Any vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, whether it’s a sedan, SUV, or truck, is going to have an exhaust system. It consists of multiple components, including oxygen sensors, catalytic converters, mufflers, pipes, exhaust manifolds, and many more.
The exhaust system regulates emissions, so it must always be kept in working condition. It makes sure that waste gases are redirected correctly and pollutants are filtered efficiently, which enhances engine performance. Any fault in your exhaust system should be repaired as soon as possible to make sure it complies with state-mandated emission standards.
Need new exhaust system components to restore or upgrade your vehicle? Check out aftermarket catalytic converter and exhaust system parts on CarParts.com. These parts work just as well as any OE component and are made from premium materials. Each part is engineered for easy-installation, without the need for cutting or welding.
6 Best Exhaust System Brands
There are many exhaust system options available on the market, so we’ve listed down the six best brands you should choose from:
Flowmaster
Flowmaster’s direct-fit exhaust system assemblies are made for easy installation. They are made of premium materials, including aluminized and stainless steel. Its exhaust systems are designed to improve vehicle performance, using a refined airflow mechanism to enhance engine power and fuel economy.
Key Features:
- Made of aluminized or stainless steel
- Multiple options for exit locations on the rear – passenger side or driver side.
- Ideally used as a performance replacement
- Comes with either a standard 3-year limited warranty or a lifetime Flowmaster limited warranty
Borla
Borla is a brand that guarantees high-performing exhaust systems for a wide array of vehicles, including pickups, SUVs, and cars. Its products cater to custom car fanatics, offering a great selection of direct-fit kits to customize exhaust systems.
Key Features:
- Sold separately or as kits
- Specially designed for high performance
- Made with high-grade corrosion resistant features, perfect for areas with changing weather conditions
- Promises to improve engine power while minimizing noise
- Standard million-mile limited warranty
Crown
Crown is Jeep’s preferred brand for quality aftermarket replacement components. It has been around for a while, providing exceptional components for Jeep vehicles. Its exhaust components are made of aluminized steel. They can be bought individually or as kits, including all crucial parts, such as pipes, mufflers, catalytic converters, mounting hardware, and so on.
Key Features:
- Guarantees OE-quality and function, ideally for Jeep vehicles
- Not legal for sale or use in California
- Products come with a 1-year/12,000-mile limited warranty
Magnaflow
Magnaflow offers a wide range of exhaust system components made for both OE replacement and performance applications. It uses a polished airflow design to optimize gas mileage and horsepower. Each direct-fit part boasts precise engineering, promising hassle-free installation.
Key Features:
- Made of stainless steel, aluminized steel, or 409 stainless steel
- Mandrel-bent tubing for ultimate durability
- Available for a wide variety of different vehicle makes and models
- Different exhaust system types, including cat-back, axle-back, crossmember, back, turbo-back, muffler-delete and more
- Lifetime limited warranty
Dynomax Exhaust System
Dynomax includes all necessary hardware in its exhaust system kits. Its products are all about performance and style. All included parts are engineered to boost torque, horsepower, and gas mileage. They also feature fiberglass matting inside the components to manage airflow resonance and tone.
Key Features:
- Mandrel-bent tubing for continuous airflow
- 50-state legal
- Minimized back pressure with linear airflow design
- All components are direct-fit, using stock hanger or mounting points
- Lifetime limited warranty
MBRP Exhaust System
MBRP is all about providing variety. Its exhaust system components come in different materials, for multiple types of systems, covering a multitude of vehicle makes and models. It’s also a DIY-er friendly brand, requiring no additional modifications during installation.
Key Features:
- Comes in aluminized steel, stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, and 409 stainless steel
- Cat-back, DPF-back, turbo-back, axle-back, downpipe-back, or resonator-back exhaust systems
- Ideal for performance replacement applications
- Precision-engineered to meet OE dimensions
- Products come with varying warranties
When Should You Replace Your Exhaust System?
