replacing a muffler on 1994 Dodge Caravan
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From: Ohioguy on 24 Nov 2009 20:04 We started noticing our van sounding louder, and even a slight rattling sound while it ran. I took a look at the underneath, and found a U-bolt at the front of the muffler that had essentially rusted through. It was hanging a bit loosely. I then noticed some rust spots on the muffler itself. I pushed against one, and my finger went through. Now we can smell the exhaust when standing next to the vehicle. Obviously, the muffler needs to be replaced. We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE 3 Liter. I've read that if I took it someplace like Midas, it would probably cost us $160-$260 to replace. I've looked online and found mufflers ranging from $35 to $150. Most of them seem to be "performance" mufflers, which I gather are loud, but give the engine a little more power, and slightly better fuel mileage. What I'd like is something close to the original one. I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with this sort of thing. Questions: 1) how difficult is it to replace a muffler? 2) are any special tools needed? 3) is there a good muffler company online that sells only quality mufflers at a good price? 4) Is it worth doing this project on your own, rather than paying a place like Midas or Muffler Brothers? I've never done this before, but if it is a fairly straightforward job of less than 2 hours, I might consider doing it. I just want to make sure I don't get something that is the wrong size, and I'd really prefer a quieter muffler - not a "performance" one. Thanks!
From: Rod Speed on 24 Nov 2009 22:59 Ohioguy wrote: > We started noticing our van sounding louder, and even a slight > rattling sound while it ran. I took a look at the underneath, and > found a U-bolt at the front of the muffler that had essentially rusted > through. It was hanging a bit loosely. > I then noticed some rust spots on the muffler itself. I pushed against one, and my finger went through. Now we can > smell the exhaust when standing next to the vehicle. Obviously, the muffler needs to be replaced. > We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE 3 Liter. I've read that if I took > it someplace like Midas, it would probably cost us $160-$260 to replace. > I've looked online and found mufflers ranging from $35 to $150. Most of them seem to be "performance" mufflers, > which I gather are > loud, but give the engine a little more power, and slightly better > fuel mileage. > What I'd like is something close to the original one. I'm wondering > if anyone here has experience with this sort of thing. > Questions: > 1) how difficult is it to replace a muffler? Its not necessarily that easy to get the old one off the pipe. > 2) are any special tools needed? Yeah, if it wont come off the pipe. > 3) is there a good muffler company online that sells only quality > mufflers at a good price? Nope. > 4) Is it worth doing this project on your own, rather than paying a place like Midas or Muffler Brothers? Really depends on how easy it is to get the old one off. > I've never done this before, but if it is a fairly straightforward > job of less than 2 hours, I might consider doing it. I just want to > make sure I don't get something that is the wrong size, and I'd really prefer a quieter muffler - not a "performance" > one. I've always paid more for a stainless steel muffler that lasts much longer. In fact I only ever changed the muffler once on the Golf I kept for 35+ years.
From: Al on 25 Nov 2009 07:39 On Nov 24, 8:04 pm, Ohioguy <n...(a)none.net> wrote: > We started noticing our van sounding louder, and even a slight > rattling sound while it ran. I took a look at the underneath, and found > a U-bolt at the front of the muffler that had essentially rusted > through. It was hanging a bit loosely. > > I then noticed some rust spots on the muffler itself. I pushed > against one, and my finger went through. Now we can smell the exhaust > when standing next to the vehicle. Obviously, the muffler needs to be > replaced. > > We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE 3 Liter. I've read that if I took it > someplace like Midas, it would probably cost us $160-$260 to replace. > > I've looked online and found mufflers ranging from $35 to $150. Most > of them seem to be "performance" mufflers, which I gather are loud, but > give the engine a little more power, and slightly better fuel mileage. > > What I'd like is something close to the original one. I'm wondering > if anyone here has experience with this sort of thing. > > Questions: > > 1) how difficult is it to replace a muffler? > > 2) are any special tools needed? > > 3) is there a good muffler company online that sells only quality > mufflers at a good price? > > 4) Is it worth doing this project on your own, rather than paying a > place like Midas or Muffler Brothers? > > I've never done this before, but if it is a fairly straightforward > job of less than 2 hours, I might consider doing it. I just want to > make sure I don't get something that is the wrong size, and I'd really > prefer a quieter muffler - not a "performance" one. > > Thanks! As a general rule, farming exhaust work out to professionals is the way to go. This is because the labor is such a small part of the job when they have the right equipment such as a hoist, torch, air chisels and impact tools. You don't have these tools. Changing a muffler can be done somewhat easily if there is good access from below and it does not go under framework and such. I believe your vehicle is reasonably simple. If that clamp you call a U-clamp has not fallen off, you can put a wrench on the nut and it will break off as you try to loosen it. It takes a little strength to do that. The important thing is you need to get the muffler off without damaging pipes on either side of it. The muffler is rusted in place and won't merely fall off when unclamped. You could get really lucky but often a DIY person will have to cut it off without a torch. Sometimes I have used a jig saw or Sazall to get the main part of the muffler out of the way so I could work. You have to be careful to cut far enough back so you don't cut those other pipes. When one pipe fits over another, I use a cutoff tool to slice a lengthwise slot in the pipe so I can open it up or twist the pipe off. This is dirty hard work for a homeowner and may not be possible for you. However, if you are really lucky and it almost falls off by itself, you could save money. Inspect the entire length of the system. The rest of the pipes probably have holes in them too.
