[GreenD]

My '03 R/T 5.9 is louder than my '01 SLT 4.7 was. I'm on the highway a lot, on my cell phone earpiece a lot, and the added noise is a bit of a problem. Today I had a passenger who, once we were on the highway, said "this is much louder than your last Durango" so its pretty noticable.

I know some of it's the 3.92 gearing, I'm 300 rpm's higher that I was with the 3.55 in my last one. I think the bigger source is the exhaust. My build sheet says "(ULEV) NEAS - Sport Tuned Exhaust with Chrome Tip". Is this exhaust giving me much advantage over stock? Is there an aftermarket exhaust that's quieter?

I hate to sound like a weeny wanting a quieter Durango, but with all the highway driving I do and business I do in the car I could use a few db lower.

 

[IndyDurango]

H-E-L-L-O? you have a real motor now.

Enjoy the 5.9

IndyD

 

[MWeed]

Take a look at the tires, as the tread or tread condition could also be contributing. Whenever I'm 4 wheeling with the M/T's on, everyone comments that they can hear them over the CB. When I run my R/T's they don't hear anything.

I know when my A/T's wore down to where they needed to be replaced they made much more noise than when they were new.

 

[GreenD]

The tires are pretty worn, you're probably right that they're contributing to it.

Indy, I know what you mean. I cringed a bit at posting about it, I enjoy the motor a lot and the exhaust note - but after many hours on the highway, and using a headset and barely being able to hear the other person talking, it gets me thinking.

 

[Duranged408]

Get a flowmaster american thunder 40 series in a dual kit, I garuntee you won't hear that particular noise again. :cheesy:

 

[IndyDurango]

The stocker should be fairly quiet actually. Sure you don't have a hole somewhere? Sure you have a stocker muffler?

A moderate performance sound (to loud for business really however) would be a Flowmaster Series 50 SUV. If you want factory quiet, don't get the R/T muffer from the dealer, get the SLT+ muffler from the dealer.

IndyDurango

 

[FSTDANGO3]

For the record the Magnaflow Cat back at Idle and WOT sounds great at highway speeds there's no noticable noise.
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[GreenD]

Its kind of a resonating sound, at 60-65 mph its pretty quiet but up over 70 you really notice it.

Is the R/T exhaust much of a gain over the SLT plus exhaust?

 

[MWeed]

Having had an SUV Flowmaster and now a 50 series, this is what I notice:

The SUV muffler gave a much nicer sound than stock, but if there were passengers in the back seat, you could carry on a nice quiet conversation on the highway.

The 50 series gives much louder beefier sound, to the detriment of conversation in the back seat. You need to crank the stereo up louder, and folks would really hear the exhaust over the cellphone.

This is all based on 3" cat back and headers. Headers aren't really any louder in and of themselves.

 

[bytehoven]

Is the extra noise you notice, something which is loudest at specific crusing speeds or RPMs?

If yes, this has been pin pointed to the tail pipe section of the exhaust, and is a problem on many Dodge trucks & cars. Something about the tail pipe section being a perfect length to resonate at a low frequency.

There have been a number of solutions posted, which unfortunately, haven't been universal fixes.

I have a exhaust drone on my '06 2500 Hemi, right around 1700 RPM. I tried a new Dynamax Super Turbo muffler, and while it helped reduce the drobe, it wasn't eliminated.

My next fix will be to add a Dodge resonator to the tail pipe, just after the drop down from the rear wheel arch, but before the tip.

Some folks have reported success placing the turn & tip right after the muffler, with the tip just ahead of the rear passenger wheel.

Last and certainly least because of the $$$, is the CORSA tuned exhaust system, specifically designed to eliminate exhaust drone while maintaining a healthy exhaust performance note.

My '99 Durango 5.9 was very quiet. I wish I could remember how the exhaust was configured and if it had a muffler and resonators.

One thing you might check, is for any leaks at the exhaust clamps. Simply wrap some metal duct tape around the clamp joints to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Canuck D]

Hi Green D;

You may have already done this, but did you check your rubber isolation mounts (rubber hangars) to see if there are any missing or damaged?

Canuck "D"

 

[GreenD]

I got underneath today and everything seems tight, hangers OK. The sound is definitely at certain speeds, with 70-75 seeming to be one of the worst ranges.

As an example I had the in-laws in the D for a few short drives today, including a bit on the highway. The people in the back seat weren't able to stay with the conversation until we were off the highway.

 

[MWeed]

You could also just be in the market for a replacement muffler, as the original could be worn out. They do that from time to time. If that's the case, I'd try the Flomaster SUV muffler. I think you'll be impressed with the quiet. My wife asked me what I had done to the D riding in it for the 1st time after I put in the SUV muffler, at about 5k, because she felt the interior noise was much less than before.

 

[IndyDurango]

My '99 Durango 5.9 was very quiet. I wish I could remember how the exhaust was configured and if it had a muffler and resonators.

No resonators on the Gen1s.

Exhaust manifold/headers-->Y Crossover-->Pipe-->Cat-->Pipe-->Muffler-->Pipe-->Tip

Resonators are 'new' to the Gen2s. I hate seeing them from behind while driving. When I had my hitch on there, I couldn't see my Spare Tire and liked that. Now that the hitch is off, I can see the spare and I'm working on a solution (for the DOC Smokey Mountain Rendezvous)

IndyDurango

 

[FSTDANGO3]

The resonator on the Gen 2 does look a bit awkward.
I don't mind my spare showing a bit underneath.
Hope your plan works out INDY
You usually come up with some Kool Stuff
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[GreenD]

Here's what my exhaust looks like, sorry the first 2 pics are sideways:

I'm assuming this is stock R/T exhaust. From all the info here it seems like I should try a new muffler, maybe the Flomaster SUV like MWeed suggested.

 

[bytehoven]

There are alternate resonators available.

Dynamax suggests using the Bullet as a resonator in the tailpipe section. It comes in I/Os that should allow easy cut in & clamp with common exhaust diameter sizes. Other folks have reported success using some of the glass pack tips.

I was going to try one of these Bullet mufflers until I saw someone selling their complete Dodge tailpipe section with resonator.

One thing I have noticed about my 2500. The cabin has a low frequency audio standing wave inherent in it's structural design. This standing wave frequency is very close to the exhaust drone frequency, making the exhaust drone worse. I mention this because some folks have reported success insulating their cabins with dynamat sound proofing, which can act like a bass trap and change the frequency of the standing wave.

I have been planning to tackle my exhaust drone problem as the weather improve and I work through my short list of mods.

 

[IndyDurango]

Resonator on a Gen1 eh? New one on me. Perhaps a '03 thing or an '03 R/T thing, but again, completely a new one on me. You may have a one of a kind. Cut the damn thing off.

IndyD

 

[FSTDANGO3]

I don't believe that's a resonator in the third pic. I think if that come before the muffler, it's another CAT converter. If after, I guess it's a new one to me as well. I say take off that system and put on a new catback system and that'll most likely eliminate the drone and give you more POWER!
Steve
DOC Pres

 

[GreenD]

A pipe runs off the end of each manifold, and each runs into a small canister with a sensor and wire running out of it. I assume both of these canisters are cat converters. Then they join together and run into the resonator or cat converter in the 3rd pic, then to the muffler and from there to the tip. How do I figure out if that large canister is a cat or not?

I'd like to do what Steve says, just get rid of it and head into a new muffler, but I want to know what it's first. Seems like an odd setup.