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

Don't do it!

After loads of research here I finally convinced myself that putting a Magnaflow on a V6 was a good idea...I pulled the trigger on the 22" Magnaflow stainless steal (#12586) off Amazon for $81 bucks delivered. I had planned to install it myself but it is a weld-on only and there were no hangers pre-installed. Climbing under the 4Runner with my welder didn't sound appealing so I brought it to a local mechanic.

After much anticipation I finally got the call and picked it up later that day. Started it up and was all smiles. Pulled out of the lot, slowly pressed the gas and immediately regretted my decision. 100% drone on acceleration. I turned around, went back to the shop and asked them to fish the stock muffler out of the scrap pile. My wife was not pleased that I turned her ride into a hoopty, neither was I that I just wasted + $200, let alone what it would cost to get back to stock.

The very next day my daughter was born so I've been trying to ignore how awful it sounds for the last 2 months. Just completed a 3 hour drive on the highway and my ears are ringing. Bright side is my daughter was fast asleep the entire ride...

Anyone know if it possible to re-install the old muffler? Or am I stuck having to buy a new OEM set up?
 
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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.

Mine Magnaflow did the same thing on a Bronco I own. After some time is settled in and sounds great. No drone at all anymore.

Stay with it for a little. You already own it, makes your vehicle run well, you can always pull it off after a 1000 miles if you still don't like it.
 
Mine Magnaflow did the same thing on a Bronco I own. After some time is settled in and sounds great. No drone at all anymore.

Stay with it for a little. You already own it, makes your vehicle run well, you can always pull it off after a 1000 miles if you still don't like it.


That's what I said to my wife, said it might break in over time. Really I was just saying that bc I was so mad at myself for pissing away hard earned money. It's been 2 months (~1,500 miles) with the thing and I hate it more and more every day.
 
That's what I said to my wife, said it might break in over time. Really I was just saying that bc I was so mad at myself for pissing away hard earned money. It's been 2 months (~1,500 miles) with the thing and I hate it more and more every day.



I'll trade you for my stock one
 
trade

Just bough an'02 sr5 and it came with a magnaflow cat back exhaust. Not sure what size it is but the wife hates it with a passion. Anyone want to trade for their stock setup? pm me for pics and stuff. Located in Irvine, ca
 
Just bough an'02 sr5 and it came with a magnaflow cat back exhaust. Not sure what size it is but the wife hates it with a passion. Anyone want to trade for their stock setup? pm me for pics and stuff. Located in Irvine, ca

I'd trade you except I'm a 3-day drive away, but that's a sweet deal for someone in a better position to help. If you post in the wtb/wtt section you'll probably get an offer right quick. Good luck.
 
I had the Magnaflow catback system installed a few months back.
I believe that it comes with the 22" muffler to avoid the drone issues. There's a oh so minor drone at highway speeds but nothing very annoying at all.
This is my first 4Runner but I've had aftermarket exhausts on some of my other vehicles and the slight drone from my Maganflow is insignificant compared to what I've experienced before-- don't need to blast the radio or yell to have a conversation.
A little drone is just the price you pay for a more aggressive exhaust tone. Otherwise, you just keep it stock...
 
Mine has been on there for 100,000 miles and I love it. You can hear it, but I have never had any drone. It has gotten a little louder, lol.

I do have a small rust hole on one of the welds (I can see the carbon build-up) but once I fix that it'll still be on there for another 100K, hopefully.
 
I see that everyone that installs the 22" 12586 magnaflow has it welded in. Why can't the stock exhaust be cut out and the magnaflow be clamped into place? I don't have a welder and like to do as much work as I can on my own. If I did take it to a shop to have it installed, I thought I'd have them bend the exiting part of the the exhaust to exit behind the wheel. Would this bend take away from the performance or cause any issues with the sound?
 

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