Aftermarket Exhaust - Arizona - AWE/Borla/Flowmaster/Rough Country

MrGreen556 · April 19

Hey everyone,

I've got a 2025 Silverado 1500 5.3L and I'm looking to upgrade the stock exhaust. I've gone down the YouTube rabbit hole listening to a bunch of different setups, but it's just hard to judge how loud they really are without hearing them in person.

Right now, I'm considering:

AWE 0FG** (this one is my top pick so far—love the tone, just worried it might be a bit too loud)
Borla S-Type
Flowmaster American Thunder (not sure if it's actually much louder than stock—also worried about drone)
Rough Country (seems like a budget copy of the Flowmaster?)

If anyone in Arizona (I'm in Surprise, but willing to drive a bit) has one of these setups, would you be cool with me meeting up real quick just to hear it in person? Would really help me make the right choice before dropping the cash.

Appreciate any help!

EPL · April 20

I had a 2023 Silverado HD with a 6.6 gasser and I did a ton of research - ended up putting the Borla S-type.

The Borla sounded AWESOME and it had zero drone !!!

If you go on their site or just search for Borla on 5.3L, you should find a video that will give you a real good idea of how it will sound.

The Borla was also super easy on the install.

newdude · April 20

I've never been disappointed with Corsa. Quiet when you want it, loud when you want it, zero drone.

taze · April 22

I'm in Phoenix thinking about exhaust and would be interested in joining the fun, haha! I've been leaning towards Corsa.

My neighbor's son has a new 5.3 and put Flowmaster on it. I could try to catch him this weekend to see if he'd be willing to show it off for you. I don't know about drone, but it's none too loud, in my opinion. I was actually shocked how quiet it was with no muffler at all. (The piping in the kit didn't fit so he drove it over to a shop to get welded on.)

MrGreen556 · April 23

19 hours ago, taze said:

I'm in Phoenix thinking about exhaust and would be interested in joining the fun, haha! I've been leaning towards Corsa.

My neighbor's son has a new 5.3 and put Flowmaster on it. I could try to catch him this weekend to see if he'd be willing to show it off for you. I don't know about drone, but it's none too loud, in my opinion. I was actually shocked how quiet it was with no muffler at all. (The piping in the kit didn't fit so he drove it over to a shop to get welded on.)

That would be awesome, thanks!

Where in Phoenix are you located? Feel free to PM me.

Do you know what his whole setup is? (Cat-back system, which muffler, resonators, tips)

On 4/19/2025 at 5:08 PM, EPL said:

I had a 2023 Silverado HD with a 6.6 gasser and I did a ton of research - ended up putting the Borla S-type.

The Borla sounded AWESOME and it had zero drone !!!

If you go on their site or just search for Borla on 5.3L, you should find a video that will give you a real good idea of how it will sound.

The Borla was also super easy on the install.

Yeah I like the sound of the Borla too. I'm still not sure how loud it is exactly. I also wish the Borla had 4" tips instead of 3.5"

taze · April 23

4 hours ago, MrGreen556 said:

That would be awesome, thanks!

Where in Phoenix are you located? Feel free to PM me.

Do you know what his whole setup is? (Cat-back system, which muffler, resonators, tips)

Yeah I like the sound of the Borla too. I'm still not sure how loud it is exactly. I also wish the Borla had 4" tips instead of 3.5"

I'm off of the 101 around 7th st. It's cat-back and he just did a turn down, iirc. I'll have to ask which muffler.

lowrider · April 23

I'm in Casa Grande with the FlowMaster 717893. I'm here if you want to drive down.

Lou

MrGreen556 · April 23

3 hours ago, taze said:

I'm off of the 101 around 7th st. It's cat-back and he just did a turn down, iirc. I'll have to ask which muffler.

Cool, thanks! I'll let you know if I can make it out that way.

36 minutes ago, lowrider said:

I'm in Casa Grande with the FlowMaster 717893. I'm here if you want to drive down.

Lou

Really appreciate the offer, but Casa Grande is a little far for me. I'm out in Surprise.

rob143171 · May 15

I live in Michigan and we don't believe in emissions. So I went with the cheapest option, muffler delete, and it's never led me wrong. I did this for my old 2017 Silverado 1500 LT 5.3L (single exit) and on my current 2023 Silverado 1500 RST 5.3L (dual exit).

