How Much Does A Muffler Delete Cost? Must Read

Cruising down the highway with the windows down and your favorite song playing on the radio perfectly completes a sunset drive. But as gearheads know, that experience ain’t complete without an aggressive exhaust note rumbling behind you!
Many enthusiasts fantasize about upgrading their stock exhaust system to unleash their car’s true voice. But before chopping off mufflers willy nilly, it’s clutch to understand precisely what a muffler delete involves, ya dig?
How much cash does it cost to 86 the muffler? What kinda benefits or drawbacks come with a straight pipe? Let’s pop the hood on everything you need to know!
Deleting the muffler to get that rowdy exhaust tone ain’t cheap, but it don’t gotta break the bank neither! With the right shop, you can cop a basic muffler delete for a couple Benjamins. But the noise don’t come free – you gotta consider tickets, drone, and even reliability issues down the road.
We’ll break it all down so you can make the best choice for your whip! Here’s everything on offer:
- Average Muffler Delete Costs
- Pros of Removing the Muffler
- Cons of Deleting Your Muffler
- Whether a Delete is Worth it For You
- Extra Ways to Add Rumble Without Deleting
Now let’s get this slug bug rolling!
Table of Contents
How Much Paper Does it Cost to Remove the Muffler?
The price to hack off your muffler aka “muffler delete” bounces around like a lowrider on hydraulics. The costs depend on your personal ride, exhaust setup, and how custom a shop gets with it.
But even with all those variables, we can break down some average pricing:
Basic Muffler Removal
Having a shop simply unbolt and remove the muffler, then weld on a straight pipe is the cheapest route. For basic muffler deletion, plan on dropping:
- $60 – $150 for muffler removal and straight pipe on most economy cars
- $100 – $250 for muffler removal on trucks or performance cars
This barebones delete just chops off the muffler and slaps on a pipe. It takes little time for a shop to crank out.
But if you want a lil’ more customization, some extra options include:
Axle-Back Exhaust Install
Ditching the stock muffler section and installing a new axle-back exhaust from the rear axle back gives you a few more options over a straight pipe.
For an aftermarket axle-back expect to shell out:
- $200 – $500 for basic bolt-on axle-backs
- $500 – $800 for higher-end axle-back systems
You pay more but can customize the tips and sound better.
Complete Cat-Back Exhaust System
For maximum personalization, replacing the entire factory exhaust system minus the muffler with a cat-back setup lets you tailor the sound.
A full cat-back with no muffler runs:
- $500 – $1000 for most cat-back exhaust kits
- $1000 – $1500+ for premium systems on high-end rides
This path costs the most but opens up endless options for sound, performance, and looks from all the best brands.
Dealership and Performance Shop Rates
Take your car to the dealer or a name brand performance shop and expect to pay even more for a muffler delete. Shop rates typically run:
- $150+ for simple muffler removal at the dealer
- $250 – $500 at a popular exhaust shop
- $500+ for a complete cat-back exhaust shop install
At the end of the day, the specific vehicle, exhaust layout, shop rates, and hardware used shift the price drastically. More custom or exotic cars also demand way higher installation quotes.
While a basic muffler chop starts around $100, going wild with a custom cat-back on a Mercedes could run you a cool grand!
Why People Cherry Bomb Their Exhaust
Before we talk cons, let’s break down why people muffle delete in the first place! Here are the main benefits:
Adding an Aggressive Exhaust Note
The #1 reason people delete mufflers is to crank up the volume and get an aggressive tone. Removing restrictions adds:
- More overall loudness and authority
- Gobs of delicious burbles and pops
- A raspy muscle car rumble
Your engine’s voice goes from mild to wild! It’s a night and day difference over stock.
Extracting Extra Horsepower
Mufflers increase exhaust backpressure which robs power. Removing it reduces turbulence and restriction for gains of:
- 5 – 15 HP on otherwise stock vehicles
- 15 – 25+ HP on modified engines
With the muffler out of the way, engine efficiency improves.
