Double Tap
Full Access Member
I have had my Magnaflow #15588 cat-back exhaust kit on my 2011 Raptor Super Crew for approximately two weeks now. I purchased the exhaust kit through eBay for $469 shipped. I have seen this kit go for up to $600 online so do your research; there are good deals to be had out there.
Originally I was going to purchase the Borla exhaust kit instead, but as I continued to listen to the sound clips online I became convinced that the sound from both kits was very similar. I also learned that with the #15588 kit, Magnaflow had started using polished chrome tips with double-wall construction, which look almost identical to the Borla tips.
I had seen photos of other Magnaflow kits on Raptors that had single-wall construction similar to the OEM Ford tips. I did not want that, so I was very pleased to find that the #15588 kit came with nicer looking tips. By going with the Magnaflow kit, I saved approximately 50% off of the cost of the Borla and still have a great sounding exhaust kit made of stainless steel.
Sound Quality: 10/10
The first thing people want to know about when shopping for exhaust kits is how it sounds. To me, this is very subjective and hard -- if not impossible -- to convey across the Internet. Sound clips and videos rarely do justice to the way an exhaust kit sounds in person, so my recommendation is that you listen to as many different exhaust kits as possible in person before making your decision.
I am quite pleased with the exhaust note from the Magnaflow kit on my Raptor. It has a nice deep, mellow burble at idle and really opens up to a roar under hard acceleration.
As for drone inside the cabin, I have experienced really bad drone in the past with Mustang exhaust kits. There may be marginal drone with the Magnaflow on my Raptor, but it is so minimal that there is really no comparison. If I had to answer YES or NO to the question of drone, I would say NO. The OEM in-line resonator is likely to be thanked for this.
Yes, there is a louder exhaust signature inside the cabin of the truck. By making the exterior noise louder, you are obviously going to make the interior noise louder. If you cannot handle that, you shouldn't monkey with the exhaust system. Ford's OEM exhaust doesn't sound bad... it's just not that aggressive.
Installation Fitment: 7/10
I did the installation myself with common hand tools. Installation time was approximately 1.5 hours. This accounts for time spent removing the old exhaust unit and making a few adjustments to the new unit as described below.
Removing the factory exhaust is a job that will require a floor jack if you do not wish to hack up the piping. When you get to the point of actually removing the factory exhaust in one piece, you simply need to lift the rear of the truck with a floor jack so that the suspension is sufficiently unloaded and there is ample clearance to snake the tailpipes over the axle.
Installation of the Magnaflow kit goes easiest if you work from front to back, connecting to the OEM resonator first, then hanging the muffler, then hanging the tailpipe section. You re-use all of the OEM exhaust hangers for this.
When I got to the point of hanging the tailpipe section using the OEM hanger, I encountered what I attribute to an error in manufacturing tolerances at Magnaflow. The bayonet hanger welded to the tailpipe was simply too long, which left insufficient clearance between the end of the bayonet and the tailpipe tubing itself to pass the OEM rubber hanger between them.
I ended up spending some time taking length off of the bayonet with an angle grinder in small increments until it was short enough for the OEM rubber hanger to pass between. I also dimpled the Magnaflow exhaust tubing slightly with a hammer and a block of wood. The following photo makes it clearer:
Other than this, installation was simple and painless. Anyone with common hand tools, a floor jack, two opposable thumbs and half a clue can do the installation in their own driveway. Swapping the exhaust system on your truck is probably one of the easiest mods you can do.
I doubt many folks will have to tweak the bayonet hanger the way that I did since this is probably just a manufacturing fluke. However, if you do have the same problem just take your time and do as I did to shorten the hanger a bit until it fits. Remember to take off a little at a time so as not to grind it down too short.
Appearance: 10/10
Time for some photos. I know someone is going to say, "ZOMG! The pipes are rusting!" and they will be morons for saying that. The pipes are not rusting. I wiped the tips off for the photos but the pipes themselves are covered with red gravel spray from having taken the truck down a farm road yesterday morning for some charity construction work. You can see where some of the gunk wiped off when I cleaned the tips.
The pipes did darken up and discolor a little after a few hours of driving, but that is expected. They turned a slight golden/tan color. The muffler itself is pretty dirty too but is a nice shiny polished stainless when it's clean.
Anyway, enjoy...
Sound Clips / Videos:
I do not have any yet. I will try to do some soon, however as I said above, I think that sound clips and videos on the Internet are a really poor representation of how exhaust kits sound in real life. I do not place a whole lot of importance on them for that reason.
