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Which aftermarket exhaust for good sound, but not too loud?

No Coast Rider

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No Coast Rider Enthusiast

No Coast Rider

Posted
Posted

Hello, I tried searching, but most people seem to be looking for really loud exhausts. I'd like the forum's opinion on which cat back exhaust will give me a nice V8 tone for my 2015 5.3, but not be obnoxiously loud, or droney on the highway, which is where most of my driving occurs? I like how my stock exhaust is nice and quiet when cruising, but when you get on it the sound is a bit too raspy and mechanical, I'd like a little more of a deep sound. I had a Flowmaster Super 40 muffler on a custom pipe on my 03 Ford Ranger 4.0 and that was an awful experience, I drove it from CT to AZ in 4 days and it droned at me the whole way. The Ford branded Borla I had on my 06 Mustang V6 was decent but not my favorite sound either. My favorite was a Magnaflow system that came with my 5.7 HEMI Dodge Magnum and that was perfect, great, but not too loud V8 tone at idle and while cruising, and a nice growl when you got on the gas, and zero drone. I was leaning towards another Magnaflow system for this reason, but I've also heard the Gibson can give similar results, and they seem to be a good bit cheaper. What's the consensus around here for a nice sounding but not too loud exhaust? I'm not really looking for performance gains, just a better sound.

 

Also I've already installed a Range AFM disabler since the system works horribly and it transformed the truck completely! (The Dodge MDS system works much better, never even notice it's there, never felt the need to disable it.), so no worries about the helicopter sounds I've read about in V4 mode.

goeb34 Enthusiast

goeb34

Posted
Posted

Cut the 3rd cat and both mufflers off to a y pipe and then 4” tips out the side

jaykoz71 Enthusiast

jaykoz71

Posted
Posted
Hello, I tried searching, but most people seem to be looking for really loud exhausts. I'd like the forum's opinion on which cat back exhaust will give me a nice V8 tone for my 2015 5.3, but not be obnoxiously loud, or droney on the highway, which is where most of my driving occurs? I like how my stock exhaust is nice and quiet when cruising, but when you get on it the sound is a bit too raspy and mechanical, I'd like a little more of a deep sound. I had a Flowmaster Super 40 muffler on a custom pipe on my 03 Ford Ranger 4.0 and that was an awful experience, I drove it from CT to AZ in 4 days and it droned at me the whole way. The Ford branded Borla I had on my 06 Mustang V6 was decent but not my favorite sound either. My favorite was a Magnaflow system that came with my 5.7 HEMI Dodge Magnum and that was perfect, great, but not too loud V8 tone at idle and while cruising, and a nice growl when you got on the gas, and zero drone. I was leaning towards another Magnaflow system for this reason, but I've also heard the Gibson can give similar results, and they seem to be a good bit cheaper. What's the consensus around here for a nice sounding but not too loud exhaust? I'm not really looking for performance gains, just a better sound.
 
Also I've already installed a Range AFM disabler since the system works horribly and it transformed the truck completely! (The Dodge MDS system works much better, never even notice it's there, never felt the need to disable it.), so no worries about the helicopter sounds I've read about in V4 mode.
I've heard you can remove one of the mufflers near the rear of your truck, you tube has a few videos.

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No Coast Rider Enthusiast

No Coast Rider

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Also I live in Mass, so removing cats or any major mods will probably cause a fail on my yearly inspection.

Nasty Senior Enthusiast

Nasty

Posted
Posted

Resonator delete and pretty much any big muffler of your choice.    I'm swapping my carven muffler for a black widow muffler. 

TRG Enthusiast

TRG

Posted
Posted

Just installed a Borla (non-GM) Touring on my 2018 5.3.  Not too loud, but loud enough at start up and when you get on the gas.  No drone and not loud in the cabin.  It sounds great (actually a bit louder than video clips out there which is a good thing) and was exactly the sound I was looking for.     

No Coast Rider Enthusiast

No Coast Rider

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Posted
12 minutes ago, TRG said:

Just installed a Borla (non-GM) Touring on my 2018 5.3.  Not too loud, but loud enough at start up and when you get on the gas.  No drone and not loud in the cabin.  It sounds great (actually a bit louder than video clips out there which is a good thing) and was exactly the sound I was looking for.     