Keeping your vehicle’s exhaust system in good shape is crucial in making sure your emissions stay within legal limits. If it fails, your vehicle will release toxic chemicals into the air, which is harmful to the environment. A bad exhaust system may also make your engine burn more fuel than necessary, throwing off overall vehicle performance.
Prevent the hassle of having a bad exhaust system by watching out for symptoms and addressing them as early as possible. Here are the signs you should watch out for:
The exhaust pipe is loose
If the exhaust tip seems to move excessively when driving over bumps, the exhaust hangers may need to be replaced. Get your vehicle checked by a mechanic if this happens as the tip may break if you drive on rough terrain.
Excessively loud engine noise
An exhaust pipe tear may cause louder engine sounds than usual. The muffler and its chambers function to tone down these noises. However, the damaged pipes between the chambers will inadequately manage vibrations, producing more intense engine noise.
Reduced fuel economy
An exhaust leak may happen if there are any damaged components. This may cause your engine temperature to run higher than normal, affecting performance and fuel economy.
What to Consider When Choosing a New Exhaust System
Since the exhaust system has multiple parts and hardware, there are certain factors you should consider when looking for a new one.
Cost
The cost of a new exhaust system may vary depending on configurations and inclusions. It can go from around $45 to $4,200, varying on whether it’s sold as a part of a kit, an assembly, or a set. Some may prefer to buy components individually, but a set or kit may be more convenient as it contains all the hardware necessary for quick installation.
Material
When it comes to material, you can’t go wrong with stainless steel. It’s good at fending off rust and corrosion, which is common with metal exhaust pipes.
Specifications
Taking down your vehicle’s specifications is important to make sure that your new exhaust system is compatible with it. Ill-fitting components may cause problems later on, after installation.
Should You Upgrade Your Exhaust System?
There are a few premium exhaust systems on the market now that can essentially upgrade your vehicle’s current kit. Aftermarket exhausts can increase pipe diameters, replace restrictive mufflers, and utilize smoother mandrel bends. Exhaust gases thus escape more easily, which in turn allows the engine to take on more fresh air.
Consult a trusted mechanic if you’re looking to upgrade your vehicle’s exhaust system. Not all aftermarket systems are created equal, and they’ll be more than happy to point you to the most worthwhile upgrades.
Exhaust System Types
You’ll likely run into a lot of different terminology while shopping around for an upgraded exhaust system, especially if you’re looking for one for your truck. Here are the common exhaust system types and what they mean:
Axle-Back
Axle-back exhaust systems replace the entire rear exhaust section behind the rear axles. This includes the mufflers, exhaust tips, and exhaust pipes. Axle-back systems typically leave the mid-pipe intact, which limits performance gains but makes the system easier to install and less expensive.
Header-Back
Header-back systems are rare in modern systems. Modern vehicles rely on one to three catalytic converters, often with an added pre-converter in the factory exhaust manifolds and another primary converter where the y-pipe or header meets the factory mid-pipe. Header-back systems often require you to remove one or more of these factory emission components, which is illegal. But header-back systems are still useful for pre-emission applications. They’re the most expensive and challenging systems to install though.
Cat-Back
Cat-back systems replace all the exhaust components behind the vehicle’s catalytic converter. This includes the mufflers, the resonators, most of the piping, and the tailpipes. Because they replace more restrictions, they often increase performance exponentially, but they’re more complicated to install and more expensive compared to axle-back systems.
Direct Fit Mufflers
Direct fit muffler systems are aftermarket mufflers that you simply bolt in. They create a better exhaust note and improve horsepower and torque. The great thing is that these mufflers reuse factory hangers and mounting locations so they don’t need too much customization to fit.
At the end of the day, it’s best to take a good look at the exhaust brands for trucks and other vehicles available to you. Find an exhaust system type that you like with features you’d appreciate, and be sure to make an informed decision before forking over any cash.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
