My 2001 XJ stock muffler is rusted out and noisy. Local shop told me since pipes were ok, they want to cut the muffler out, and weld in a new one. Is this normal to leave the pipes if replacing the muffler. They wanted $110 for the job, including new muffler. I think that muffler is no name aftermarket. Thanks

 

yep thats normal

 

check out some options first. if you want better flow and still keep it quiet, you can go as cheap as 25 for a thrush turbo , and as much as 80-100 bucks for a flomaster hushpower muffler. how agressive do you want the jeep to sound vs how civil do you want to keep it? It is normal to keep the existing pipes since for a stock jeep 2-1/4" still gives plenty of flow. My exaust was escorted out by some local juvinille delinquints, but they left the tailpipe and extension pipe intact( they tried to take the secondary cat, and destroyed the muffler). I got two 18" sections of 2-1/4" pipe, three clamps to keep it intact as i welded and a cheap thrush turbo muffler from the auto parts store, and welded it up. It is just a little louder than stock even with the secondary cat gone, but it runs smoother and I gained abut 2 mpg in the process. It cost me about 40 bucks and three hours from cutting the old damaged stuff out the rest of the way to the last weld. That includes the hour and a half driving to my parent's to weld and a stop at the parts store that took a half hour of looking at the exaust diagram for a stock jeep and measurements. If you don't weld, the exaust shop is still a good idea though

 

I dont want a lot of noise. I dont weld, so will go to shop this week.

 

That don't seem to bad for the work to be done and out the door.

 

but you don't have to weld, just cut the old one out, get the quiet autozone replacement with clamps and put it on. It's not hard at all.

 

I just finished doing it myself today, as a matter of fact. My old muffler decided to break off at the back end of the cat while I accelerated yesterday, then buried itself in the dirt when I pulled off the road. Luckily I had an extra muffler and rear pipe section; I just cut off the cat, hooked it up to the existing pipe with a few clamps, and was good to go.

I'm sure I'll replace it with a nice cat and muffler at some point, but for now it works well.

 

a sawzall and advance auto pipe fittings... that's all you need. $110 is normal but, wayyyy too much considering that you can get a cheapo sawzall at harbor freight for like 30-40 bucks and pipe fittings are 2-3 dollars a piece. and you get to keep the sawzall at the end. and for the muffler , go with glasspak or any other thrush cheap mufflers. if it gets too loud, set a small reduction chamber made out of pipe fittings. that's what i got in my dakota. though i went with flowmaster 40 in my XJ.

 

oh, and i forgot pipe clamps. they're also no more than 3 bucks at advance.

 

I just had a Flowsound (Ugly Flowmaster Knockoff) installed for $118 OTD in 20 mins. the left everything but the old muffler. Wanted Flowmaster but for the cost and intended purpose of the vehicle I went cheaper and am happy.

 

i got a magnaflow muffler for $60 and got it welded in for $50, i would buy your own muffler and just ask for an install