i took my muffler off for about two weeks and i loved the sound, but my parents say i wont pass emissions therefore making it illegal. i thought as long as the cats are still on your in the clear. can someone please give me a definite answer? thanks

 

Mufflers have nothing to do with emissions, technically. They are strictly there for sound abatement and to "tune" the exhaust for optimal performance of the engine. As long as your cats and all other emissions components are connected you won't have a problem unless your state has a problem with the sound. The performance mufflers are "tuned" to your JK and you will most likely, actually, have better performance and sound if you utilize one or two. There are a ton out there. You tube it and take your pick. In performance street vehicles a well tuned exhaust system, including some type of muffler, will actually make the vehicle perform better. You're not running a hot rod with open headers. They're not 100% wrong. However, you're more right than they are. Get a good quality muffler(s) and you'll probably like the way your JK performs and sounds better, even if you don't get any more hp out of it. Your vehicle is not tuned to run totally open. The cats do restrict the flow of exhaust and the type of muffler attempts to enhance the flow through back pressure. Back pressure is a good thing for most vehicles not designed to race. Engineers and after market companies spend a lot of time on R&D for their exhaust sytems.

 

Thanks for the detail! Sadly my jeep budget is at 0$ right now so I wont be able to purchase a new exhaust, but I'll definitely start to look around and save up!? I agree about staying below 3000 rpms, that's when it sounds best and it'll save a little gas

 

What emissions test are you trying to pass? Have you moved from Georgia? I bet I know a dozen people that are not running a muffler or cats down here.

 

Its going to depend on who inspects it The emision rules state you cant modify the exhaust from stock and it cant be missing or have altered parts . Most places arent going to give you a hard time if you chang out your stock muffler for a different one but not haveing one at all might raise some red flags to the guy doing the inspection after all its his licenes on the line . Id put the old one back on for inspection and then pull it back off when done.