Good afternoon everybody.

My 2001 XJ 4.0L California emissions cherokee is somewhat in need of a new exhaust. I also plan on replacing the catalytic converter at the same time.

Here is what I've found so far.

Exhaust

Cat

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Some of the comments on the exhaust say that if you live in a state that uses salt in the winter, I live in Missouri, that the exhaust may only last 3 years and then rust out after that.

What are you guys' opinion on what kind of exhaust I should get that will last longer than that. **** the stock exhaust lasted almost 15 years!

123 F'in GO!!

 

The only exhaust that will last with salt is polished stainless. I wouldn't worry too much about it rusting away as its aluminized steel

 

How are the welds and bends? Those I would think are more prone to rust.

 

I haven't order mine yet so I don't know for sure, but I believe it was aluminized after the welding was done.

 

Are you planning on buying that same exhaust?

 

I am. I already did cat forward but the exhaust I bought is rattling itself apart and rubs on the leafs so its getting replaced.

 

What kind of cat did you buy? Do you have a CA or FED emissions?

 

I have the federal emissions for a 99. I bought the walker 15820.

 

I wish I had the fed emissions for my 01. The 01 setup is stupid in my opinion and makes it unnecessarily more expensive for sensors and cats.

What would you recommend for a cat for mine? The link above seems like an OK price but I'm not sure because I've never replaced a cat before.

 

I would look at what's under your jeep and then go to rock auto and find a part that fits to get a part number then search for a good price. That's what I normally do with jeep parts.

 

Also check out mudfrog's deals at performance-curve.com. he also has a forum discount.

 

Aluminized steel won't last 15 years, but I had a Dynomax cat-back on my last XJ, and after two WI winters it was still in near-perfect shape. It would have lasted many more years.

Performance-Curve.com is the only place I buy cats.

If you want stainless exhaust, you'll have to spend a lot more than the awesome deal that the Dynomax cat-back is. A good stainless muffler alone is probably at least $100. After that, the best course of action would be to have a local shop bend stainless pipe for you. I recently did a full stainless system.

~$70 for an 11" spun cat
~$130 for a Flowmaster Super 50 Delta Flow
~$350-400 (can't remember which) parts+labor from a shop to make stainless down and tail pipes and install everything (Twisted Pipes in Richmond, IL in case anyone in the area is interested)

If you're just replacing the cat and cat-back, it's very doable by yourself with a saw and exhaust clamps. Back when I got my Dynomax system for my 96, I had everything swapped out within 30 min with nothing but a wrench for the clamps and a dremel to cut the old stuff away. Did it in my driveway and didn't even jack the vehicle up.

 

I drove into a Muffler Shop here in MO. and had a complete exhaust installed from the cat back with 1 new hanger for under a $100 with a lifetime warranty it was a house brand they had. All stock high and tight just like it should be so not dragging.


On my 99 with a single cat (it was fine) and lasted that long again cost will be $6.66 a year, how do you beat a deal like that