Magnaflow drone... Input please!

Also what some of you guys are missing in your posts is which Magnaflow you have. they come in about four lengths. This will effect the sound characteristics. You can't compare without more more specific details.

Do you have a 16", 18" , 22" muffler? (Not sure on the sizes right this moment).

Also to keep the variables down, where does your exhaust exit - in the stock position, out one side, out two sides, just after the rear axle (offroad high clearance application) etc. and what type of tip have you placed on the end, if any?
 
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I don't know if this will help some of you guys to eliminate the drone issue at certain RPM, but I thought I'd share what I heard. I've met a Sequoia guy with TRD catback exhaust, which was designed similar to the set up on the 4th-G 4Runner. This thing is so quite just like it was stock at start-up and while idling. But it's rumbling like a beast at WOT. The exhaust sounds much better than my Borla. Turn-out, the owner has had the same dronning issue when he first installed on his SUV. He then went to a local muffler shop and added an extra universal resonator onto the pipe. Problem has been gone away and it only cost him $90 bucks. $30 for part and $60 bucks for labor. You guys with Magnaflow can give it a try to see how it turns out. I forgot to ask him who made the resonator. Good luck.
 
Expat said:
Also what some of you guys are missing in your posts is which Magnaflow you have. they come in about four lengths. This will effect the sound characteristics. You can't compare without more more specific details.

Do you have a 16", 18" , 22" muffler? (Not sure on the sizes right this moment).

Also to keep the variables down, where does your exhaust exit - in the stock position, out one side, out two sides, just after the rear axle (offroad high clearance application) etc. and what type of tip have you placed on the end, if any?

I agree, the length of the muffler makes all the difference in the world. I had my stock muffler taken off and one of the larger Magnaflows put in. Don't remember if it was 22" or 24", I'll have to check my paperwork. But, it sounds great. Not loud at all, just a nice performance sound under acceleration. Very little if any drone at highway speeds.

ddd269 you might want to swap out the muffler for a longer length one that will make highway driving a little more tolerable.
 
I've got the Magnaflow exhaust on my truck as well, and it sounds awesome for the most part, except for that drone that we all hate. I wanted to let you know not to invest any money in sound deadening material to fix the problem. I've already done that, and it didn't help. I put 2 layers of the stuff in the trunk, two layers under the back seat and the floor boards in the back, 2+ layers on the floor boards in the passenger and drivers seats, and 2 layers inside all 4 doors. It took me a while to get all of the material down. Even after all that $$ and time, the sound is still there! I just went on a 10 hour drive, and I will say that cruising at 70-75mph, it was annoying. I started to miss the quiet cabin of the stock exhaust. i think I may try talking to an exhaust shop about adding a resonator in front of the muffler like some of you have suggested. Sounds like that may be the answer.
 
Thanks for the info about the sound deadening material... You just saved me a bundle of money and time. It was going to be a $400 project to cover all the floor and passenger side plus time (priceless...).

A question about resonators, though.
1. Will the resonator "eat up" the extra power we gained?
2. Will it quiet it too much?
3. Any experience with a good resonator(brand)?

Thanks for all the input guys.
 
That's the same info that I want to know. I don't want to be the first one to do it, but I may have to. I've got a baby on the way, and I don't think an infant will be able to sleep soundly with that droning in the cabin.
 
digphisher said:
That's the same info that I want to know. I don't want to be the first one to do it, but I may have to. I've got a baby on the way, and I don't think an infant will be able to sleep soundly with that droning in the cabin.

lol... That's the same thing that I was thinking for the past few weeks. We are planning on our 3rd and this could be an issue.

Or maybe she (I hope it's a girl) will be a motor head and help daddy work on his car! :D

Any one can help a baby girl with this drone issue? :p
 
ddd269 said:

Any one can help a baby girl with this drone issue? :p

I say don't trash the whole cat-back, just have a longer more quiet Magnaflow muffler welded in.
 
M/F cat-back

Problem is I think, most here have the cat-back s/s system which I think only comes with a 24'' muff ...I think its a 24 anyway. I think mine is louder after a year of use.:confused:
Once you trash the muff, you are left with 2 pipes and a tip for 375??? Ah...I don't know....
Still love the sound outside though, not too loud still but inside is a bear!
 