From: Al on 25 Nov 2009 07:41 On Nov 24, 10:59 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Ohioguy wrote: > > We started noticing our van sounding louder, and even a slight > > rattling sound while it ran. I took a look at the underneath, and > > found a U-bolt at the front of the muffler that had essentially rusted > > through. It was hanging a bit loosely. > > I then noticed some rust spots on the muffler itself. I pushed against one, and my finger went through. Now we can > > smell the exhaust when standing next to the vehicle. Obviously, the muffler needs to be replaced. > > We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE 3 Liter. I've read that if I took > > it someplace like Midas, it would probably cost us $160-$260 to replace.. > > I've looked online and found mufflers ranging from $35 to $150. Most of them seem to be "performance" mufflers, > > which I gather are > > loud, but give the engine a little more power, and slightly better > > fuel mileage. > > What I'd like is something close to the original one. I'm wondering > > if anyone here has experience with this sort of thing. > > Questions: > > 1) how difficult is it to replace a muffler? > > Its not necessarily that easy to get the old one off the pipe. > > > 2) are any special tools needed? > > Yeah, if it wont come off the pipe. > > > 3) is there a good muffler company online that sells only quality > > mufflers at a good price? > > Nope. > > > 4) Is it worth doing this project on your own, rather than paying a place like Midas or Muffler Brothers? > > Really depends on how easy it is to get the old one off. > > > I've never done this before, but if it is a fairly straightforward > > job of less than 2 hours, I might consider doing it. I just want to > > make sure I don't get something that is the wrong size, and I'd really prefer a quieter muffler - not a "performance" > > one. > > I've always paid more for a stainless steel muffler that lasts much longer. > > In fact I only ever changed the muffler once on the Golf I kept for 35+ years. PS. The reason those quotes are up in the $260 range is because they suspect that the entire cat back system needs to be replaced.
From: Rod Speed on 25 Nov 2009 14:39
Al wrote > Rod Speed <rod.speed....(a)gmail.com> wrote >> Ohioguy wrote >>> We started noticing our van sounding louder, and even a slight >>> rattling sound while it ran. I took a look at the underneath, and >>> found a U-bolt at the front of the muffler that had essentially >>> rusted through. It was hanging a bit loosely. >>> I then noticed some rust spots on the muffler itself. I pushed >>> against one, and my finger went through. Now we can smell the >>> exhaust when standing next to the vehicle. Obviously, the muffler >>> needs to be replaced. >>> We have a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE 3 Liter. I've read that if I took >>> it someplace like Midas, it would probably cost us $160-$260 to replace. >>> I've looked online and found mufflers ranging from $35 to $150. >>> Most of them seem to be "performance" mufflers, which I gather are >>> loud, but give the engine a little more power, and slightly better >>> fuel mileage. >>> What I'd like is something close to the original one. I'm wondering >>> if anyone here has experience with this sort of thing. >>> Questions: >>> 1) how difficult is it to replace a muffler? >> Its not necessarily that easy to get the old one off the pipe. >>> 2) are any special tools needed? >> Yeah, if it wont come off the pipe. >>> 3) is there a good muffler company online that sells only quality >>> mufflers at a good price? >> Nope. >>> 4) Is it worth doing this project on your own, rather than paying a >>> place like Midas or Muffler Brothers? >> Really depends on how easy it is to get the old one off. >>> I've never done this before, but if it is a fairly straightforward >>> job of less than 2 hours, I might consider doing it. I just want to >>> make sure I don't get something that is the wrong size, and I'd >>> really prefer a quieter muffler - not a "performance" one. >> I've always paid more for a stainless steel muffler that lasts much longer. >> In fact I only ever changed the muffler once on the Golf I kept for 35+ years. > PS. The reason those quotes are up in the $260 range is because > they suspect that the entire cat back system needs to be replaced. Or they are playing safe and including that in the quote. If they are honest, they wont charge for that if it isnt required. |