your exhaust system.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Case Shape: Oval
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Single
• Overall Length: 25 in.
• Body Length: 18 in.; Width: 8.81 in.; Height: 4.25 in
• Inlet Size: 2 in.; Outlet Size: 2 in.

Compatible with: This muffler is not model-specific; check the vehicle owner’s manual for specifications and compatibility.

6. Magnaflow #M6610416

If you’re after the best straight-through muffler on the market, check out the Magnaflow 10416 muffler. It features a straight-through perforated stainless steel core that provides smooth and unrestricted exhaust flow.

The Magnaflow 10416 muffler is known for its smooth, deep tone that it gets from the high-quality lap-joint-welded stainless steel pipe and case. It also features a reversible custom installation, although minor modifications may be required.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Attachment Style: Weld-On
• Case Shape: Round
• Style: Reversible
• Internal Construction: Straight-Through
• Inlet Location: Center; Outlet Location: Center
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Single
• Overall Length: 20 in.
• Body Length: 14 in.; Width: 4 in.; Height: 4 in.
• Inlet Size: 2.5 in.; Outlet Size: 2.5 in.; Core: 2.5 in.
• Sound Level: Moderate

Compatible with: This muffler is not model-specific; check the vehicle owner’s manual; will fit any vehicle that uses a muffler with dimensions 14 in. x 4 in. x 4 in. and a straight-through internal construction.

7. Bosal #BO145359 Muffler

Bosal has a good line of aftermarket mufflers that excels both in quality and practicality. The 145-359 muffler, for example, is made with precision to focus on the product’s lifespan. It is designed to specifically fit select vehicle models and comply with their requirements like backpressure, emission, sound level, and sensor. It features an oval case made of aluminized steel with a natural finish.

The Bosal 145-359 muffler conforms to OE standard sound level.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Case Shape: Oval
• Location: Passenger Side
• Sound Level: Standard (OE)

Compatible with: 2009-2014 Nissan Maxima S and SV

8. Flowmaster #F13717835

One of the high-quality straight-through mufflers on the market, the Flowmaster 717835 muffler is designed to fine-tune the vehicle’s exhaust tone from mild/moderate to aggressive. Flowmaster uses 409 stainless steel in manufacturing the 717835, allowing it to perform better than regular stainless mufflers.

A series of rigorous dyno testing guarantees the Flowmaster 717835’s ability to improve torque, horsepower, and fuel mileage. This muffler is a good choice if you are looking for a replacement part that features a direct fit with quick and easy installation.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: 409 Stainless Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Case Shape: Oval
• Internal Construction: Straight-Through
• Sound Level: Aggressive

Compatible with: 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2017-2018 GMC Canyon

9. Borla #B2540085

The Borla 40085 muffler is one of the best bullet mufflers you can find on the market today. It is made of 100% T-304 austenitic, sound-absorbing, and ultra-smooth mandrel-bent stainless steel. This high-grade stainless steel is able to maintain low decibels and is good at resisting burnouts.

The 40085 muffler is dyno-proven to increase exhaust flow and power as it features Borla’s patented uninterrupted-flow design and multi-core technology. It also comes insulated for reduced shell temperature that helps with the driver’s compartment cooling.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Case Shape: Round
• Internal Construction: Straight-Through
• Inlet Location: Center; Outlet Location: Center
• Inlet Quantity: Single; Outlet Quantity: Single
• Overall Length: 20 in.
• Body Length: 15 in.; Width: 5 in.; Height: 5 in.
• Inlet Size: 3 in.; Outlet Size: 3 in.
• Sound Level: Aggressive

Compatible with: This muffler is not model-specific; check the vehicle owner’s manual; thorough measurement before fitting is highly advisable.

10. Ansa BW4545 Natural Muffler

Designed with aluminized steel for lasting performance, the Ansa BW4545 muffler is stringently crafted to feature direct and exact fit. It is a weld-on or clamp-on muffler that’s compatible with a multitude of import vehicles.

Ansa specializes in manufacturing Ferrari exhaust systems. It also manufactures exhaust components compatible with other import vehicles, even including diesel trucks.

Features & Specifications:

• Material: Aluminized Steel
• Color/Finish: Natural
• Attachment Style: Weld-On or Clamp-On
• Case Shape: Oval
• Location: Center

Compatible with: 1985-1987 BMW 635CSi and 1985-1988 BMW 535i

How Does a Muffler Work?

A muffler dissipates sound through the help of pressure waves, which are waves that have the exact opposite wavelength as the sound waves created in combustion. The introduction of pressure waves inside the muffler cancels out most of the sound waves, resulting in a quieter exhaust. This process is called destructive interference.

Cutting the muffler in half will reveal a tube or tubes that have perforations. These perforated tubes direct the sound waves inside the muffler from the inlet to the outlet, and out to the tip. As the sound waves enter the central tubing, it hits the back wall shortly after, then passes through a hole and into the center chamber. Note that the process depends on the muffler’s type, design, and structure.