Got drone?

[Matts175]

My truck has a 14" Magnaflow and no resonator. 3" single exhaust. On the expressway, the drone was driving me nuts. I just installed the "DODJP" drone suppression pipe from Mufflex this morning. Install was super easy. It took all of 20 minutes. 2 quick sawzall cuts, then just slip it in. It fits the truck like a glove. I cranked the included band clamps tight. Then started the truck. Let it warm up. Then tightened them a little more. Zero leaks, and I elected not use hi temp silicone (but, it's recommended per the instructions). Driveshaft clearance had plenty of room. Didn't need to bend the shield as some have experienced.

Anyways, I just took it around town to run some errands and the drone is COMPLETELY gone! I have no idea how this thing works, but it does. It was a bit expensive though... came to like $200 with shipping. I'm sure a competent custom muffler shop could make one for cheaper.

https://www.mufflex-performance.com/dodge-ram-1500-2009-up-to-2018/97-j-pipe-noise-eliminator.html

*Note, it's not hanging down or anything. It just looks that way in the picture because I crawled back under the truck, after I lowered it down and had to hold my phone at a goofy angle.

 

[gdawg55]

Do you know if this product will work with non Mufflex (ie Maganflow) mufflers? I have a bit of drone that I'd like to get cleared up and wonder if this thing will work.

Could you take another picture showing the whole unit?

 

[joshuaeb09]

Do you know if this product will work with non Mufflex (ie Maganflow) mufflers? I have a bit of drone that I'd like to get cleared up and wonder if this thing will work.

Could you take another picture showing the whole unit?

J pipes should work with just about any exhaust system that has drone. They work by helping to tune out resonance which is where the drone comes from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz_resonance

 

[gdawg55]

J pipes should work with just about any exhaust system that has drone. They work by helping to tune out resonance which is where the drone comes from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz_resonance

Thanks for the input. I called Mufflex and the guy I spoke with said it should work with my muffler. I wasn't sure if these were tuned for Magnaflow mufflers or if they were universal. Sounds like they are universal. Appreciate it.

 

[buddy guy]

if you get it plse post some before after video. i have the 22 inch magnaflow and it is not drone free. it's not terrible, but i was under the impression it would be drone free. part of it might be the crew cab which i read makes it more audible.

 

[joshuaeb09]

Thanks for the input. I called Mufflex and the guy I spoke with said it should work with my muffler. I wasn't sure if these were tuned for Magnaflow mufflers or if they were universal. Sounds like they are universal. Appreciate it.

They're probably tuned to the sort of drone that come with the mufflex systems, but since those are just universal magnaflow's it should work fine for you. Every maggy I've ever head has a characteristic sound regardless of it being part of a catback or a universal that was welded in.

Think of them like those intake silencers on some vehicles that help eliminate the resonance under the hood. I think there are also some adjustable ones on the market from Solo that have slip joints where you can tweak the length of the J pipe for a more customized effect.

I've been in some cars/trucks where they really make a world of difference and others where they don't do much. If the drone you have is that heavy reverb at certain RPM's then they can help quite a bit, if it's just from having a loud exhaust then they don't do so much.

 

[gdawg55]

They're probably tuned to the sort of drone that come with the mufflex systems, but since those are just universal magnaflow's it should work fine for you. Every maggy I've ever head has a characteristic sound regardless of it being part of a catback or a universal that was welded in.

Think of them like those intake silencers on some vehicles that help eliminate the resonance under the hood. I think there are also some adjustable ones on the market from Solo that have slip joints where you can tweak the length of the J pipe for a more customized effect.

I've been in some cars/trucks where they really make a world of difference and others where they don't do much. If the drone you have is that heavy reverb at certain RPM's then they can help quite a bit, if it's just from having a loud exhaust then they don't do so much.

Yeah that's what I was thinking, but I don't have a Magnaflow muffler so I was wondering if it would work.....according to Mufflex it should. I have the reverberation type drone around 1700-1800 rpm like all the mufflers I've had that drone....and I've had several. I really like my current muffler and want to make it work so if I can get rid of the little bit of drone I have then I'm all for it. It's not terrible, but noticeable enough to want it gone.

 

[gdawg55]

if you get it plse post some before after video. i have the 22 inch magnaflow and it is not drone free. it's not terrible, but i was under the impression it would be drone free. part of it might be the crew cab which i read makes it more audible.

Surprised you're getting drone with the 22" MF. I had a 22" Solo Mach 44 muffler for a while (which I believe to be very similar) didn't drone at all on my crew cab. It just wasn't quite loud enough.

 

[Matts175]

Do you know if this product will work with non Mufflex (ie Maganflow) mufflers? I have a bit of drone that I'd like to get cleared up and wonder if this thing will work.

Could you take another picture showing the whole unit?

Mine is not a "Mufflex" either. It is a 14" Magnaflow that my buddy welded in for me. That's pretty much the best picture I can get, without jacking the truck up again.

