KK cat-back exhaust options

[lfhoward]

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What would you put on your KK if you needed a muffler, tail pipe, and resonator?

The options in the poll seem to be the available ones. I would totally go with a Magnaflow kit, but they stopped making them unfortunately. MBRP makes a good performance model for the KJ but they don’t have a KK kit. I am also leaving out Flowmaster since they are too loud for me. The characteristics I want are:

Stainless steel - I want it to last a good long time
Not too loud - because my wife deals with migraines that make her sound sensitive
Reasonable Cost - Willing to pay for a good system but don’t have an unlimited bank account
Performance - a few extra HP would be nice but I consider this optional compared to the above criteria.

The Walker is the cheapest at under $200. It also is probably the quietest because it is not going for performance. But because it is made of aluminized steel, not stainless, I would be doing this again in a couple of years.

The Dynomax is middle of the road in terms of cost, about twice the Walker, let’s say $400. It is stainless supposedly, but I am guessing quality and performance are also middle of the road. Seems a bit loud in YouTube videos.

The Gibson is pretty expensive at about $600. The quality is there with a lifetime warranty on stainless components. The performance of its thru-flow design adds 5-15 HP or so they claim. The trade off is the Gibson seems loud to me in the videos I watched. Also, the chrome exhaust tip protrudes about 4” behind and below the bumper, which is not ideal for off road clearance.

Mopar. Perfect fit, great quality, and quiet. My original one lasted 10 years. But it’s $1000!!! The high cost seems prohibitive.

Ok, what would you do? I am also interested in other options that are not on this list. Let me know the pros and cons of your experiences with different brands. And thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[tommudd]

I voted Dynomax simply due to the fact that the Walkers will rust out sooner
Im running walkers on the 03 and 04 both now , quiet but only last 2-3 years at most I would say
Gibson sounds great on V8s , never heard a V6 running one but yes expensive for sure

 

[runfor5]

Sorry I replied tonight to not-the-latest post on your exhaust issue. I have the stainless Gibson - GIB-617205. I am (still LOL) the 1 and only review of it on Summit: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/gib-617205

First off, it is not the quietest. Slightly louder than stock for sure. I have a stainless Gibson on my S-10 (also a V6) and it sounded the exact same as stock. Can’t lie, I was surprised it was louder on the Jeep. Plus side is the S-10 exhaust is still doing fine at about ~9 years old on there.

Quality wise it’s great I’ve had no issues since putting it on 5 years ago.
I see it’s $425 on Summit right now legit 2/3 of what I paid. So price is good.

The too-long length of piping is not a big deal just an annoying extra step. Funny I finally cut it off and put on the stainless tip this past January. Quick and easy cut w sawzil. Pics of pipe sticking out attached. ***let me know if you want interior and exterior videos happy take some for you!

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[lfhoward]

Funny enough, I ended up going with an exhuast system not on the above list!

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https://www.brexhaust.com/

BRExhaust is a subsidiary of Magnaflow, but they do high quality OEM replacement exhaust systems rather than the performance systems I was looking at before. Although the construction is aluminized steel, the interior bits of the muffler are stainless, and it comes with a 2 year warranty. These systems are meant to be as quiet as stock, which I like. They are made in Kentucky by American workers, shipping was free, and the price was $226. Not too bad. I’ll let you know how the install goes.

 

[runfor5]

Nice! Glad you found one. That's a good price too. Hopefully that steel construction holds up past the 2-year warranty. Glad to hear it's stock-level sound since that's what you were looking for.

 

[lfhoward]

@runfor5, thanks for the detailed post above on the Gibson. Although I didn’t go that route (because of the sound volume), I know that kind of information will help someone else down the line who looks at this thread.

 

[06MoneyPit]

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What would you put on your KK if you needed a muffler, tail pipe, and resonator?

The options in the poll seem to be the available ones. I would totally go with a Magnaflow kit, but they stopped making them unfortunately. MBRP makes a good performance model for the KJ but they don’t have a KK kit. I am also leaving out Flowmaster since they are too loud for me. The characteristics I want are:

Stainless steel - I want it to last a good long time
Not too loud - because my wife deals with migraines that make her sound sensitive
Reasonable Cost - Willing to pay for a good system but don’t have an unlimited bank account
Performance - a few extra HP would be nice but I consider this optional compared to the above criteria.

The Walker is the cheapest at under $200. It also is probably the quietest because it is not going for performance. But because it is made of aluminized steel, not stainless, I would be doing this again in a couple of years.

The Dynomax is middle of the road in terms of cost, about twice the Walker, let’s say $400. It is stainless supposedly, but I am guessing quality and performance are also middle of the road. Seems a bit loud in YouTube videos.

The Gibson is pretty expensive at about $600. The quality is there with a lifetime warranty on stainless components. The performance of its thru-flow design adds 5-15 HP or so they claim. The trade off is the Gibson seems loud to me in the videos I watched. Also, the chrome exhaust tip protrudes about 4” behind and below the bumper, which is not ideal for off road clearance.

Mopar. Perfect fit, great quality, and quiet. My original one lasted 10 years. But it’s $1000!!! The high cost seems prohibitive.

Ok, what would you do? I am also interested in other options that are not on this list. Let me know the pros and cons of your experiences with different brands. And thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Have a Flowmaster and it’s quiet, no drone or anything if that helps

 

[tommudd]

Have a Flowmaster and it’s quiet, no drone or anything if that helps

No drone ? Never heard that with a Flowmaster unless you have a very quiet one that is new

 

[LONGJEEPOWNER]

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What would you put on your KK if you needed a muffler, tail pipe, and resonator?

