Many vehicle owners, particularly vehicle performance enthusiasts, want to make their mufflers louder. The thinking is that “more noise” equals “more power.” While that’s not necessarily true – you can have a powerful exhaust system that’s not very loud – modifying your vehicle’s exhaust system is a way to gain horsepower. Yet there’s no amount of modification that can be done to make your factory installed muffler rumble. If you want a louder and/or more powerful exhaust system, you need to buy a new muffler. If you try a half measure (like cutting a hole in your existing muffler) you can damage your car, decrease your vehicle’s power, and expose yourself to toxic exhaust gases. Not to mention that fact that home-modified mufflers make your vehicle sound like you’re transporting a thousand aluminum cans.

If you want to add power and a respectable roar to your exhaust system (as seen in these Mustang exhaust videos), consider replacing your entire exhaust system. Car manufacturers aim to produce a car in a way that is most cost-efficient to the company, and this often means cutting corners where they think the consumer won’t notice. It’s a fact that your average car buyer knows nothing about the ins and outs of an exhaust system and, as long as it’s there and working, the average consumer doesn’t give the exhaust system a second thought. By replacing the factory exhaust with a quality after-market system, you’ll have a more efficient car that sounds powerful too – without sounding obnoxious.

When you’re looking for a new exhaust system for your vehicle, it’s important to remember that the biggest is not always the best. Over-sized tailpipes look cool, but they can actually decrease performance (learn more about ideal exhaust system pipe size and backpressure).

You also want to look for a system made from quality materials, like 304 stainless steel. Quality exhaust systems are made with thicker steel which is more durable and can also help produce a good sound. Cheap materials – like alumnized steel – typically don’t sound as good and definitely don’t last as long.

Unless you really want to listen to your engine (and some people do), it’s a good idea to find an exhaust that will be relatively quiet when your vehicle is idling but come to life when you step on the gas. What you don’t want is something that rumbles annoyingly and gets you nasty looks from the neighbors. Not only will it make you the bane of the block, but usually systems that are loud at idle are unbearably loud on the highway.

Replacing your exhaust system youself is only moderately complicated. Most after-market replacments use the same hangers as the factory exhaust, so you just need some time and some hand tools. If your factory exhaust is corroded, then you may want to pay someone to replace it simply because rusted systems can be hard to work with. Finally, if money is an issue, you can always purchase replacement mufflers instead of a whole new system. They’re not quite as good in terms of performance, but they will definitely get you the sound you’re looking for and they are very affordable.

About the Author: Jason Lancaster is editor of ExhaustVideos.com, a website dedicated to helping consumers find the best performance exhaust system for their vehicle.

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