Thanks for the tip, that sounds like just what I'm looking for. A bit more expensive than I'd like, and only comes in dual exit configuration, I'd prefer the maintain a single, but if there's nothing else out there comparable I might go with that. 

17SLE Enthusiast

17SLE

Posted
Posted

I've got a corsa sport for my 5.3L, it's not too loud as well, has a nice aggressive tone when you're on the gas. The video will show you what it sounds on a cold start. It's just a cold start as I wanted to have a video of sorts to hear what it sounded like compared to others.

exhaust.MOV

wforrest08 Senior Enthusiast

wforrest08

Posted
Posted

If your only after a little sound I personally wouldn’t bother with a whole system. If your planning on more Performance mods later then it might be worth it. On my 015 I had a local well established trusted exhaust shop cut the muffler/flapper/resonator off (mine is 5.3L/V4 delete tuned) and replaced with a 50 series Flowmaster then they used factory pipe over the axle to build a dump behind the axle (per my request). I told the shop what I wanted sound wise they put the truck on the lift and had me come out and listen to 4 different mufflers to choose the sound I wanted. Also said they retain as much of the factory pipe as possible because it will last as long if not longer than their replacement pipe anyway. I went with the 50 because it sounds good under a load but is relatively quiet while cruising as I to didn’t want anything to loud, there was a Magnaflow in the test mufflers (forget what model) that was about the same sound level but I didn’t care for the tone of it (personal preference). I’ve ran this set up for over a year now and I still happy with it, no drone at any speed, can hear it when I want, quiet when I don’t, and was less than $350 all in. 

 

There is some good exhaust threads on here with lots of ideas. Read some Google search works better for this site than the search feature on this forum. IMO

https://www.google.com/search?q=2015+silverado+exhaust+forum+site:www.gm-trucks.com&prmd=svin&ei=_BDFWsrKCYLWjwS9hIZg&start=0&sa=N&biw=834&bih=1073

 

Some guys are happy with just a muffler delete/leave the resonator and vica versa. Cheap and if not happy your not out a lot to change to something else.

 

Youtube is your friend some guys post videos inside the cab let’s face it that’s where we’re listening. I’d suggest finding similar exhaust setups from different posters as some sound different with different mics/creative editing.

Look up a guy named Matt Earle he has posted  a hundred different exhaust setups on his 015 Silverado most of his vids include cold starts to drive bys. Nice to hear different options on the same truck. Also Kirk Robinson which is Kinneys Exhaust out of Texas has a lot of good vids/options especially if your at all interested in true duals. 

 

Lgetz Senior Enthusiast

Lgetz

Posted
Posted

Save some cash and throw a Magnaflow 12589 on your 5.3. Slightly louder but deeper tone than stock and sounds good at start up.   Comes alive when you gun throttle.   Best part it is fully reversible offset/center design and is the right size so a competent muffler shop can cut off the stock muffler and flapper valve and weld it up in place.  Have them put a stainless steel exhaust tip to give a distinct look.  If too tame sounding have them remove your rear resonator and replace with a piece of pipe.  

Otherwise do the GM Borla and don't look back.

Cheney4 Enthusiast

Cheney4

Posted
Posted

I have the Borla dual and I love the deep sound when you get on it. Don’t know if there is a big difference in sound on the 5.3 but I have the 6.2  and it is very throaty. ✌?~C4

Dub1796 Enthusiast

Dub1796

Posted
Posted

I've installed a couple different exhaust systems on sierras at my work. For my ears,  my muffler delete sounded better than those $1000 cat back systems. I do alot of freeway driving, so I wasn't looking for loud. Just wanted it to sound like a truck. 

 

Maybe try a muffler delete for $80 before dumping a bunch of $ on a full system

Bigrich Enthusiast

Bigrich

Posted
Posted

Gibson sounds awesome & it’s affordable. 

  • 1 month later...
dcarl Enthusiast

dcarl

Posted
Posted
On ‎4‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 2:07 PM, TRG said:

Just installed a Borla (non-GM) Touring on my 2018 5.3.  Not too loud, but loud enough at start up and when you get on the gas.  No drone and not loud in the cabin.  It sounds great (actually a bit louder than video clips out there which is a good thing) and was exactly the sound I was looking for.     

Ditto - Not too loud but enough that when you get on it sounds right.  I also needed to get rid of the resonator to make room for an air bag installation which the new exhaust system helped.

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