The options in the poll seem to be the available ones. I would totally go with a Magnaflow kit, but they stopped making them unfortunately. MBRP makes a good performance model for the KJ but they don’t have a KK kit. I am also leaving out Flowmaster since they are too loud for me. The characteristics I want are:

Stainless steel - I want it to last a good long time
Not too loud - because my wife deals with migraines that make her sound sensitive
Reasonable Cost - Willing to pay for a good system but don’t have an unlimited bank account
Performance - a few extra HP would be nice but I consider this optional compared to the above criteria.

The Walker is the cheapest at under $200. It also is probably the quietest because it is not going for performance. But because it is made of aluminized steel, not stainless, I would be doing this again in a couple of years.

The Dynomax is middle of the road in terms of cost, about twice the Walker, let’s say $400. It is stainless supposedly, but I am guessing quality and performance are also middle of the road. Seems a bit loud in YouTube videos.

The Gibson is pretty expensive at about $600. The quality is there with a lifetime warranty on stainless components. The performance of its thru-flow design adds 5-15 HP or so they claim. The trade off is the Gibson seems loud to me in the videos I watched. Also, the chrome exhaust tip protrudes about 4” behind and below the bumper, which is not ideal for off road clearance.

Mopar. Perfect fit, great quality, and quiet. My original one lasted 10 years. But it’s $1000!!! The high cost seems prohibitive.

Ok, what would you do? I am also interested in other options that are not on this list. Let me know the pros and cons of your experiences with different brands. And thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Isn't it great with all the salt and chemicals that Pa. puts on the roads what the effects are to our vehicles!

 

[tommudd]

Isn't it great with all the salt and chemicals that Pa. puts on the roads what the effects are to our vehicles!

Ohio as well , our vehicles in the Midwest don't wear out, just get crunchy LOL

 

[lfhoward]

Life happens, and my new exhaust system continues to sit in a box in the basement. I will hopefully have time to install it in a few weeks time. Meanwhile, Jeepy isn’t too loud as the main muffler on the old system is still mostly intact (for now).

 

[lfhoward]

Funny, only 4 votes in the poll above and no clear winner!

 

[lfhoward]

Got the old exhaust off and the new one installed today. Here are the pics to prove it really happened.

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A little rusty! My impact was a godsend for those old exhaust bolts. Also needed was a sawzall to cut the old muffler out, because even with the clamps removed it would not come off.

Here’s the old rusty thing, or what was left of it.

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The BRExhaust is a nice unit, and it comes in small sections that can be clamped together relatively easily. The torque spec on the clamp bolts is 30 pounds.

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Muffler

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Resonator

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It tucks under the bumper at just the right angle.

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The melting damage was from the old resonator when it was hanging by a thread, and before it fell off completely.

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Pretty happy with this unit. The sound is nice and quiet, but with a subtle rumble you would expect from Magnaflow, BRExhaust’s parent company.

I will need to check the clamps again after about 50 miles to make sure everything is still nice and tight, and make sure there are no exhaust leaks. I did the whole cat back swap without having to jack the Jeep up (4 inch lifted). I used one jack stand as a third arm to get everything aligned before tightening clamps. You can totally do this install yourself.

 

[tommudd]

Good job !
Just noticed your lawn chairs look just like mine LOL
Well I have two left, some lady borrowed two and moved to Winston Salem NC

 

[lfhoward]

Good job !
Just noticed your lawn chairs look just like mine LOL
Well I have two left, some lady borrowed two and moved to Winston Salem NC

Ha Ha, the lawn chairs have a few more years in them before they completely turn to Fe₂O₃! They came from a restaurant in Ann Arbor MI that was getting rid of its outdated patio furniture in 2014. They were old and crusty back then, even more so now.

 

[tommudd]

Ha Ha, the lawn chairs have a few more years in them before they completely turn to Fe₂O₃! They came from a restaurant in Ann Arbor MI that was getting rid of its outdated patio furniture in 2014. They were old and crusty back then, even more so now.

Yes mine are getting worse for wear, but have had them since Swanton, so 5 moves later, well getting worn out but still hold my butt off the floor LOL


So next up is to tackle the gas tank skid etc, sure wish I was closer to ya to give you a free had or two

 

[lfhoward]

I took the Jeep out today and twisted it up, taking roads with known potholes and trolley tracks. The new exhaust system stayed together, did not shift position, and does not seem to have any obvious exhaust leaks. I’ll check again in 50 miles according to the directions that came with the kit.

 

[tommudd]

I took the Jeep out today and twisted it up, taking roads with known potholes and trolley tracks. The new exhaust system stayed together, did not shift position, and does not seem to have any obvious exhaust leaks. I’ll check again in 50 miles according to the directions that came with the kit.

Good job of installing it

 

[Liaztraht]

I'm late to the party. I enjoy my Gibson. Not too loud.

Mine melted my bumper a bit so I cut out the melted spot and extended the tip out. Has a nice tone on the V6, not really droney either.

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YouTube vid of it right after install

 

[lfhoward]

I'm late to the party. I enjoy my Gibson. Not too loud.

Mine melted my bumper a bit so I cut out the melted spot and extended the tip out. Has a nice tone on the V6, not really droney either.

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YouTube vid of it right after install

Looking good!