But I know folks are going to want some videos, so I'll do what I can soon.
Originally I was going to purchase the Borla exhaust kit instead, but as I continued to listen to the sound clips online I became convinced that the sound from both kits was very similar. I also learned that with the #15588 kit, Magnaflow had started using polished chrome tips with double-wall construction, which look almost identical to the Borla tips.
I had seen photos of other Magnaflow kits on Raptors that had single-wall construction similar to the OEM Ford tips. I did not want that, so I was very pleased to find that the #15588 kit came with nicer looking tips. By going with the Magnaflow kit, I saved approximately 50% off of the cost of the Borla and still have a great sounding exhaust kit made of stainless steel.
Sound Quality: 10/10
The first thing people want to know about when shopping for exhaust kits is how it sounds. To me, this is very subjective and hard -- if not impossible -- to convey across the Internet. Sound clips and videos rarely do justice to the way an exhaust kit sounds in person, so my recommendation is that you listen to as many different exhaust kits as possible in person before making your decision.
I am quite pleased with the exhaust note from the Magnaflow kit on my Raptor. It has a nice deep, mellow burble at idle and really opens up to a roar under hard acceleration.
As for drone inside the cabin, I have experienced really bad drone in the past with Mustang exhaust kits. There may be marginal drone with the Magnaflow on my Raptor, but it is so minimal that there is really no comparison. If I had to answer YES or NO to the question of drone, I would say NO. The OEM in-line resonator is likely to be thanked for this.
Yes, there is a louder exhaust signature inside the cabin of the truck. By making the exterior noise louder, you are obviously going to make the interior noise louder. If you cannot handle that, you shouldn't monkey with the exhaust system. Ford's OEM exhaust doesn't sound bad... it's just not that aggressive.
Installation Fitment: 7/10
I did the installation myself with common hand tools. Installation time was approximately 1.5 hours. This accounts for time spent removing the old exhaust unit and making a few adjustments to the new unit as described below.
Removing the factory exhaust is a job that will require a floor jack if you do not wish to hack up the piping. When you get to the point of actually removing the factory exhaust in one piece, you simply need to lift the rear of the truck with a floor jack so that the suspension is sufficiently unloaded and there is ample clearance to snake the tailpipes over the axle.
Installation of the Magnaflow kit goes easiest if you work from front to back, connecting to the OEM resonator first, then hanging the muffler, then hanging the tailpipe section. You re-use all of the OEM exhaust hangers for this.
When I got to the point of hanging the tailpipe section using the OEM hanger, I encountered what I attribute to an error in manufacturing tolerances at Magnaflow. The bayonet hanger welded to the tailpipe was simply too long, which left insufficient clearance between the end of the bayonet and the tailpipe tubing itself to pass the OEM rubber hanger between them.
I ended up spending some time taking length off of the bayonet with an angle grinder in small increments until it was short enough for the OEM rubber hanger to pass between. I also dimpled the Magnaflow exhaust tubing slightly with a hammer and a block of wood. The following photo makes it clearer:
Other than this, installation was simple and painless. Anyone with common hand tools, a floor jack, two opposable thumbs and half a clue can do the installation in their own driveway. Swapping the exhaust system on your truck is probably one of the easiest mods you can do.
I doubt many folks will have to tweak the bayonet hanger the way that I did since this is probably just a manufacturing fluke. However, if you do have the same problem just take your time and do as I did to shorten the hanger a bit until it fits. Remember to take off a little at a time so as not to grind it down too short.
Appearance: 10/10
Time for some photos. I know someone is going to say, "ZOMG! The pipes are rusting!" and they will be morons for saying that. The pipes are not rusting. I wiped the tips off for the photos but the pipes themselves are covered with red gravel spray from having taken the truck down a farm road yesterday morning for some charity construction work. You can see where some of the gunk wiped off when I cleaned the tips.
The pipes did darken up and discolor a little after a few hours of driving, but that is expected. They turned a slight golden/tan color. The muffler itself is pretty dirty too but is a nice shiny polished stainless when it's clean.
Anyway, enjoy...
Sound Clips / Videos:
I do not have any yet. I will try to do some soon, however as I said above, I think that sound clips and videos on the Internet are a really poor representation of how exhaust kits sound in real life. I do not place a whole lot of importance on them for that reason.
But I know folks are going to want some videos, so I'll do what I can soon.
you said "rubber biscuit"
