Do I Need A Resonator?

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Ulysses - 02 Mar 2007 21:52 GMT

I went to get a smog test on my '91 and low and behold the exhaust pipe had
come apart just past the muffler and where it connects to what I think is
called the resonator. Well, the resonator does not appear to be a muffler
and the tailpipe just goes straight through it so my question is: do I even
need it? Can I just run the tailpipe directly from the muffler? What does
the resonator do anyway?

Thanks.

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NickD - 03 Mar 2007 02:07 GMT

> I went to get a smog test on my '91 and low and behold the exhaust pipe had
> come apart just past the muffler and where it connects to what I think is
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Thanks.

On my '92 the resonator is (was) back by the right rear tire just a
little ways from the tailpipe. About a year ago the welds holding it
in place cracked and I had it removed and a new piece of pipe welded
in. As far as what it does I always thought it had something to do
with creating some addtional back pressure, but I'm not really sure.

I also haven't had to have it smog tested since I removed it, did your
Explorer flunk because it was missing?

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Ulysses - 03 Mar 2007 03:09 GMT

> > I went to get a smog test on my '91 and low and behold the exhaust pipe had
> > come apart just past the muffler and where it connects to what I think is
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> I also haven't had to have it smog tested since I removed it, did your
> Explorer flunk because it was missing?

No, it didn't flunk; they just could not test it because the rear tailpipe
section was seperated from the muffler so they couldn't get a reading. On
MY '92 the resonator became loose from the tailpipe and I just jammed it in
place and it passed the California smog test :-)

As for the back pressure from what I saw it's just a steel can surrounding
the tailpipe. When I removed it the tailpipe looked how I would expect any
other tailpipe to look. I don't see how it could affect back pressure and
there is no additional exhaust noise that I can notice with the entire
tailpipe section removed from the muffler back.

Now my dilemma is if I go and get a new one and pay to have it welded on and
then fail the smog test (just squeezed by last time on the HC) and then need
to get new cayalytic converters and possibly a new muffler will I just be
wasting money now. On top of that there apparently is a federal regulation
saying that you can't replace a catalytic converter unless it has failed.
Sounds like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. In any case I don't
mind too much getting a whole new exhaust system 'cause I really like this
truck and it only has 205K miles on it so it's barely middle-aged for an
Explorer. But I'd prefer to spend as little money as possible.

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Jim Warman - 03 Mar 2007 03:01 GMT

No you don't need one.... it can be replaced with straight pipe. It's only
purpose in life is to add "resonance" to the exhaust tone, making it more
pleasant (read that as "manly") to hear....

>I went to get a smog test on my '91 and low and behold the exhaust pipe had
> come apart just past the muffler and where it connects to what I think is
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks.

Reply to this Message

Ulysses - 05 Mar 2007 22:39 GMT

> No you don't need one.... it can be replaced with straight pipe. It's only
> purpose in life is to add "resonance" to the exhaust tone, making it more
> pleasant (read that as "manly") to hear....

Thanks. I just got back from the muffler shop and they put on a straight
pipe (after I asked them the same question) and could barely comprehend that
I wanted (got a new muffler too) my car to be *quieter*, not *louder*.

> >I went to get a smog test on my '91 and low and behold the exhaust pipe had
> > come apart just past the muffler and where it connects to what I think is
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> >
> > Thanks.

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Ron B - 06 Mar 2007 01:18 GMT

Verry good Jim, I like that reply, and true.

Ron

> No you don't need one.... it can be replaced with straight pipe. It's only
> purpose in life is to add "resonance" to the exhaust tone, making it more
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>
>>Thanks.

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