Reviews for Magnaflow 15160 Street Series Axle Back Exhaust System for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK in Black
Just finished installing the Magna Flow axle back exhaust on my 2015 wrangler. I did the installation in my own garage without the aid of any lift device. I have a stock 2015 Willy's and the standard clearance was sufficient to get the job done.
Popping off the rubber hangers is a pain. On an earlier review, someone suggested coating the metal muffler hanger ends in dishwasher soap before removal. Let me tell you that this is an EXCELLENT idea. There are two rubber hangers. The one closer to the exit pipe side is the most difficult to remove. I ended up taking it off the mount connected to the frame vs. trying to remove it from the section attached to the muffler. The opposite side is easy to remove, plenty of room to insert a channel lock tool and push the tip of the metal pin through the rubber hanger.
You will want to take notice that the clamp on the standard muffler that connects the exhaust pipe is actually tack WELDED to the muffler pipe and will only loosen but not come off. I had to take a center punch and hammer it away from the pipe itself before the muffler would loosen enough to release from the exhaust pipe. The process of taking off the standard muffler took about an hour. Re - installing the Magna Flow muffler took less than ten minutes !
Once installed, the exhaust tone was good, but not near as represented in the video. I just completed installation so I would think/hope that the sound will improve over time.
This is a two part review:installation; and, the item itself. Installation is much more difficult than the video depicts. I tried initially by laying on floor of garage and couldn't get existing muffler on 2016 JK unlimited to budge. Rather than use improper tools and cause a big problem I took to a professional shop. The mechanic there had some trouble getting the old muffler off and this one on with all the right tools and it took him 45 minutes. He said I'd have not gotten the old one off laying on my back in garage at home. He said new clamps put very even pressure around entire exhaust pipe creating very good seal and that heat of exhaust softens metal creating a groove where clamp was that makes removal difficult.
The Magna flow exhaust is sweet. I have a nice growl when I start the car which goes away when I put it in gear until I accelerate. It's not a V8 roar but is much beefier sounding than stock. We'll see if I notice any power and mileage increases. The dual exhaust in black looks awesome with all the other black on my black and mojave sand JK. Sound levels are good and not so loud as to be obnoxious to others and when cruising I hear more tire noise from the MT tires than the exhaust. Install rates three and item rates 5 stars.
Product arrived well packaged, removal of old exhaust was the hardest part, install was easy. The biggest disappointment was after starting the Jeep and not hearing that Magnaflow sound I heard on the video for installation. I have Magnaflow's on my other car and this is nothing like it. For the cost of this muffler I expected better sounds, it actually sounded better without a muffler.
After 1 year I noticed a change in tone. It sounded like the pipe was lose but upon further inspection I found that the muffler actually cracked at the weld seems! I've attached photos where you can see that it seperated from the sides and the middle weld snapped open. Now the off roading that I do is usually in sand,mud,snow and dirt. My Jeep is set up for overlanding and I'm not smashing it against rocks. Looking at the muffler I can see where it made ground contact die to all the mud smeared and scratch marks..that's fine it's a jeep but that's all it took to push and crack the welds!! As for looks, install and sou d I would've given a 5 star but the overall durability is weak.
Looks great and easy installation, but much louder than desired.