Best Truck Mufflers: Achieve the Best Engine Performance

An excellent muffler boosts the performance of your truck while reducing fuel consumption

byDaniel Rika, Robert Kimathi|
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BYDaniel Rika, Robert Kimathi/ LAST UPDATED ON March 18, 2021

A muffler is an integral part of your vehicle’s exhaust system. It boosts the performance of the truck’s engine system, saves fuel, and makes your truck sound better. Most pre-installed mufflers restrict the sound and hinder the performance of your system.


An after-market muffler can alter the performance in a positive way. Whether you want to replace yours or are making a simple modification to your vehicle, we have picked the best three options to fit your needs.

Best Overall

Flowmaster Super Muffler

Summary

This muffler is excellent for off-road performance on a high-horsepower truck. It features Delta deflectors for enhanced performance and reduced interior sound. Also, its deep and aggressive exhaust note makes it suitable for street and off-road driving.

Pros
  • Construction of this muffler features fully-welded 16-gauge aluminized steel, making it durable
  • Moderate interior resonance
Cons
  • Cannot work with less powerful engines
  • Not loud enough for some people
Best Value

Thrush Turbo Muffler

Summary

For its low cost and high performance, this muffler is our best value pick. It is designed to improve the performance of the engine by lowering the backpressure. Additionally, it features a Tri-flow design for a classic Thrush sound.

Pros
  • Features a leak-free seal
  • Shell is 100 percent aluminum-coated to ensure great looks and durability
  • Lightweight and versatile
  • Pocket-friendly
Cons
  • Deafening
  • Not suitable for large trucks
Honorable Mention

MagnaFlow Exhaust Muffle

Summary

This muffler enhances not only the performance of your truck but also its style. With a MagnaFlow deep signature sound, this muffler is best for off-road use. The product is also durable due to its construction, which features high-quality stainless steel.

Pros
  • This muffler improves speed performance
  • Compatible with a wide variety of trucks
  • Long-lasting and comes with a lifetime warranty
  • Product enhances the look of your vehicle
Cons
  • Too loud for those who want a quiet drive
  • Fuel efficiency is not perfect

Benefits of Truck Mufflers

  • Increased horsepower. Adding a new muffler to your truck can increase the total amount of horsepower from your engine. You can get a boost in power behind the wheel while at the same time increasing your overall performance as well.
  • Enhanced airflow. A new muffler can boost your entire exhaust system. The component can eliminate backpressure and allow more air to travel through the system. This will increase your engine’s performance and can increase gas mileage.
  • Improved sound. Swapping out your old muffler and exhaust pipes can drastically increase the amount of noise your car produces. If you drive a sporty truck and want to make an entrance, consider a muffler that adds a low grumble to your exhaust.

Types of Truck Mufflers

Straight-Through

A straight-through muffler is one designed out of sound-absorbing material. This material can be fiberglass or steel wool. As the name suggests, the system is a straight pipe that allows gasses to flow through it without being backed up or blocked. These are built more for performance trucks and tend to be louder.

Chambered

A chambered muffler produces a deep throaty rumble. They work by allowing gas to travel through a series of inner chambers that are designed to reverberate sound waves around. These are more equipped for street or muscle cars that want a more aggressive sound. You can change the sound by adjusting the size of the chambers.

Turbo

A turbo muffler is a combination of the other two previous choices. The way it works is by channeling gasses through S-shaped chambers. These tubes feature sound-deadening material that reduces the amount of noise that escapes the muffler. These tend to make less of a racket than other mufflers as well.

Top Brands

Flowmaster

Headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., Flowmaster was founded in 1983. The company manufactures high-performance exhaust systems, mufflers, and accessories for cars, trucks, and SUVs. The company prides itself on its mufflers and its Flowmaster Super Muffler is one of the best on the market.

MagnaFlow

MagnaFlow was founded in 1981 and provides mufflers and other accessories for cars, trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, UTVs, ATVs, and motorcycles. It makes premium parts built to last. The company was named SEMA Manufacturer of the year in 2017. One of its best mufflers is the MagnaFlow Exhaust Muffler.

Thrush

Thrush was founded in 1966 and has been working on cars well before becoming a company. For the past 50 years, Thrush has created and designed mufflers for high-end sports cars, hot rods, and muscle cars. Consider its Thrush Turbo Muffler for your Mustang or Camaro.

