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How To Replace A Muffler (Can You Repair It Yourself?)

Curious as to why and how to replace a muffler? You may want to change your muffler to get more sound or you may want to change it to make it quieter. Replacing a muffler is essential to get the most from your vehicle.

Is your muffler rusted or noisy? Do you want to replace your stock muffler with a performance muffler for more fuel economy and power? Replace it with our top picks in the market EVIL ENERGY and DC Sports EX-1013

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Muffler?

There are many factors that affect the cost of replacing a muffler. One needs to decide whether they will replace  it themselves or get it replaced by an external source. Some factors that will determine the overall cost of replacement of a muffler are:

  • Make, year  and model of your vehicle
  • If you replace it yourself, use an independent shop or go to a dealership (which is  the most expensive option)
  • If you use generic aftermarket parts or an OEM muffler, which is relatively more expensive
  • Charges of auto mechanic labor

The average cost of a muffler repair is approximately $160 to $240. If you do it yourself, you will be saving on the labour cost. Below are the average rates for different components: 

Component                       Cost Range

Muffler                                    $60 to $120

Hangers, gaskets, silencers $20

Labor                                   $80 to $100

Total                                   $160 to $240

Additionally to save cost, you could also purchase a muffler and other parts for less than what a repair shop would charge. Garages mark up the parts that they install. Replacing the muffler yourself will definitely cut down on cost.

How To Replace A Muffler

Automotive technicians replace mufflers frequently and it’s easy to notice when one needs to be replaced. When driving, you’ll hear loud noises or rattling coming from the bottom of your vehicle.

You can get the muffler replaced  with a quiet muffler at a muffler shop by a technician or do it yourself. It may seem daunting to do it yourself, however it is fairly simple and can save you some money.

The Materials Needed To Replace It Yourself 

  • Hydraulic floor jack
  • Jack stands
  • Silicone spray lubricant
  • Wheel chocks
  • Muffler
  • Pry bar
  • Ratchet w/sockets

Simple Steps To Replace The Muffler Yourself

Step 1

Park your vehicle on a flat, leveled and hard surface.

Step 2

Carefully place the wheel chocks around the tires that are in front.

Step 3

Using the floor jack,lift  the vehicle . Using the factory lifting points, lift the rear of the vehicle one side at a time. The vehicle should be lifted  high enough so that you can get underneath it easily.

Step 4

Place the jack stands under the factory lifting points and carefully lower the vehicle onto them.

Step 5

Lubricate the muffler hardware using silicone lubricant on the muffler mounting bolts and on the muffler rubber hanger. Ensure to spray a liberal amount.

Step 6

Next, remove the muffler mounting bolts. Using the appropriate socket and ratchet, remove the bolts that connect the muffler to the exhaust pipe.

Step 7

Remove the muffler from its rubber hanger, ensure you pull on it lightly. If the muffler doesn’t easily come off, use the pry bar to remove the muffler from the hanger.

Step 8

Install your new muffler by placing the muffler mounting arm into the rubber hanger.

Step 9

Position the muffler by ensuring the  mounting holes are aligned with the exhaust pipe.

Step 10

Attach the muffler to the mounting bolts of the exhaust pipe. Install the bolts by hand and tighten them until they are properly fit.

Step 11

Take the weight off the jack stands by lifting the vehicle . Using the floor jack, lift the vehicle high enough so that you are able to  remove the jack stands.

Step 12

Remove the jackstands and finally, carefully lower the vehicle to the ground.

Step 13

Test your installation. Start your vehicle and listen for any different noises. If there are no noises and the exhaust is at the volume level you desire, congratulations! You have successfully replaced your muffler by yourself!

How Hard Is It To Replace A Muffler?

You can take your vehicle to a muffler shop for a replacement, but installing a new muffler yourself is quite easy and cost-effective. By following a few straightforward steps, the replacement will be done in no time! To replace a muffler yourself, you will only require the following material for a successful replacement:

  • Hydraulic floor jack
  • Jack stands
  • Silicone spray lubricant
  • Wheel chocks
  • Muffler
  • Pry bar
  • Ratchet w/sockets

Final Thoughts About How To Replace A Muffler

The muffler on the vehicle is designed to muffle the exhaust. When an engine runs without an exhaust or muffler, it can produce very loud unpleasant sounds. 

Mufflers are installed at the exit of the exhaust to make the sound of the vehicle quieter. There are two main reasons why one needs to replace their mufflers.

To make the exhaust louder: Many enthusiasts change their muffler to increase the sound of their exhaust. High performance mufflers are designed to allow for better flow from the exhaust. They have internal chambers that internally deflect the exhaust, causing more noise. 

To make the vehicle quieter: Some drivers will simply need to replace their muffler to fix a pending problem. It is common for many parts of the exhaust to rust and wear out over a period of time. This causes exhausts to leak from these holes, which in turn causes loud and strange noises. If this occurs, the muffler will need to be replaced  with a new one.

You can take your vehicle to a technician to get it replaced, this however will cost you more. Replacing a muffler yourself is relatively simple and will save you the labour cost.

Our top pick for replacing the muffler yourself are  EVIL ENERGY and the runner up is DC Sports EX-1013 . Another muffler that is worth investing in for your replacement project is  MagnaFlow 10416.