Is the resonator a secondary muffler?
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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
If you'll do a search, there is a ton of info on it. Removing hte resonator may add a little volume, but you really have to be listening and paying attention to notice it. This is on my mod list, I'll be having it removed with the exhaust routed out the side behind the tire.
03L4RUNNER
New member
Cut mine off a while ago, you will notice no sound difference, so i just cut the muffler out and welded up a magnaflow, sounds beastly now
MikesToy
Banned
Thanks unless someone says different.
drmorbius
New member
Resonators are tuned to remove annoying noises in the exhaust. They usually target one frequency.
810moto
New member
but being in SoCal, does that effect us in our lovely smog checks?
Uneek
Super Moderator
No, your catalytic converter plays the big role with emissions along with other components.
Yes, that's exactly correct. Most of the time, resonators are used to "tune out" exhaust system drone. Anyone who has driven a V8 Mustang with an aftermarket exhaust probably has experienced drone at a certain RPM (usually right around 3,000 RPM). Most aftermarket Mustang exhaust systems make the car sound awesome, but they also have a lot of annoying drone, so driving on the highway can be a real pain. I don't know if we have any Mustang guys here, but the new Roush exhaust system eliminates the mufflers entirely and just uses two small resonators instead. So the car sounds really loud and mean and doesn't have any of the annoying drone.
If you remove the resonator from a 4Runner, you probably won't notice any difference in sound or volume at idle, but the exhaust system will resonate more at a particul RPM, and that's exactly why they put it there in the first place.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
Haha, former 96 Cobra owner here, and add in a Flowmaster 40 series with off road H pipe (no cats), yea, just a little drone. The resonator does have its place, but I've talked to severl who've removed it and the difference in sound/drone in negligible.
810moto
New member
have you cut yours off yet?
titaniumsport
New member
my old mustang (V6) had some drone with dual Magnaflows around 2000rpm. i kept all 4 cats though so it wasnt terribly loud or annoying
Uneek
Super Moderator
The cat is needed to pass smog check.
PaulSula
New member
So what would be the downside of just cutting it off and having the exhaust exit under the frame?
The TRD exhaust on the FJ had a terrible drone. I hated it. It sounded like our old 73 Ford Maverick to me. Uggggghhhhh. It sounded great at most RPM's, but at certain spots it just sounded bad and annoying. The positive was that you learned to not ever really run it at high RPM's because of the drone, so the mileage was actually pretty good. Light on the gas pedal to avoid the dreaded droning from the 70's. Yuck!
This is funny as I was actually looking at that little resonator today wondering why I had never noticed it before (only owned the vehicle a week). But there it was and now my questions are answered.
This is funny as I was actually looking at that little resonator today wondering why I had never noticed it before (only owned the vehicle a week). But there it was and now my questions are answered.
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER
New member
Not real sure. I Thought about that, but people say you need to het the exhaust out away from the vehicle. If anyone can help with this please chime in.
chaossd
New member
Ironic.
I just installed a magnaflow muffler and cutoff the resonator and installed a ~14" stainless steel tip. (I don't have pics on me at the moment). It looks great and sounds great. But....
Two words: Too Loud.
The magnaflow is, I believe the "smaller" of the magnaflows and it sounds sweet 95% of the time (idle, freeway, accelerating). However, anytime the motor is under load on an uphill, the cabin resonates. Even a slight incline the cabin will resonate. Not really that bad, but bad enough to know that it will be annoying in a couple months. Or on a road trip if I'm passing through some mountains on grade. Some might like the sound, personally, I find it kind of annoying. I like throaty-on-demand.
I have over $3,000 worth of sound dampening rubber and dynamat in my vehicle for sound purposes and I still get cabin resonating. In my humble opinion, I just think that if you have a tacoma and the exhaust is away from the cabin, you're cool. But 4Runner's cabins extend all the way back to the extreme end of the vehicle, right over the exhaust tip.
I had a 2001 TRD that was supercharged and I'd say this setup sounds about like that, but without the cool supercharger engaging sound.
I told the guys at the shop that I need to swap out the muffler for the largest version that magnaflow makes (the 22" model, so I'm told).
If I were to try and quantitate the noise level it would be as such:
stock: 0
Current Magnaflow with resonator: 6
Current Magnaflow with Resonator removed: 7-8
My hope is that by replacing the current muffler with the largest version it will cut the volume down to a 5 or 6.
Everyone has their own opinion. I just realized after I put this mod on that really the only person that was going to hear my motor 99% of the time was me. And I figured I want the performance increase, and the noise when I'm hitting the throttle, or when the car starts up (basically, throaty noise on demand). But not when I'm cruising.
I just installed a magnaflow muffler and cutoff the resonator and installed a ~14" stainless steel tip. (I don't have pics on me at the moment). It looks great and sounds great. But....
Two words: Too Loud.
The magnaflow is, I believe the "smaller" of the magnaflows and it sounds sweet 95% of the time (idle, freeway, accelerating). However, anytime the motor is under load on an uphill, the cabin resonates. Even a slight incline the cabin will resonate. Not really that bad, but bad enough to know that it will be annoying in a couple months. Or on a road trip if I'm passing through some mountains on grade. Some might like the sound, personally, I find it kind of annoying. I like throaty-on-demand.
I have over $3,000 worth of sound dampening rubber and dynamat in my vehicle for sound purposes and I still get cabin resonating. In my humble opinion, I just think that if you have a tacoma and the exhaust is away from the cabin, you're cool. But 4Runner's cabins extend all the way back to the extreme end of the vehicle, right over the exhaust tip.
I had a 2001 TRD that was supercharged and I'd say this setup sounds about like that, but without the cool supercharger engaging sound.
I told the guys at the shop that I need to swap out the muffler for the largest version that magnaflow makes (the 22" model, so I'm told).
If I were to try and quantitate the noise level it would be as such:
stock: 0
Current Magnaflow with resonator: 6
Current Magnaflow with Resonator removed: 7-8
My hope is that by replacing the current muffler with the largest version it will cut the volume down to a 5 or 6.
Everyone has their own opinion. I just realized after I put this mod on that really the only person that was going to hear my motor 99% of the time was me. And I figured I want the performance increase, and the noise when I'm hitting the throttle, or when the car starts up (basically, throaty noise on demand). But not when I'm cruising.
Last edited:
Ducman
New member
Hmm
Why not put the resonator back in? Its purpose in life is to fix the exact problem you are having.
As someone who has had half a dozen different aftermarket exhaust systems on various vehicles over the years (including Magnaflow catbacks on 2 different V8 Mustangs) I do not think going to a larger size Magnaflow muffler will solve your problem.
Why not put the resonator back in? Its purpose in life is to fix the exact problem you are having.
As someone who has had half a dozen different aftermarket exhaust systems on various vehicles over the years (including Magnaflow catbacks on 2 different V8 Mustangs) I do not think going to a larger size Magnaflow muffler will solve your problem.