Truck Mufflers Pricing

  • $20-$50: This lower-end price range includes replacement mufflers that are easy to install. They may not be made out of the most durable material but will typically feature aluminized steel. They may not be as loud either.
  • $50-$150: The middle-end price range will see mufflers built with more aggressive sounds. They will also be developed out or sturdier materials such as stainless steel.
  • $150-$300: When you reach the higher end echelon of mufflers, you’ll find more premium brands. They will come with reduced interior resonance, can boost your overall engine performance, and can be quite loud.

Key Features

Sound

When it comes to mufflers, it is mainly all about how they sound. The overall noise of the muffler depends on its design. For a louder tone, consider a glass-packed or straight-through model. Those who prefer a quieter and more luxurious noise should go for either a chambered option or a turbo.

Fit

The fit of a muffler is important as well as they are not all designed to be universal. If you want to be certain a muffler will fit your system, you should check online first. Many sites will allow you to put in your vehicle’s make and model to see if the muffler is compatible. Also, note whether your truck has a single or dual exhaust system.

Other Considerations

  • Laws. You need to check to see if your town or city has noise pollution laws. If you get a muffler that is too loud, you could get a ticket and be left with a hefty fine.
  • Material. Mufflers are put under a lot of stress and pressure on a day to day basis, so it is imperative they are made out of reliable materials. The most common, and cheapest, the choice is steel. Mufflers can be made out of either aluminized steel or stainless steel. Aluminized is the cheapest of the two choices, however, it tends to be more prone to corrosion. If you live in a particularly rainy area, you may want to consider a stainless steel muffler.

Best Truck Mufflers Reviews & Recommendations 2021

Flowmaster’s muffler is an excellent choice for enhanced off-road performance on a high-horsepower truck. It features Delta deflectors for enhanced performance and reduced interior sound. Also, its deep and aggressive exhaust note makes it suitable for street and off-road driving.


The muffler is made out of a strong and sturdy fully-welded 16-gauge aluminized steel, which makes it quite durable. It also has moderate interior resonance. A great benefit of this particular muffler is it’s universal fit that makes it easy to install on any truck. It also produces a deep and powerful sound.


There are a few downsides to be aware of before you make any final decisions. The first is the muffler cannot function with less powerful engines. Another is aluminized steel. While it may be strong, it doesn’t hold up to corrosion and can rust more easily than stainless steel. It is also not loud enough for some people.

If you are looking for a lower cost muffler that still produces high performance, Thrush’s muffler is our best value pick. It is designed to improve the performance of the engine by lowering the amount of backpressure in the system. Additionally, it features a Tri-flow design for a classic Thrush sound.


A great benefit to you is the featured leak-free seal and it’s durability. Its shell is 100 percent aluminum-coated to ensure it looks great all-year round. Additionally, it is lightweight, versatile, and pocket-friendly. It’s also completely reversible for maximum flexibility, performance, and airflow.


As far as drawbacks go, it’s got a short list of negatives. One of the biggest disadvantages of this muffler is that it is deafening, which is odd considering its low price point. Also, it is not suitable for large trucks. It also doesn’t look that appealing. It’s just a block of aluminum at the end of your truck.

This muffler enhances not only the overall performance of your truck but also its outward appearance and style. With a MagnaFlow deep signature sound, this muffler is best for off-road use. The product is also durable due to its construction, which features high-quality stainless steel.


One of the greatest things about this muffler is it improves speed performance and is compatible with a wide variety of trucks. It is also long-lasting, reliable, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Additionally, the muffler looks great on your truck. It’s sleek and modern shape enhances the look of your vehicle.


You will notice some not so great things about MagnaFlow’s muffler. One problem in particular is that it is on the loud side and may be a bit overbearing. Also, it may eat away at your fuel as it lacks efficiency.

The MegaBrand N1 Burnt Tip Muffler is perhaps one of the coolest looking mufflers around. As the name suggests, the end of the muffler is designed with a burn mark that makes it look much more aggressive and sporty. It’s developed out of high-grade stainless steel that is durable and tough enough to withstand long strenuous drives.


Another one of the benefits of the muffler is it includes a completely removable silencer. So if you want to muffle the noise of your engine, you are free to do so. However, by removing the silencer, the low rumble from your truck isn’t cut out. Either way, the muffler makes the truck sound deep and throaty.


