Options for quieter performance exhaust

[PorkchopSandwiches]

I have a 98 lgt and I've been looking into aftermarket exhaust. From what I've seen and heard, I want to get the UEL headers off eBay (yes, I'm aware of fitment issues). When it comes to the muffler, however; I'm looking for advice. Can anyone recommend a muffler that will give me a little rumble and better sound but not be that loud overall? I've listened to sound clips of various magnaflow, vibrant, and borla mufflers combined with the UEL headers and they all seem like an earful to me. If anyone else has successfully put together a subtle, understated exhaust, what did you use? Has anyone run the UEL headers with stock muffler?

I've looked at countless sound clips on youtube but it's really hard to tell how loud they are. I recorded my stock exhaust with my cell phone and it sounded like satan's lawnmower in the video, so I'm pretty sure a lot of those recordings on youtube aren't the most accurate way to judge volume. :lol:

edit: side question while I'm in here - how do you put the little catch phrases or whatever under your user name to the left? I've looked all over the control panel and can't find it.

[chrish8r]

The best way to get the most out of those youtube videos is with headphones. And even with that, it is extremely hard to tell.

But id say you will get a decent rumble without the earful you would get with pretty much any aftermarket muffler that you could put on the car.

*edit: unless you put more than one muffler on, but there really isnt much room for that on our cars...

Regarding the bottom text, look for "signature" in the user panel. Thats the technical name for it.

[PorkchopSandwiches]

What about an STI (04-07) axle back? I heard a few of those on youtube that seemed pretty quiet but still let the boxer rumble breath a little. People are saying the flange needs to be flipped in order to use an STI midpipe but I wasn't sure if it needed to be done to just use the muffler and bit of pipe attached to it. Oh, and by text under the username I meant the part where it says "Subie Stalker" for you, not the sig part. Maybe it's something you unlock with post counts? haha

[Thomistopheles]

I think you can get a user title thingy if you donate to the forum. Welcome to SL-i, by the way!

[chrish8r]

I think i way halfway asleep when i read and responded last night....haha. The exhaust like you mentioned usually need to have the flange rotated, hanger relocated and some may need extended a little bit in order to look right(but i think that is only needed for wagons)


About the title(i just saw text and under and assumed. Lol) Those do change with post counts but as Thom said, if you donate to the forum, you can change it to whatever you would like.

[PorkchopSandwiches]

I think you can get a user title thingy if you donate to the forum. Welcome to SL-i, by the way!
Thanks! Now I have two subie forums to keep up with haha


I think i way halfway asleep when i read and responded last night....haha. The exhaust like you mentioned usually need to have the flange rotated, hanger relocated and some may need extended a little bit in order to look right(but i think that is only needed for wagons)

I think I might go that route. I'm sure an exhaust shop wouldn't charge much to modify it to fit. I put an ad up on craigslist looking for an sti muffler last night. With how often people put custom exhaust on those cars, surely someone has the stock exhaust sitting in their garage taking up space.

[Huffer]

Can anyone recommend a muffler that will give me a little rumble and better sound but not be that loud overall?

In order of quietness:
Stock
Subaru SPT muffler/WRX twin tip
WRX single tip
Subaru STi muffler (any year except for the twin exhaust models)
any major aftermarket performance axle-back (Perrin, Vibrant, Cobb etc)
no muffler

[PorkchopSandwiches]

Can anyone recommend a muffler that will give me a little rumble and better sound but not be that loud overall?

In order of quietness:
Stock
Subaru SPT muffler/WRX twin tip
WRX single tip
Subaru STi muffler (any year except for the twin exhaust models)
any major aftermarket performance axle-back (Perrin, Vibrant, Cobb etc)
no muffler

Nice, thanks! I think the STi muffler should be just right.

[Garrison]

In order of quietness:
Stock
Subaru SPT muffler/WRX twin tip
WRX single tip
Subaru STi muffler (any year except for the twin exhaust models)
any major aftermarket performance axle-back (Perrin, Vibrant, Cobb etc)
no muffler

Are these in reference to a N/A engine?

I was thinking very heavily about a 2.5" --> Sti muffler when I next go turbo.

[PorkchopSandwiches]

I was asking for my n/a but I'm sure you could apply the same idea to a turbo setup. I'm pretty sure the turbo and different exhaust manifold would make it quieter than a non-turbo with the same muffler though.

[Sub-Goon]

Can anyone recommend a muffler that will give me a little rumble and better sound but not be that loud overall?