Dropping Weight
Mufflers weigh anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds. Sawing that weight off helps:
- Improve power to weight ratio
- Boost acceleration
- Quicken throttle response
Less exhaust to drag around means more performance.
Saving Cash on Mods
Straight piping a exhaust void of mufflers or spending a few bills on a bolt-on axle-back costs way less than a complete cat-back exhaust upgrade. It’s cheap speed for enthusiasts on a budget.
Overall for those craving a rowdier exhaust tone on the cheap, deleting the muffler is a tried and true route to go. When cruising becomes snoozing, chopping off the muffler wakes things up quick!
The Potential Pitfalls of Straight Piping
While deleting the muffler has its perks, there are certainly some drawbacks to consider:
Noise Complaints and Tickets
An uncorked straight piped exhaust lacking a muffler gets obnoxiously loud:
- Expect drone that penetrates the cabin at highway speeds
- Open exhausts exceeding local noise laws can warrant fines
- Your neighbors will hate revving your unmuffled engine during cold starts!
If you value noise etiquette, resist the urge to straight pipe.
Dealing With Constant Drone
Even with cruising RPMs, a muffler-less exhaust resonates and drones:
- Resonant frequencies can make long drives annoying
- Sound dampening is reduced without mufflers to absorb noise
- Expect unbearable resonance around 2500 – 3500 RPM
It’s tough to enjoy your favorite tunes over exhaust drone!
Potential Reliability Headaches
Excessive noise and vibration takes a toll long term:
- Pistons, bearings, gaskets wear faster without silencing components
- Removing catalytic converters increases combustion temps
- Cracked exhaust manifolds become common after years of abuse
Expect to replace worn parts sooner than stock.
While the burble and pop soundtrack keeps the smiles flowing, you pay the price in other ways. Evaluate if the sound boost outweighs the potential drawbacks.
Determining if Deleting Your Muffler Makes Sense
Whether removing the muffler is wise comes down to your personal situation:
When a Delete Might Work:
- Already have loud exhaust and want to go louder
- Race car or weekend cruiser you don’t drive daily
- Live in rural areas without noise regulations
- Crave maximum burble and pop on a tuned performance build
Avoid Deleting It If:
- You drive long highway commutes daily
- Have to pass strict inspections or emissions
- Neighbors, HOAs prohibit loud exhausts
- Value a factory-like civilized exhaust note
Before chopping away exhaust parts, consider how you drive your ride day-to-day. Sound amazing blasting down backroads but miserable stuck in traffic? Reconsider deleting the muffler.
Other Ways to Add Throaty Growl
If you’re getting cold feet about completely removing the muffler, here are a few ways to enhance the sound tastefully:
Muffler Swap
Swapping the stock muffler for a free flowing performance model boosts volume without being over the top noisy. The better exhaust flow adds a deeper tone.
Deleting the Resonator
Your resonator also scrubs noise. Removing it yields a bump in decibels for drivers wanting a little more voice.
Electric Exhaust Cutout
Cutouts allow adjusting loudness on demand. Want to be loud? Open the valve. Close it for a mellower exhaust note. It’s best of both worlds!
Dual Exhaust
Adding a second exhaust outlet splits the sound for a meatier tone. It also improves flow. Just don’t deafen yourself!
Carefully selecting the right mods above can add an enjoyable performance note without the drone of a straight pipe.
Wrapping Up
Whether to cut off the muffler or not comes down to your budget, tolerance for noise and even local laws. Sound limitations make straight piping a no go for some.
But others wanting pure unfiltered auditory muscle love deleting mufflers. That signature raspy rumble gets hearts pounding!
Use this guide to make the smartest choice when upgrading your exhaust. Let your eardrum desires steer you straight!
Now get out there, spin some wrenches, and let your ride’s true voice roar free! Your tuned exhaust awaits!