Thinking about the "drone"

[TFucili]

I just read several pages of old threads regarding the drone. I recently installed a replacement muffler on my '05, and while it's pretty quiet inside, there are instances where I get that sounding board effect. I have a feeling that with the trailer behind it there will be times where I will hover in that range that's momentary when empty.



I read a thread about fastening angle iron to try to tune the frequency so it is out of range. I was wondering if anyone has tried just "weighting" the much lighter aftermarket muffler back to the weight of the stocker. The stocker weighs a ton compared to the replacement. Thinking just the weight will deaden the resonance. Good use for an old suitcase weight from a compact tractor?



Sorry if this is "old hat".

 

[macdaddy]

TF



Are you still running the cat?.



I have mine str8 piped with the cat, been that way since it had 200 miles. You get a drone either towing or empty, more noticeable towing of coarse. However the drone is totally acceptable.



It seems to be short lived in that you have to have the throttle in just the right spot at just the right RPM then it goes away. With my truck and load on the "Grapevine" which is a big climb out of so ca. If I go right to 5th and start the pull, the truck will settle into the sweet spot (TPS and RPM) to where the drone is not annoying.



Mac

 

[TFucili]

I kept the cat. I'm not really complaining at this point as I've only seen very brief moments of what could be heard as mild drone. As long as it's not substantially worse under load I won't look any further. It's more hypothetical, you know, just driving along thinking about it. The sign of a sick mind, I'm sure

 

[Buffalo]

I have a smaller than usual, 20" Magnaflow muffler on my '03 with no cat. It has a loud drone, at times, especially when towing, uphill. It's only in a certain rpm range with a certain amount of throttle being applied. When it's there, it's loud!

I've read of people eliminating it, successfully by adding an additional, small muffler, in line.

The drone I have does not bother me enough to do something about it.



Joe F. (Buffalo)