4WD Hardware Aluminized
Pros: Low price point Very complete kit (even included parts for Unlimited)
Cons: Tight fit around upper control arm mount with muffler flat Rear hanger requires unbolting for installation
Installation: 8
Fitment: 6
Completeness: 10
Volume: 6
Sound Notes: Good middle of road sound, just loud enough to know it's there with no annoying resonance occurring anywhere in the RPM range.
Eleven Exhausts Tested 4Wd Steel
4WD Hardware Stainless Steel
Pros: Low price point for stainless steel Cool chambered stainless muffler
Cons: Fits tight around rear shock Rear hanger requires unbolting for installation
Installation: 8
Fitment: 9
Completeness: 10
Volume: 8
Sound Notes: While louder than many, it wasn't annoying and didn't vibrate us out of the Jeep. Reminiscent of a Flowmaster with a tailpipe
Eleven Exhausts Tested Banks Monster
Banks Monster Exhaust
Pros: Great installation High chromium stainless muffler should combat rust
Cons: Tailpipe really close to both track bar and shock Discolors after driving a while
Installation: 10
Fitment: 9
Completeness: 10
Volume: 9
Sound Notes: Can be heard even on the freeway over soft top and mud tires. However, it's a pleasant sound and surprisingly not tiring or droning on long trips.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Borla
Borla Cat-Back
Pros: Cool looking trademark rectangular tip Extra tip and nuts included
Cons: Trademark tip doesn't clear ARB bumper Really tight tailpipe fit (within -inch of control arm bolt)
Installation: 8
Fitment: 8
Completeness: 10
Volume: 5
Sound Notes: Good tone. Somewhat noticeable around town but not so on the freeway, only at higher RPMs.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Cherry Bomb
Cherry Bomb
Pros: Heavy-duty, bomb-proof muffler Lots of installation adjustability
Cons: Lots of little parts 2 1/4-inch tailpipe
Installation: 7
Fitment: 5
Completeness: 10
Volume: 5
Sound Notes: Way quieter than we expected from Cherry Bomb. We expected too loud to handle easily and were pleasantly surprised by a deep, mellow tone.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Dynomax Back
Eleven Exhausts Tested Dynomax Pipe
Dynomax Super Turbo
Pros: Good instructions Quiet and unobtrusive tone
Cons: Slight contact with shock no matter what Almost stock sound
Installation: 9
Fitment: 8
Completeness: 10
Volume: 2
Sound Notes: Quiet, almost stock like. A bit louder at idle, and under 10mph, but after that it is inaudible over road, wind, and tire noise.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Gibson Pipe
Gibson
Pros: Heavy-duty, bashable muffler Quite loud at idle and on surface streets but fades into background on freeway
Cons: Tailpipe very close to track bar, contact possible at full stuff Tailpipe too long, cutting necessary
Installation: 9
Fitment: 7
Completeness: 10
Volume: 8
Sound Notes: Louder than expected but easy to live with on the freeway.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Magnaflow
Magnaflow Performance System
Pros: Good clearance everywhere Easiest install of the bunch
Cons: Missing nuts to bolt muffler to cat Heavy muffler (watch your head!)
Installation: 10
Fitment: 10
Completeness: 8
Volume: 6
Sound Notes: Just noticeable at every RPM and speed. Nice sound inside Jeep, sounds like a Jeep possessed outside.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Pacesetter
Pacesetter Tfx Exhaust
Pros: Easy install Few loose parts
Cons: Too long, cutting needed Silver paint comes off on skin during install
Installation: 10
Fitment: 6
Completeness: 10
Volume: 4
Sound Notes: Just a bit louder than the Dynomax kit but still with a deep tone.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Turbo City Pipe
Turbo City
Pros: Hangars not welded to tailpipe (more adjustability) Tailpipe cleared well
Cons: Many loose parts Muffler didn't align 100% with cat
Installation: 6
Fitment: 6
Completeness: 10
Volume: 4
Sound Notes: Uses a different Magnaflow muffler than the Magnaflow kit, but ends up with a much mellower tone that is also fairly deep.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Volant
Volant Performance Exhaust
Pros: High quality parts TIG welded together
Cons: Side exit in close proximity to rear tire Close to track bar
Installation: 9
Fitment: 9
Completeness: 10
Volume: 6
Sound Notes: Noticeably louder outside than inside. A good Saturday night cruising special that lets people know you are there without wearing you out.
Eleven Exhausts Tested Flowmaster
Flowmaster
Many Jeepers recognize the sound of a Flowmaster-shod Jeep. The reason we didn't include Flowmaster officially in the testing is that as of this writing, the company doesn't make an after-cat exhaust kit for an '01 Wrangler. We got a hold of a comparable center inlet, offset outlet muffler and used it both with a custom tailpipe and with a turn down in front of the rear axle so that you could compare the other kits on our website to something you likely have already heard and make a more informed decision with this baseline. Check out jpmagazine.com for the Flowmaster sound
Eleven Exhausts Tested Stock
Stock
The stock tailpipe is 1 -inch tube and not mandrel bent; check out how much more free-flowing the aftermarket pipes look. If that wasn't enough, the muffler is about 10 feet long and as restricting as anything we've seen. That said, we shot video with the stock '01 exhaust kit as well for another basis of comparison. For rating comparisson, the volume of the stock exhaust is 1, but check out the jpmagazine.com website for all your cat back comparison videos.
