Need muffler and pipe that will LAST
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Endlessblockades
Senior Member
I can't think of any way to combat corrosion in a state that uses salt-based de-icing (and has strict inspections). Something other than 409 grade 'stainless' steel might help? I don't know. Seems like a consumable in the salt belt. Prices seem to have gone way up - I was taking a look at the Magnaflow cat-back system I got through a t4r.org group buy a couple years ago and they are $300 over what I paid. Dang.
brillo_76
Elite Member
The cheapest solution I have found have been the northern stainless cat back exhaust from Ebay. The are stainless but they will still slowly rust. As lots of grades of stainless steel does rust ( I know that doesn't make sense to me either but those grades do exist)
This is for a 2002 but they have the exhaust for all the 3rd gen years. Will these last forever...No.. They will last mostly 4 years or so as we are testing but they are alot cheaper then walkers and they work plus for the price. They are a good option.
Northern Stainless Exhaust for a 2002
This is for a 2002 but they have the exhaust for all the 3rd gen years. Will these last forever...No.. They will last mostly 4 years or so as we are testing but they are alot cheaper then walkers and they work plus for the price. They are a good option.
Northern Stainless Exhaust for a 2002
Buckaroo
Member
I installed a Walker SS muffler with lifetime warranty and it lasted about (wait for it)....two years. Walker would not deal with me - said I had to work through the retailer. I had purchased from Amazon and they told me to contact Walker. I finally got a warranty replacement from Amazon but they told me that was like a once in a lifetime gift.
So, what do you do? They rust out at the welds. Last time I bought one for a family members Camry, I coated all the welds with high temp engine paint before install. 3-4 coats plus. It seems to be holding up after 2 years but doesn't see many miles. The Toyota mufflers last a very long time but are very expensive. If you go aftermarket and you have a warranty, figure out exactly how you will get it replaced under warranty - you will need it.
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brillo_76
Elite Member
My walkers lasted 4 years. I just gave up and searched other options that are cheaper.
The OEM exhaust where high grade semi stainless. They always last the longest but since toyota lifetime warranties them. You have to pay an insane amount for them. So that really isnt an option either anymore. Unless you want to shell out 3 to 4K for the oem exhaust up to the header..:/
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
That's what I have and it's an idiot-proof install, more so if you can unbolt your OEM exhaust flange bolts easily. It comes with both CA and Federal pipes. So far it looks good after a couple years but hasn't seen a lot of water and no salt. Make sure to tighten any connector bolts downstream of the sensor or you might throw a P420 CEL like I did, but it's an easy fix. The group buy price we got on this forum when it was released made it quite a bit cheaper, but that's water under the bridge. Apparently it was designed by a 3rd Gen guy who works at MF. Made in the USA. Another forum member determined that different grades of stainless were used and opted to have his cerocoated or something similar. Check out his crazy build at that link.
maxthebird
New member
Anyone tried the Northeastern stainless steel cat back advertised on eBay? Probably made in China but has a limited lifetime warranty and is pretty cheap at $220. Still have the original muffler but it can't last forever, and the OEM from Toyota is close to $800 with all the extras.
19963.4lsr5
New member
A few of us are using it and so far are happy. It’s quiet…..
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brillo_76
Elite Member
Yes they are made in China, Sadly they last longer then walkers. I wouldn't be surprised if OEM would be more then $800 now. Granted they would lifetime warranty it.
I run those Northern Stainless.
Malcolm99
Member
Why not just go with the Toyota OEM Exhaust, I just replaced mine from the down pipe to the tail pipe with OEM for this reason on both my 1999 4R and 2010 Taco. I didn't realize the OEM 4R muffler came with a rubber damper to eliminate resonation, pretty nice piece. All the parts are still available from Toyota. We use liquid Calcium Chloride for about 7 months up here in the North so aftermarket won't last more than 3-4 years, unless you go with Magnaflow or Borla, both of which are about the same price as OEM with added noise, and not sure they include the downpipe with cat and O2 flange, plus you can actually get the O2 off in a few years using OEM as the studs don't seem to rust like aftermarket.
What's the old saying, buy once cry once.
What's the old saying, buy once cry once.
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
I just replaced my muffler with a Mangaflow. I am going to wrap the pipe sections of the exhaust line, then coat it with sealant (exhaust specific)
If I wanted to remove the entire system from the exhaust manifold or cat I can only imagine the struggle those bolts would represent
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If I wanted to remove the entire system from the exhaust manifold or cat I can only imagine the struggle those bolts would represent
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ITWrencher
New member
My issue wasn't the Northeastern Exhaust muffler after all. It was my knuckleheaded mistake re-installing the transmission. There is a small bracket on the transfer case that holds and routes the rear O2 sensor. Well when I jacked the transmission back up into place I didn't see that bracket and jammed it up into the floor. This caused a really bad noise and vibration that you could feel in your back and butt. I took out the bolt holding the bracket and bent the bracket back into shape and re-installed it and voila no more vibration or noise and Bessie is now very happy again!
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