Suit Case Muffler Delete FAQ/Review

[MaxB]

First off, I am making this thread due to the discrepancies I found while researching this before I actually did it.

What is the SUITCASE muffler?

1) It is the Last(the one closest to the rear/hatch)and Largest muffler out of the entire exhaust system.

How is it removed/replaced?

2)Go to your exhaust shop or anyone that knows what they are doing. They have to know how to weld well. They cut out the muffler, then replace it with either piping around 2 inches or a different muffler. It is your preference.

Why do this instead of buying a new exhaust?(Magnaflow, AWE etc…)

3) Money, and sound. Aftermarket exhausts for our cars (MK5 Rabbit) are usually much louder and upwards 400 dollars. Removing the Suitcase muffler is +/- $100 and is much more easy to control volume wise oppose to a full blown cat back exhaust.

How loud is it REALLY?

4)It's not too loud but it is noticeable. It's deeper and more present at low rpms. To be honest it sounds really good and no rice at all. There is no drone and it is not loud when you are just driving around. When you want to show off to your buddies or blow off the civic next to you, put your foot down in a low gear and it will rip the sh1t out of them. Say you don't want your parents to know while driving into the garage, just roll in and there is literally not a difference and while idling it is not noticeable even at a cold start.

How much should I pay to get my Suitcase Muffler removed?

5) It should be upwards of $80. You will most likely need new tips and they need to bend piping. I paid $100 with quality tips. If they want to charge you $150, go to the guy across town and tell him what the other dude charged and he will most likely beat it. That's what I did, I was originally quoted at $135.

Performance gains?

6) HP gains is probably 1 or 2. Regardless of that, I feel like the car is much more open. if that makes sense. The Throttle Response is much faster and I feel like I get more out of the lower RPMs. It is not a huge difference, don't do this mod if you are looking for performance gains.


My Review after around 2 days:

When I started the car for the first time after I had it removed, I noticed nothing. Then I put my foot down and i noticed how much deeper it was. Then I drove it around the block twice and already some dude from this park I drove by yelled "Dope exhaust bro". The dude who did it for me initially, to be blunt, messed up. The tips were to un even and put backwards and there was a rattling at high RPMs. I took it back and right after school they were finished. Sounded fine, more like awesome. Deleting the Suitcase muffler was perfect for what I wanted. I didn't want to spend a lot of cash, and i didn't want to be super loud or ricey. My car sounds loud enough when I want it and has a very aggressive deep growl while driving around, but it is not loud. I recommend this to everyone with a Rabbit.

How it sounds :

I'll put sound bites(AKA ****ty vids) once the finish uploading.

[le0n]

nice write up. thanks for contributing...

also, in for ****ty vid

[BIGGREEK]

also, in for ****ty vid

this

[MaxB]

http://vimeo.com/31886997

http://vimeo.com/31886957


^^ 2nd gear pull dawgz

[BIGGREEK]

not too bad, just a bit raspy for my tastes. But still not bad for 80 bucks. When I did my exhaust, I spent like 130??? (IIRC), 70 for the muffler and 60 for the 12" bent pipe for the muffler. The rest I pieced together and welded up myself.

[MaxB]

the garage vid is before i got the rattling fixed so it was raspy. now, there is almost none.

[le0n]

that rattle in the first vid was loud. good thing they took care of it. over all, i believe is an excellent mod for the price.

also, i bet it sounds really cool on the outside; under load...

if it gets to be too prone to drone on the highway, the addition of another straight-through stock resonator (probably free or very cheap used), at the midway point of your current resonator and the axle muffler, should help clean the tones even more...

[MaxB]

With this mod, literally no drone.

[le0n]

even better. i've said it before, this is most likely the route i'd take for the exhaust setup on my rabbit...

[MaxB]

Yea it rulez.

[Wabbit]

I had my local shop chop both mufflers and leave the stock resonator and add a magnaflow muffler. Something about it didnt sound right the stock resonator and the new muffler didnt agree and its sounded ricey and terrible. So i had them drop the resonator too and its sounds ALOT better but its also twice as loud now and a tad raspy.....I think I'm gonna buy a magnaflow resonator and put it in and see if i can get a smoother quieter tone out of it. Kinda wish i would have done what you did here now...sigh so many headaches

[MaxB]

Yea dude I heard my dad driving my car away and it sounds so good from the outside.

[tibimakai]

you still have the small muffler in there?

[MaxB]

Yes.

[goofygreek]

i removed my smaller muffler. I think it sounds about the same as yours. Its not really noticeable until i get on it a little bit. The exhaust shop i went to only charged me $40. Also quoted me $230 for a magnaflow exhaust with 2.5in pipes and dual tips.

[MaxB]

Damn really?... That seems kinda sketchy considering they retail 400+

[le0n]

^^ $230 is not out of the question if you are using normal exhaust piping (not stainless)...

[MaxB]

Does Magnaflow make a non stainless exhaust?

[le0n]

^^ i never really looked for them but i somehow doubt it. it seems like they'd only push stainless because of the durability. some people just buy the same mufflers that are in the system and have their shop install them...

[MaxB]

I bet what they mean is replacing the already existing mufflers with Magnaflow ones