Redback muffler rubbish?

[Dunlop]

In about July 2018 I decided to have the centre muffler replaced on my '93 VR Acclaim 6 due to a droning noise going up the odd hill. The muffler specialist I was directed to by my mechanic (supposedly reputable) suggested i have the rear muffler replaced as well even though it appeared to be in perfect condition - I think he said it had been made in 2004 or so. I was reluctant but gave in. The car has had limited use over time mainly on the freeway but I moved to the country last year and over the last six months or so I've mainly been driving around town. I do however try to warm the engine and exhaust system up by driving further as it gets really cold here in winter. A few weeks ago I found a small hole in the rear muffler - I was NOT pleased. Tried fixing this with muffler putty but it blew out twice so I bought a roll of 0.3mm aluminium flashing and moulded a piece to the shape of the full muffler base then 'glued' and wired this on - should last quite a while. It occurred to me that the original rear muffler was very likely an original part and that it would have lasted quite a few more years - in addition I suspected the fitter knew this but didn't tell me. Since then an RACV serviceman told me that most mufflers these days just don't last and there is no particular brand he knew that was better. The lady I bought the flashing from at Bunnings also told me that they often use poor quality metal to make their mufflers these days. Has anyone had the same problem, and is there any brand of muffler you can suggest that would last longer than Redback? Thanks.

 

[harrop.senator]

Redbacks usually a good mid to high range exhaust system. They're Australian made with Australian supplied steel.

I rate them much higher than the other cheapies like : Aus made , pex , Berklee and Veo.

My systems at least 5-6 years and on the second car now with no dramas.

 

[Dunlop]

Redbacks usually a good mid to high range exhaust system. They're Australian made with Australian supplied steel.

I rate them much higher than the other cheapies like : Aus made , pex , Berklee and Veo.

My systems at least 5-6 years and on the second car now with no dramas.

Thanks for that - the fitter said that Redback bought out two established companies a few years ago. Was wondering if they might not be what he said they were - the welding on the brackets on the rear muffler is pretty rough. 5-6 years is what I was getting quite some years ago with Swedish made Lukey's on an Alfasud, so we'll see...

 

[shane_3800]

Most companies out source to China I doubt Reback is different.

There are still quality mufflers around though but they're the more pricey units.

Next exhaust I build I'm going to try and mig braze the whole thing from stainless not 304 the 400 stuff that "can" be welded to mild steel. Whenever I've seen 400 stainless welded to mild it rusts like crazy right on the weld and the stainless body looks good with crappy looking welds.

I have a flow master stainless muffler on my 4 cyl run about and I mig brazed that into the system and the braze joints are holding up fine and look great. There is no rust at the joint and I suspect the muffler will last a long time despite it's crappy design.

 

[gtrboyy]

They're ok as a replacement exhaust & quiet...just don't expect them to last years if not regularly driving car.

They do make stuff thinner & cheaper for a few reasons...if they last forever they'd put themselves out of business.

 

[harrop.senator]

Most companies out source to China I doubt Reback is different.

There are still quality mufflers around though but they're the more pricey units.

Next exhaust I build I'm going to try and mig braze the whole thing from stainless not 304 the 400 stuff that "can" be welded to mild steel. Whenever I've seen 400 stainless welded to mild it rusts like crazy right on the weld and the stainless body looks good with crappy looking welds.

I have a flow master stainless muffler on my 4 cyl run about and I mig brazed that into the system and the braze joints are holding up fine and look great. There is no rust at the joint and I suspect the muffler will last a long time despite it's crappy design.

Use a stainless ,multi metal approved wire. I've welded pure mild together with stainless wire and the right gases and it was the only place of the bullbar without rust .

When I've only had mild wire I spray the inside with weld through primer and just tape 10mm either side and use a heatproof paint over the weld.

 

[harrop.senator]

If have proof of outsource there's a claim as they always preach made in Aus.

" Redback 4x4 Exhaust Systems are proudly Australian made in our high tech Melbourne based factory. Despite being one of the oldest exhaust manufacturing companies in Australia our facility has been developed over the past 3 decades into one of the most technologically advanced."


"Redback Performance Exhausts have been produced in Australia for over 20 years and is widely accepted as an industry standard for performance and quality. "

 

[shane_3800]

If have proof of outsource there's a claim as they always preach made in Aus.

" Redback 4x4 Exhaust Systems are proudly Australian made in our high tech Melbourne based factory. Despite being one of the oldest exhaust manufacturing companies in Australia our facility has been developed over the past 3 decades into one of the most technologically advanced."


"Redback Performance Exhausts have been produced in Australia for over 20 years and is widely accepted as an industry standard for performance and quality. "

That only talks of their 4x4 and performance stuff I bet the universal standard stuff is shipped in.

 

[Pollushon]

I used a Redback system on my previous build and it did the job for 6 years, only stopped because the car got written off. Sounded like sh!t but that wasn't the exhaust's fault. It was bolted to an Eco

As far as I know, they are still all made in Australia

 

[vc commodore]

I had a redback muffler on my 6 cyl VC commodore that was 16 years old....It got removed because it broke the rear tailpipe section off, due to breaking the rear tailpipe exhaust hangers and me not replacing them.....The muffler itself didn't have any holes in it.

That was 2 or 3 years ago....I now have a lukey muffler on the car because I needed a new system because of a motor change and the place I went to get the system done had lukeys otherwise I would have gone back to the redback...