In order of quietness:
Stock
Subaru SPT muffler/WRX twin tip
WRX single tip
Subaru STi muffler (any year except for the twin exhaust models)
any major aftermarket performance axle-back (Perrin, Vibrant, Cobb etc)
no muffler
This is just shat I have been trying to figure out! I'm going to stay away from the UELs for now, since I have to deal with smog! Unless I can fit a set from a wrx/sti?! And I hope to find a STi muffler, but a good MagnaFlow or Vibrant will also do the job!

[Garrison]

I was asking for my n/a but I'm sure you could apply the same idea to a turbo setup. I'm pretty sure the turbo and different exhaust manifold would make it quieter than a non-turbo with the same muffler though.
Turbo engines are naturally quieter because the turbo acts like a mini-muffler.

[Huffer]

In order of quietness:
Stock
Subaru SPT muffler/WRX twin tip
WRX single tip
Subaru STi muffler (any year except for the twin exhaust models)
any major aftermarket performance axle-back (Perrin, Vibrant, Cobb etc)
no muffler

Are these in reference to a N/A engine?

I was thinking very heavily about a 2.5" --> Sti muffler when I next go turbo.

Yes, in reference to an NA engine - that's what the OP had asked for. In all honesty, if you are "upgrading" to WRX/STi power by going turbo, you basically want to follow the same upgrade path for the exhaust that the turbo guys do. Aftermarket 3" mid-pipe to 4" tip. Straightforward, no surprises. Keep the bends to a minimum and you maximize exhaust velocity.



I was asking for my n/a but I'm sure you could apply the same idea to a turbo setup. I'm pretty sure the turbo and different exhaust manifold would make it quieter than a non-turbo with the same muffler though.
Turbo engines are naturally quieter because the turbo acts like a mini-muffler.

This is true - the turbo will muffle the exhaust pulses post engine... but the pulses are still coming down the line so a large muffler tip with less baffle material will result in a loud exhaust.

It's all relative.

[Garrison]

Yes, in reference to an NA engine - that's what the OP had asked for. In all honesty, if you are "upgrading" to WRX/STi power by going turbo, you basically want to follow the same upgrade path for the exhaust that the turbo guys do. Aftermarket 3" mid-pipe to 4" tip. Straightforward, no surprises. Keep the bends to a minimum and you maximize exhaust velocity.
This is true - the turbo will muffle the exhaust pulses post engine... but the pulses are still coming down the line so a large muffler tip with less baffle material will result in a loud exhaust.

It's all relative.

Why do you say 4" tip? If you're doing 3" piping all the way back your tip should be 3". 4" only makes it louder with no extra gain (the basic rule of thumb is that the exhaust flow = your smallest piping diameter cfm)?

[Huffer]

Like I said - relative. You could do a 2.5" tip on a 3" exhaust too.

[Wiscon_Mark]

As someone who had an STi muffler on a Legacy (with a hi-flow cat) I can say that they're somewhat loud in the sense that they drone in the cabin badly. They're certainly not bad outside the car (distinctive, noticeable, but not obnoxious) but in the cabin wasn't great.

My setup was: stock headers ---> hi flow single cat ---> STi midpipe w/ resonator ---> STi muffler

I probably should've had the tip extended a little bit more and that probably would've helped, but I wasn't that thrilled with the muffler after a while. A WRX muffler might be a little better.

[Odycee]

Just installed Stromung AXB, low tone drone at idle and has nice exhaust tone not too loud.

[Huffer]

As someone who had an STi muffler on a Legacy (with a hi-flow cat) I can say that they're somewhat loud in the sense that they drone in the cabin badly. They're certainly not bad outside the car (distinctive, noticeable, but not obnoxious) but in the cabin wasn't great.

My setup was: stock headers ---> hi flow single cat ---> STi midpipe w/ resonator ---> STi muffler

I probably should've had the tip extended a little bit more and that probably would've helped, but I wasn't that thrilled with the muffler after a while. A WRX muffler might be a little better.

I see your problem for the resonation in the cabin - you had a single cat, my set up had both stock cats. Also, my setup had a custom midpipe with a resonator... your STi one might have had less baffle or difference in sound frequency.

My STi muffler tip was tucked under the bumper so same as yours.

As we always say - sound is relative.

[Odycee]

If you don't want too loud, just replace axle back muffler only. Sounds just right and saves $$$$ not buying midpipe.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Rodger, you're probably right. I really wish I'd given a dual resonator system a try, it probably would've helped a lot. Oh well.