Resonators in Exhausts; What do they do and should I get one?

Various exhaust systems sold by Heeltoe Automotive have an option of coming with or without a resonator. This article will help you know which option is for you.

What is a resonator?

A resonator is a long, usually, round, muffler situated underneath the car under the passenger compartment. 

What does a resonator do?

Resonators are installed to change the sound of the exhaust system. In general, resonators are employed to reduce resolution, or "drone," inside the car. Aftermarket exhausts are prone to creating extra noise inside the cabin, which can be rather annoying at times. Especially in cars with automatic transmissions under light load.

Resonators try to dampen or cancel out this noise to keep exhaust sounds from entering the cabin and becoming annoying.

A resonator can also be used to reduce or eliminate raspy sounds from the exhaust.

Size and placement make a difference

The placement of a resonator should be in the same approximate place as the resonator in the factory exhaust is, if there is one.

The longer the resonator the more effective it is as well. A larger diameter resonator can be more effective as well, although due to it being placed underneath the car it can be hard to fit a large diameter one there.

Will a resonator make my exhaust quiet?

It will definitely make the exhaust sound quieter inside the car. However, resonators do not generally have as large an effect on the outside of the car. Adding a resonator will not make your exhaust "quiet" but if your exhaust is annoying in any way to you, a resonator can definitely help.

What brand of resonator works best?

There are many different brands and makers and styles of resonators to choose from. In general we like high quality brands like Magnaflow or Vibrant. However, which one works best is often an exercise in trial and error to find the results that serve your needs.

Because trial and error are involved, it can be an advantage to simply buy a complete, prefabricated exhaust with these parts already in place, as the manufacturer of the exhaust will have done much of that work for you!