long_tall_texan
Full Access Member
I just wanted to post this for any of you that have, or are eventually going to swap mufflers. This applies if you are planning to just put in a muffler and turndown right before the axle.
Here is one of the many threads about this type of muffler install:
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36910
Anyway, I did install one of the Dynomax Thrush Turbo mufflers. I went with the 17718 (18" body) instead of the 17715 (12" body) because I wanted a little lower tone than the 12" can would produce.
Here are the muffler links in case you are interested:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-17718/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-17715/
I also ordered the intermediate pipe to make it quick and easy to install without cutting my stock exhaust.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-51002/
So anyway, I installed it with no problems. Sounded great. I initially put a make-shift hanger at the end as shown in the thread listed above, but as TJ pointed out, that was a really bad upper attachment point for a hanger. So I just removed the rear hanger because it sounded like many people never used a rear hanger with this setup.
Well, 5 months down the road, my muffler started to rattle and vibrate at around 1100-1300 RPM. It really sounded horrible. I contacted Dynomax, and although the Thrush mufflers only had a 90 day warranty, they offered to replace the muffler since it was such a premature failure. They paid to have the old muffler shipped back to them so their engineering could look at it. No Problem. Then the replacement only lasted 3 months. I called Dynomax and they again replaced the muffler quickly and without any problems. I asked about the first muffler that I had sent back to them. They looked it up and found that "The returned unit did have a leak at the head/shell connection and the factory will be advised." This is the same problem I had with the second muffler too. So when I installed the third one, I went down to the muffler shop and had them add just a single little hanger that connected to the stock exhaust grommet for 5 bucks, and it is working great. No problems now for 9 months. Just thought I would advise others so maybe you won't have to go thru the return loop like I did. The reason I was inclined to post this is because kjweston just had the same thing happen to him too.
I am sure some will say it is because the Thrush Turbo is a cheap muffler and that is why they are falling apart. I would agree that they are not the same quality of the Flowmaster Super 44 Offroad, or a Magnaflow. But, any other muffler that is a pressed/crimped together design and not a completely welded design like those top of the line ones, would have the same results. The force and vibration from having the muffler cantilevered out there will eventually cause a problem, but this is a quick, easy, and inexpensive preventative for that.
Here are some pics of my final setup:
Here is one of the many threads about this type of muffler install:
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36910
Anyway, I did install one of the Dynomax Thrush Turbo mufflers. I went with the 17718 (18" body) instead of the 17715 (12" body) because I wanted a little lower tone than the 12" can would produce.
Here are the muffler links in case you are interested:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-17718/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-17715/
I also ordered the intermediate pipe to make it quick and easy to install without cutting my stock exhaust.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-51002/
So anyway, I installed it with no problems. Sounded great. I initially put a make-shift hanger at the end as shown in the thread listed above, but as TJ pointed out, that was a really bad upper attachment point for a hanger. So I just removed the rear hanger because it sounded like many people never used a rear hanger with this setup.
Well, 5 months down the road, my muffler started to rattle and vibrate at around 1100-1300 RPM. It really sounded horrible. I contacted Dynomax, and although the Thrush mufflers only had a 90 day warranty, they offered to replace the muffler since it was such a premature failure. They paid to have the old muffler shipped back to them so their engineering could look at it. No Problem. Then the replacement only lasted 3 months. I called Dynomax and they again replaced the muffler quickly and without any problems. I asked about the first muffler that I had sent back to them. They looked it up and found that "The returned unit did have a leak at the head/shell connection and the factory will be advised." This is the same problem I had with the second muffler too. So when I installed the third one, I went down to the muffler shop and had them add just a single little hanger that connected to the stock exhaust grommet for 5 bucks, and it is working great. No problems now for 9 months. Just thought I would advise others so maybe you won't have to go thru the return loop like I did. The reason I was inclined to post this is because kjweston just had the same thing happen to him too.
I am sure some will say it is because the Thrush Turbo is a cheap muffler and that is why they are falling apart. I would agree that they are not the same quality of the Flowmaster Super 44 Offroad, or a Magnaflow. But, any other muffler that is a pressed/crimped together design and not a completely welded design like those top of the line ones, would have the same results. The force and vibration from having the muffler cantilevered out there will eventually cause a problem, but this is a quick, easy, and inexpensive preventative for that.
Here are some pics of my final setup:
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