Exhaust Pipes & Tips

Buying guide: Exhaust Pipes & Tips

Two different kinds of part sit in this category and they solve different problems. Replacement pipes - tail pipes, intermediate pipes, Y-pipes and elbows - restore a rusted or damaged section of a factory exhaust. Performance systems - cat-back and axle-back kits - replace everything behind the converter, or behind the rear axle, with larger-diameter mandrel-bent tubing and a straight-through muffler.

There are 3,609 listings covering 1957 through 2026. aFe Power accounts for the largest block, followed by Magnaflow, Flowmaster, AWE Tuning, Walker and Borla. Ford and Chevrolet applications dominate, with Jeep and Toyota close behind.

Material and diameter are what separate one kit from another. Aluminized steel is the cheapest and lasts five to seven years in a state that salts its roads. 409 stainless is the standard upgrade. 304 stainless is what the premium systems use and will usually outlast the vehicle. Diameter matters more than brand for both sound and flow: 2.25 inch suits a stock four-cylinder, 2.5 inch covers most V6 and small V8 applications, and 3 inch is for forced induction or big displacement.

Tail tips are a separate purchase and mostly cosmetic. Clamp-on tips need only the outlet diameter. Weld-on tips need the same plus a shop willing to weld stainless. Black chrome and burnt titanium finishes hold up better than polished chrome against road salt.

One caution on cat-back kits: they do not include the catalytic converter. If your state inspects emissions, confirm the factory converter stays in place. Most kits are designed for that, but a few race-oriented systems delete it, and those are not legal for road use in CARB states.