Here are the installation instructions. You can clearly see what it looks like installed: https://www.mufflex-performance.com/PDF/guides/DODJP_Installation_Diagram.pdf

 

[buddy guy]

Surprised you're getting drone with the 22" MF. I had a 22" Solo Mach 44 muffler for a while (which I believe to be very similar) didn't drone at all on my crew cab. It just wasn't quite loud enough.

no doubt it's drone. its in that rpm band that people complain about drone. i was surprised too. its not loud enough to bother me in conversation or listening to music..and its a sound not a teeth vibrating type resonance, but its obviously there at the right rpm. i was surprised because when i was researching i was under the impression that MF would have no drone as well. i won't change it just to change it, but i would try to find something different next time.

 

[gdawg55]

Mine is not a "Mufflex" either. It is a 14" Magnaflow that my buddy welded in for me. That's pretty much the best picture I can get, without jacking the truck up again.

Here are the installation instructions. You can clearly see what it looks like installed: https://www.mufflex-performance.com/PDF/guides/DODJP_Installation_Diagram.pdf

Ok...thanks. I had a 14" MF as my first muffler swap....drone was killer. I didn't know about this Mufflex j pipe at the time, so I switched out my MF for something else. I've had 7 mufflers to date. Some have droned and some have not. Glad this gadget worked for you. I'm hoping it works for me as well.

 

[gdawg55]

no doubt it's drone. its in that rpm band that people complain about drone. i was surprised too. its not loud enough to bother me in conversation or listening to music..and its a sound not a teeth vibrating type resonance, but its obviously there at the right rpm. i was surprised because when i was researching i was under the impression that MF would have no drone as well. i won't change it just to change it, but i would try to find something different next time.

I feel for you...I hate drone as well. My ears seem sensitive to it. You picked the best MF option for no drone, but I guess your ears are sensitive too. At least you didn't get the 14" MF...it's a drone monster compared to other mufflers I've had.

 

[gdawg55]

Getting the Mufflex j pipe installed this morning. Will report back results after driving it around for a bit.

 

[buddy guy]

I feel for you...I hate drone as well. My ears seem sensitive to it. You picked the best MF option for no drone, but I guess your ears are sensitive too. At least you didn't get the 14" MF...it's a drone monster compared to other mufflers I've had.

actually hard of hearing in left (certain frequencies) but perfect in right. i have heard far worse drone first hand and on youtube so i'd call it a mild annoyance. if i have the stereo on at a reasonable listening volume its covered.

 

[gdawg55]

Well, got the Mufflex j pipe installed. It really makes a difference on interior sound levels. I would say it cut my in cab volume down about half (not talking about drone, just the amount of exhaust noise I can hear). Where I notice it most is when the truck down shifts coming to a stop.....can barely hear that now. Highway speeds are super quiet (maybe stock like). I still have a little drone in the 1600-1800 rpm range, but I'm still adjusting the j pipe. Idle volume seems to be slightly lower too.

I don't have access to a lift or a lot of tools so I had my favorite muffle shop install. They inserted the j pipe piece about halfway and clamped it. Still had about the same amount of drone at this position. When I got home, I loosed the clamp and pushed (I mean lightly hammered) the pipe in about 2 inches. Not sure if it's all the way in just yet, but so far this setting is better. I still have a little drone, but I would say it's cut in half to what it was......and it wasn't all that bad to begin with. It's definitely livable. I will drive around for a few days and maybe make another adjustment if needed. All those using this j pipe, how far in do you have the pipe inserted?

 

[Matts175]

I put mine in all the way. The instructions say to initially start out with it all the way in, then adjust out 1" at a time, if needed. I was satisfied with the results, so I just left it alone.

 

[gdawg55]

I put mine in all the way. The instructions say to initially start out with it all the way in, then adjust out 1" at a time, if needed. I was satisfied with the results, so I just left it alone.

Thanks. I will most likely check this evening if mine is all the way in. I guess it will stop moving once it's all the way in? It's a very tight fit, so I have to lightly hammer to get the pipe to move.....don't want to over do it.

 

[Matts175]

Yes. it will stop moving. I'd recommend using a block of wood between the hammer and pipe, rather than beating on the pipe directly. Don't want to dent it.

 

[gdawg55]

Yes. it will stop moving. I'd recommend using a block of wood between the hammer and pipe, rather than beating on the pipe directly. Don't want to dent it.

Yep, I was using a block. Didn't have to whale on it....just semi light whacks to get it to move. It's tight enough that I can't move it by hand.

Did you notice your exhaust volume in the cab to be considerably lower with the j pipe....not just the drone? I was surprised at the difference.

 

[Matts175]

Yes. Inside is definitely quieter when cruising at speed. But when you stomp on it, it comes alive. There's this large bridge that I have to go under every day on my way home from work, kind of like a tunnel. When I go through there, I just HAVE to hit the gas. It sounds like an 800hp beast in there. LOL