The release of exhaust gases into the atmosphere creates a load and irritating noise. This is caused by the changes in pressure that the gases exhibit as they travel from the engine to the atmosphere. Mufflers are designed to decrease the intensity of this noise that the exhaust makes.
A muffler usually consists of a cylindrical metal jacket that encases pipes and chambers. These pipes and chambers allow gases to flow throughout the muffler. These muffler components are arranged in such a way that the noise is reflected back either toward the engine or back and forth among the chambers, decreasing the amount of noise produced.
There are various kinds of mufflers which come in several shapes and sizes. Some types of mufflers include the universal replacements, the performance mufflers, and the direct fit mufflers. The focus of this article is on the direct fit mufflers – those that best match the original muffler of the car in terms of size, shape and hanger placement.
A direct hit muffler is almost entirely identical to the OEM muffler of the vehicle. The direct hit muffler, in order to be used properly, should be the same to the OEM muffler in terms of the size of the pipe inlet and outlet, the length and shape of the muffler itself, and the fasteners or brackets used to hold the muffler in place. A direct hit muffler that meets these criteria provides quicker, easier, and cheaper installation. Also, the overall functionality of the car is not sacrificed or is even improved by the muffler.