98 Cherokee Sport. I am sure the exhaust on my Cherokee is not original but it's time to replace the muffler. It measures 17 3/4" not including the pipe on each end.
Does it matter what muffler I buy? Or can I just buy any muffler that is roughly that length so I don't have to change any pipes?

 

Rockauto always has a good list of alternatives. The aluminized ones will rust pretty quickly. I ended up getting a stainless exhaust from eBay (forget the brand) that has held up well after several years. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...n,muffler,5872

 

^Your luck seems to be better than mine.

Earlier this year I bought one of those Walker quiet flow stainless mufflers for my gf’s Taurus. The ends weren’t stainless. The attachment hooks weren’t stainless. And the welds weren’t stainless. And to top it all off, I had to cut off the hook and re-weld it on because it didn’t match the car, it was off by a few inches. Muffler and mounting on the car was factory. I bought the correct one for the VIN, and they said guaranteed fit. I ended up spraying it with some high temp silver I had laying around. I expected better from Walker. I could have gotten a cheaper muffler elsewhere since I had to screw with it anyway.

For my other car, also this spring I bought Walker pipes over the off brand because I expected better. Same thing, hooks and welds were fresh unprotected metal. And there was a 6-8 inch long unwelded seam on the pipe.

The only way I think you can get anything better is a boutique brand.

 

I would say as long as it's centered input and offset output, also same length or shorter than your current unit then you'll be fine with ease of fitment. Also the same ?2.25" diameter in/out.

It's when your swapping in another muffler with different tube diameters and inlet/outlet placements that makes the job a pain

 

Thrush turbo muffler, cherry 🍒 bomb glasspack.

Weded ,clamped, installed.

 

I use this system on all my x j's. Quiet but has some tone. Cheap & easy to service.

 

The angle cut makes a big sound difference. I don't run an over the axle pipe because i'm on tall lift and I would smash that ****.

 

So my Cherokee has a muffler that is 17 3/4" long, Center in offset out. The tailpipe has a 2" inside diameter.

Anyone have an idea how I can find a muffler by size? I would love one the same size so I don't ahve to cut any pipe to make it fit.

 

Yeah, I just can't figure how to search for a muffler based on size. Any idea where I could search?

If the pipe is 2", would I need 2 1/4 pipe on the muffler?

 

Perhaps I'm missing something, but why do you not want a replacement XJ muffler?

 

It's not a stock exhaust system. It's all been replaced.

 

Aaaah, that's the bit I was missing!