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Re: M/F cat-back

lbrunner said:
24'' muff...Once you trash the muff, you are left with 2 pipes and a tip for 375??? Ah...I don't know....Still love the sound outside though, not too loud still but inside is a bear!
haha, muff...:lmao: :lmao:
 
Re: M/F cat-back

lbrunner said:
Problem is I think, most here have the cat-back s/s system which I think only comes with a 24'' muff ...I think its a 24 anyway. I think mine is louder after a year of use.:confused:
Once you trash the muff, you are left with 2 pipes and a tip for 375??? Ah...I don't know....
Still love the sound outside though, not too loud still but inside is a bear!

tis 24"
 
Nice...

OUTRNNR said:
No, no, no......Muff (another name for the female anatomy). Now read my above post...:D

Oh... I got it!!! Get it, got it... :D

I guess it really seems to be a waste if you/we eventually cut the cat-back muffler off and replace with stock. I tell you what though, I just heard an 07 Escalade start up, WOW! that sounds mean stock. It sounded better than most stock v8's Ive heard in an SUV. So, I don't think I will be taking my muff off anytime this summer:cool:
 
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Guys...

It's been about two month since I installed the Magnaflow. The drone got a little bit bearable. Even at the loudest, it's a bit better than when I first installed it.

What's driving me crazy now is that sometimes it's really quiet, even near the "noisy" 2000 rpm range. It sounds civilized. This usually seems to happen in the mornings. I wish it was like this all the time. I really can't explain why it's doing it.

:awais:
 
ddd269 said:
Guys...

It's been about two month since I installed the Magnaflow. The drone got a little bit bearable. Even at the loudest, it's a bit better than when I first installed it.

What's driving me crazy now is that sometimes it's really quiet, even near the "noisy" 2000 rpm range. It sounds civilized. This usually seems to happen in the mornings. I wish it was like this all the time. I really can't explain why it's doing it.

:awais:

Generally warmer weather will reduce the overal exhaust tone as there is less difference between the outside air density and the exhaust gas density.

Also it could be a function of engine load and absolute throttle useage.
 
Casper said:
Generally warmer weather will reduce the overal exhaust tone as there is less difference between the outside air density and the exhaust gas density.

Also it could be a function of engine load and absolute throttle useage.

So... By having a CAI like Volant will make the exhaust louder?

Wow. Didn't know that.

Also, the tranny kick-down seems to have changed as well, after the install (both Volant and Magnaflow).

There's a hesitant range while it's coasting at about 35mph, and the rpm about the same range as the drone, where I have to step on the gas forcefully to get significant acceleration/kick-down. It almost feels like the drone = blockage. Am I going crazy, because this wasn't a problem before the install... I think.
 
ddd269 said:
So... By having a CAI like Volant will make the exhaust louder?

Wow. Didn't know that.

Also, the tranny kick-down seems to have changed as well, after the install (both Volant and Magnaflow).

There's a hesitant range while it's coasting at about 35mph, and the rpm about the same range as the drone, where I have to step on the gas forcefully to get significant acceleration/kick-down. It almost feels like the drone = blockage. Am I going crazy, because this wasn't a problem before the install... I think.

Yes the exhaust should become slightly louder as intake pumping losses should be reduced thus allowing the engine to breath slightly easier creating more exhaust flow....and hence slightly louder or differring engine note that may sound louder.

As the peak torque and hp rises it may also shift in the powerband and this is why you are seeing changes in the shift patterns of the tranny. The 4runner uses a logic program to determine shifts between power required, power requested, power output and a slew of other factors. Due to the fact that you are changing the torque and hp curves and have less back pressure in the exhaust system, which can become too little and you loose exhaust velocity and exhaust gas scavaging, you may need slighly more power to request the tranny to shift down.
 
ddd269 said:
So... By having a CAI like Volant will make the exhaust louder?

Wow. Didn't know that.

Also, the tranny kick-down seems to have changed as well, after the install (both Volant and Magnaflow).

There's a hesitant range while it's coasting at about 35mph, and the rpm about the same range as the drone, where I have to step on the gas forcefully to get significant acceleration/kick-down. It almost feels like the drone = blockage. Am I going crazy, because this wasn't a problem before the install... I think.
I use my right hand instead of my foot if I want a downshift...
 

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