However, the burn mark feature may in fact fade away after a while. It will also need to be welded on by a professional and that can cast you a bit more cash as well. It is cheap when compared to other mufflers but the cost for installation may set you back even more at the end of the day.

The WAlker Economy Pro-Fit Universal Muffler may look like a standard muffler but it’s much more than so. The component is constructed with an aluminized steel which is strong but also provides an extra layer of protection against rust and corrosion. It’s also set at a rather reasonable price.


Of course, when it comes to any car component or equipment, having to install them can be a pain but not with this muffler. It can be done completely by yourself and doesn’t require any welding to mount. It’s so dependable that many people say it makes a great replacement for any stock truck muffler. It’s longer than normal but that just adds to its overall looks.


It may be difficult to install on other vehicles besides trucks, however. It doesn’t come with any sort of silencer either and may not really change the sound of your truck. It does have a deep sound to it but not when compared to other brands.

Here’s another excellent looking muffler for any truck owner. The Flowmaster Flow Fx Muffler throws away the blocky shape of standard mufflers and goes for a long tube shape instead. It’s futuristic looking and made out of high-grade stainless steel that is lightweight. It’s a high-performance muffler that enhances the look and sound of any truck.


The muffler is also reasonably priced for as unique as it is. Its tubed appearance allows a smoother amount of airflow as well. Its design also makes it fit much easier on many vehicles. As for its sound, it is a deep low rumble that is mean and angry and rather loud when put up against other truck mufflers.


Being loud isn’t always the best thing, however. There have been complaints that it may even be too loud. To help reduce the amount of spine-tingling sound it produces, it could do with a silencer or resonator

The Flowmaster Super 44 Muffler is sleek and stylish for a muffler. It’s something you’d expect to find at a professional car show or at the race track. It’s aggressive and has a black stylistic design and color to it that makes it pop and stand out at the back of your truck. What really makes it worth its price is its universal fit.


As a universal muffler, it is able to fit on more than just trucks. It has a nice smooth sound that resonates and carries with each rev of the engine. It’s bass-filled and deep, and only gets louder the higher the RPMs climb. It will last you several trips as well as it’s designed to be long lasting and tough. 


However, the muffler isn’t the cheapest and is priced higher than others on our list. It is also rather hefty and has some weight behind it. Ten pounds is quite a lot to heft around. Though it may lose some of that sound somewhere around the 2,000 RPM mark, it should pick back up again at higher levels.

Yes, Flowmaster is back on our list with the Flowmaster Exhaust Muffler. Flowmaster has such a diverse selection of mufflers that this one is completely different from our other choices. First of all, this is a dual muffler as opposed to a single exit designed one. It’s universal in design in that it can be installed either way as well.


The stainless steel muffler is MIG welded together for extra stability and performance. It provides a blend of high-quality performance with a low drone rumble. No matter if you have a Heme, V6, or V8, the muffler will change the tone of your truck for the better. It is surprisingly loud.


While the muffler can be installed with bolts you may be better off having it professionally welded in place. It doesn’t come with a silencer either which isn’t a deal breaker but there are times when it can be too loud while just idling in place.

Tips

  • Before deciding which muffler to buy, consider the type of truck you own, the money you are willing to spend, and the kind of sound you are craving.
  • Think about the material and the finish of the muffler you want to purchase to ensure it will both last a long time and enhance the look of your truck.
  • If you live in a rainy or cold area, consider steel mufflers. They resist corrosion better than their aluminum counterparts.
  • There are three types of mufflers: glasspack, turbo, and chambered. Glasspack is the loudest, and you should check the noise pollution laws in your state before buying one.

FAQs

Q: How does a glasspack muffler work?

A glasspack muffler works by using a material that absorbs all the sound produced by the engine. This ensures the pressure of the sound waves is dissipated through a sleeve of glass, thus reducing backpressure.

Q: Do I need a muffler for my truck?

Yes, you need a muffler to boost the performance of your engine and to reduce fuel consumption, especially during long-distance drives.

Q: What is the best muffler for my truck?

If you’re choosing between the different types of mufflers, glass pack mufflers are the best, especially for an off-road ride.

Final Thoughts

The Flowmaster Super Muffler is our top pick. It is durable and increases the performance of your truck while emitting a deep, aggressive exhaust note. 

However, if you need something more budget-friendly that will still improve the performance of your engine, then we recommend the Thrush Turbo Muffler.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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