Installed Magnaflow muffler....don't like it

R

robotkiller

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I installed a TRD CAI yesterday and am very happy with the results - nice tone, looks and responsiveness. Decided to get a Magnaflow on the truck and am not too happy with the results. I installed the 12256 18" case muffler and I'm probably going to end up removing it. It sounds awesome at idle and there is actually little to no drone at highway speeds. Only problem is that at 40-50 MPH there is a drone with acceleration of any kind and overall it's louder than I expected. What stinks is that the truck is driving better than ever.

I hate that I wasted money on this, but installing any muffler is going to be a gamble, so I can't be too surprised, I guess.
 
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robotkiller said:
I installed a TRD CAI yesterday and am very happy with the results - nice tone, looks and responsiveness. Decided to get a Magnaflow on the truck and am not too happy with the results. I installed the 12256 18" case muffler and I'm probably going to end up removing it. It sounds awesome at idle and there is actually little to no drone at highway speeds. Only problem is that at 40-50 MPH there is a drone with acceleration of any kind and overall it's louder than I expected. What stinks is that the truck is driving better than ever.

I hate that I wasted money on this, but installing any muffler is going to be a gamble, so I can't be too surprised, I guess.
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thats good to know and its why i've been holding off. I would like a deeper tone but everything I come across for toyota sounds to hi pitched and drones.
 
ltdrose said:
thats good to know and its why i've been holding off. I would like a deeper tone but everything I come across for toyota sounds to hi pitched and drones.
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It's not high pitched at all, actually. The sound is relatively low and meaty. It just turns boomy and resonant around 40-50 mph.

I can only get it removed by Tuesday, so I'll see if my mind changes. If I had to do it again, I would have gone for a 22" or 24" - at this point if I decide against the 18", I'm probably going back to stock.
 
Did you buy it new? I got a magnaflow on my 09 tacoma and after 1K miles, the exhaust had a dramatic change in tone and sounded a lot more clean. Sometimes it takes time for the exhaust to burn in completely.
 
I have the bigger Magnaflow- not sure if it's 24 or 22, but I have NO drone at all at any RPM. It does get very aggressive at full throttle- which is the point- but otherwise just a nice deep rumble.
 
MikeBuzzsaw said:
Did you buy it new? I got a magnaflow on my 09 tacoma and after 1K miles, the exhaust had a dramatic change in tone and sounded a lot more clean. Sometimes it takes time for the exhaust to burn in completely.
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I did buy it new - from Amazon. center/offset 2.5 18" case. Deeper I'm ok with, but did yours get louder?

Antman - I should have gone with the bigger case, I think. I did notice today that there was a slight initial rattle when starting from a dead stop or turning the wheel at idle - I don't hear it at speed, but could this be part of the problem?
 
Sounds like you may have a loose heatshield, or clamp if they used one. Or- your exhaust may be rubbing somewhere. I'm thinking more heatshield though. I seem to remember a post by Harper7 where his heatshields by the cats were loose and rattling.

Mine has no rattles at all. Good luck!
 
Antman said:
I have the bigger Magnaflow- not sure if it's 24 or 22, but I have NO drone at all at any RPM. It does get very aggressive at full throttle- which is the point- but otherwise just a nice deep rumble.
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Any chance you can confirm the 22 or 24 before I run out and buy the wrong one? Thanks in advance Antman. Be Safe.
 
Antman said:
Sounds like you may have a loose heatshield, or clamp if they used one. Or- your exhaust may be rubbing somewhere. I'm thinking more heatshield though. I seem to remember a post by Harper7 where his heatshields by the cats were loose and rattling.

Mine has no rattles at all. Good luck!
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Looked under the truck and I can see the exhaust pipe after the muffler resting on a crossmember. When I shake the exhaust, I can hear the pipe clanging against the crossmember - I'm sure that's where the rattle is from. Just not sure if the drone could be from that. Too bad the muffler shop is closed - maybe I could put a piece of heat resistant material in between to see if it helps?
 
I also had a Magnaflow 12256 muffler installed and found it too loud under certain conditions. I discussed replacing it with the 22" version but the shop suggested it would cost less to simply install a short glass pack (resonater) on the engine side of the 12256. This cost me only $35 and has solved the problem without affecting the faster throttle response I have been enjoying since th 12256 was installed.
 
I just ordered the 22" for my v8 4th gen. I'm getting it installed on Tuesday. I'll report back how it sounds for your FYI.

I, too was torn between the 18 and 22. Sounds like I may have gotten lucky and chose wisely.

If I were you, I would do what someone else recommended and have an extra little glasspack/resonator installed and just keep the 18" on there.

Goodluck!


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android
 
Updates

So I wedged a piece of silicone between the exhaust and crossmember - a fair bit of the obnoxiousness went away and the rattle is gone. This is obviously a temporary fix. There is still some boominess at ~2.5k. All other RPMS are good. The exhaust is noticeable - you hear the engine at all times.

I have noticed a few things: the combination of the TRD CAI and new muffler does remove a good bit of the sluggishness with the truck. The throttle seems more responsive and it feels like the truck pulls harder. Placebo effect? Maybe - but at this point I'm trying to talk myself out of keeping the exhaust. It's still a bit louder than I like, but the truck is driving nicely.

The other thing is that actually being able to hear the engine makes it more satisfying to drive in eco mode. The slightly better throttle response helps here too.

Don't know what I'm going to do here. May end up keeping it for now (after having the hanger fixed) and seeing if I can live with it.

Here's a sound clip inside the cabin of me driving at normal speed (not flooring it) - I used my iPhone, so you will have to jack up the volume to hear what's going on. Obviously flooring it takes the sound to another level.

‪2011 4Runner Trail with TRD CAI and Magnaflow 12256‬‏ - YouTube
 
IsItMe? said:
Sounds good to me.
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The clip is deceptive b/c it doesn't convey the deep boominess that happens in the second half of the clip. I'm not keeping it. Drove around all over town today to get a good feel for it. Too loud at 2 - 3k RPM for our newborn. It's about as loud as my old s2000 with K&N intake w/chopped off resonator. I'm going back to stock, I think. If anyone is considering a muffler, I would personally go for 24". I thought about going that way, but I'm tired of spending money so that's it for now.

You live and learn, I guess.
 
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This may be a stupid question but how are they attaching the mufflers and how much does that cost?
 
Antman said:
I have the bigger Magnaflow- not sure if it's 24 or 22, but I have NO drone at all at any RPM. It does get very aggressive at full throttle- which is the point- but otherwise just a nice deep rumble.
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Did you notice any performance/mpg improvement with the Magnaflow? I'm considering either a Flowmaster 50 (like the one I loved so much on my old XTerra) or some form of Magnaflow. I got maybe 1.5 more mpg and felt like it revved a bit more easily.
 
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