• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Stock Muffler Construction?

F

FireDemonSiC

Member
#1
Messages
40
Reactions
27
Points
12
Location
United States
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#1
Does anyone know, or better yet, have photos of how the factory mufflers are internally designed on the Explorer ST models?

Wanting something that sounds a little more aggressive than the factory Prius exhaust and better flow is always a plus. On my '17 Sport, I had a resonator delete done and the stock mufflers replaced with Flow FXs. REALLY loved that setup. Zero rasp or popping through the exhaust. Looking through the videos though, I have yet to find anything on the 3.0 engines that I think either has rasp or sounds like a 4 cylinder Honda.

For the first change, I was thinking of going with a dual in/out Borla ProXS in place of the factory resonator. Have one of these on my 6.0 truck and the straight through design plus internal X Really does a fine job of cancelling out any obnoxious rasp in the exhaust while flowing very well.

Screenshot_20231011-031907.png

Depending on how it sounds after, I'm highly tempted to just keep the factory mufflers in place. Are they a straight through perforated design or are they baffled/chambered?
 

N

Novagunner

Member
#2
Messages
71
Reactions
57
Points
17
Location
Fairfax, VA, USA
#2
Last edited:
jrgoffin

jrgoffin

Member
#3
Messages
347
Reactions
286
Points
67
Location
The midwest
#3
I have a set of stock mufflers I removed when swapping in the Gibson axle-back - have been tempted to cut one open out of curiosity before they get scrapped. If I do it, I’ll snap some pictures.

On that note, the Gibson kit has an amazing sound and is a fantastic bang-for-the-buck at around $500. They did their homework when producing this kit since all the others just charge two- to three-times the cost for little to no performance gains. Adding to that, so many of the kits out there just sound like crap whereas this one adds a perfect, but not obnoxious, rumble. It’s your cash - spend it wisely!
 

C

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
#4
Messages
1,667
Reactions
829
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#4
jrgoffin said:
I have a set of stock mufflers I removed when swapping in the Gibson axle-back - have been tempted to cut one open out of curiosity before they get scrapped. If I do it, I’ll snap some pictures.

On that note, the Gibson kit has an amazing sound and is a fantastic bang-for-the-buck at around $500. They did their homework when producing this kit since all the others just charge two- to three-times the cost for little to no performance gains. Adding to that, so many of the kits out there just sound like crap whereas this one adds a perfect, but not obnoxious, rumble. It’s your cash - spend it wisely!
Click to expand...
Gotta say, I ditched my Gibson axleback. I could not figure out the higher pitched hum/drone i was getting at 2-2.3k rpm. I couldn't in good conscience resell it if there was a defect in the mufflers so I trashed them. Also, not happy with how rusted out they looked after less than a year. Ended up with MRT H-pipe and stock mufflers with black 4" tips. Couldn't be more pleased.
 

jrgoffin

jrgoffin

Member
#5
Messages
347
Reactions
286
Points
67
Location
The midwest
#5
Zero complaints with my Gibson kit. Sounds fantastic at all RPM’s. Not worried about rust since it has a lifetime warranty. The MRT stuff is nice, too. Had the H-pipe briefly and it had a nice bump in sound with the stock mufflers.
 

OP
F

FireDemonSiC

Member
Thread Starter #6
Messages
40
Reactions
27
Points
12
Location
United States
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #6
jrgoffin said:
Zero complaints with my Gibson kit. Sounds fantastic at all RPM’s. Not worried about rust since it has a lifetime warranty. The MRT stuff is nice, too. Had the H-pipe briefly and it had a nice bump in sound with the stock mufflers.
Click to expand...
I did a bit of poking around and the Gibson kit seems to be a chambered/baffled design. A bit disappointing especially for the price point.
 

jrgoffin

jrgoffin

Member
#7
Messages
347
Reactions
286
Points
67
Location
The midwest
#7
FireDemonSiC said:
I did a bit of poking around and the Gibson kit seems to be a chambered/baffled design. A bit disappointing especially for the price point.
Click to expand...
What’s disappointing about it? The kit sounds fantastic and is priced right. I was happy to spend less than $500 for it as well.
 

OP
F

FireDemonSiC

Member
Thread Starter #8
Messages
40
Reactions
27
Points
12
Location
United States
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #8
jrgoffin said:
What’s disappointing about it? The kit sounds fantastic and is priced right. I was happy to spend less than $500 for it as well.
Click to expand...
Chambered and baffled mufflers are more restrictive than a straight through, perforated design. Some people will argue that it's by a negligible amount and they wouldn't be wrong, depending on the exact design. But I've always been the type of person to check all boxes possible.
 

GearHead_1

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
#9
Messages
1,547
Reactions
1,292
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#9
This may be of some interest.

 

jrgoffin

jrgoffin

Member
#10
Messages
347
Reactions
286
Points
67
Location
The midwest
#10
The Gibson mufflers are not restrictive at all.
IMG_7156.jpeg
 

flhx06

flhx06

Member
#11
Messages
190
Reactions
77
Points
27
Location
San Rafael, CA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#11
I bought a pair of Paradox Hot Tamale mufflers and had my local shop install them with new muffler tips in place of the stock mufflers. I love it. It sounds good, not too aggressive and no drone.
 

OP
F

FireDemonSiC

Member
Thread Starter #12
Messages
40
Reactions
27
Points
12
Location
United States
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #12
jrgoffin said:
The Gibson mufflers are not restrictive at all.
View attachment 20003
Click to expand...
OK that's alot better than I was expecting. Basically straight through with a small chamber in the middle.
 

T

The wife's st

New Member
#13
Messages
1
Reactions
0
Points
1
Location
Boney lake
Vehicle
2020 st
#13
flhx06 said:
I bought a pair of Paradox Hot Tamale mufflers and had my local shop install them with new muffler tips in place of the stock mufflers. I love it. It sounds good, not too aggressive and no drone.
Click to expand...
could you please do a sound clip inside and outside? I'll PayPal you for your time. I have a 2020st and want to dot his exact setup with no drone. I dont like any of the exhaust systems. They all sound terrible in my opinion
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Explorer ST Posts



Top