The 2017 cost me $80 and the 2023 cost me $100. Definitely has some rumble from cold start or if its back up to a wall/garage, but there's hardly any drone and is pretty quiet when you're just cruising.

I will recommend the same thing I told my friend, I would try this first before spending a lot of money on a nice exhaust (he couldn't decide what brand either), because worst case scenario is you burned $100 and you end up putting an exhaust kit on anyways, but best case scenario is you get the exhaust sound you were hoping for while saving thousands.

End of the day its your truck and your call just my 2 cents

Mack10290 · May 18

I just put a new dual exhaust on my Sierra 5.3 in March. I got the Flomaster muffler and the shop did the custom pipe work. I converted from single exhaust to dual and cost out the door was $700. I don't know how loud you wanna go? ......but this setup is not extremely loud. I told the guy at the shop I did not want something annoyingly noisy and loud, just give me a good V-8 engine sound.....and that's what it is. I do not notice any drone. On the highway it's not much louder than stock. It has that deep throaty rumble on startup and driving at low speed. My neighbor has a Ram with a Borla and that thing sounds like a dump truck roaring......perfect example of what I did not want.

johnnyquick · May 18

AWE is louder than F*CK but sounds great, ZERO drone.

Corsa Sport sounds GREAT and is only loud on a cold start for a few moments.

Borla S type and corsa sound close to one another both excellent quality with no drone.

Cheapy systems will add drone and not last as long.

I learned a long time ago, buy once cry once ...lol

the muffer delete gives too much drone if you do much freeway or distance driving.

MrGreen556 · May 18

6 minutes ago, johnnyquick said:

AWE is louder than F*CK but sounds great, ZERO drone.

Corsa Sport sounds GREAT and is only loud on a cold start for a few moments.

Borla S type and corsa sound close to one another both excellent quality with no drone.

Cheapy systems will add drone and not last as long.

I learned a long time ago, buy once cry once ...lol

the muffer delete gives too much drone if you do much freeway or distance driving.

I've heard the same about the muffler delete giving lots of drone, especially if I delete the resonators. I'm seeing mixed opinions on the AWE though, some say it's really only rowdy on cold starts or hard acceleration, but regular city driving and cruising are more tame with a nice rumble. What's your opinion?

6 hours ago, Mack10290 said:

I just put a new dual exhaust on my Sierra 5.3 in March. I got the Flomaster muffler and the shop did the custom pipe work. I converted from single exhaust to dual and cost out the door was $700. I don't know how loud you wanna go? ......but this setup is not extremely loud. I told the guy at the shop I did not want something annoyingly noisy and loud, just give me a good V-8 engine sound.....and that's what it is. I do not notice any drone. On the highway it's not much louder than stock. It has that deep throaty rumble on startup and driving at low speed. My neighbor has a Ram with a Borla and that thing sounds like a dump truck roaring......perfect example of what I did not want.

Which Flowmaster? Do you have a video?

johnnyquick · May 18

15 minutes ago, MrGreen556 said:

I've heard the same about the muffler delete giving lots of drone, especially if I delete the resonators. I'm seeing mixed opinions on the AWE though, some say it's really only rowdy on cold starts or hard acceleration, but regular city driving and cruising are more tame with a nice rumble. What's your opinion?

Which Flowmaster? Do you have a video?

The AWE is as you stated startup, cold idle and when driving aggressively.

I went through.... delete, corsa sport and borla touring (way too quiet for me)before ending up with AWE.

Next will be headers and a true dual with AFM delete kit from Texas Speed along with camshaft and tuned by wifi, then adding the whipple and heavy duty drive shaft and dyno tuned by LMR.

Then I will call it DONE with this truck and onto Wifeys Escalade V which is LOUDER stock than the Silverado when the valves are open AND has more HP....

Mack10290 · May 19

21 hours ago, MrGreen556 said:

I've heard the same about the muffler delete giving lots of drone, especially if I delete the resonators. I'm seeing mixed opinions on the AWE though, some say it's really only rowdy on cold starts or hard acceleration, but regular city driving and cruising are more tame with a nice rumble. What's your opinion?

Which Flowmaster? Do you have a video?

I think he said it's a 50? if that makes sense. I would have to go check the shop invoice for more info on it. I don't have a video at this time.