One of the best possible upgrades for a vehicle is certainly upgrading the performance exhaust parts. There are many types of items available on the market today and you so you can freely choose the product that fits your budget and needs. You can start off by becoming more familiar with the basic parts of an exhaust system – headers, cats, downpipes, mufflers and mid pipes. Each and every one of these items plays a significant role in the exhaust system and can affect its performance.

There are many popular aftermarket brands that manufacture quality exhaust systems like the xforce exhaust. You can choose to go for either single or dual exhaust systems. Single exhaust systems use a single muffler and exhaust pipe, while the dual exhaust system uses two. The dual xforce exhaust systems are naturally pricier, but more effective as well. However, it’s possible to make a dual exhaust system function in the same manner as a single one. This is done so your exhaust looks like a dual exhaust while not costing as much.

Let’s talk about the parts, and see what each one of them does for the performance of your vehicle.

• Header – The primary component of an exhaust system. Aftermarket headers usually have wider pipes to improve air flow.
• Catalytic Converter – Reduces pollution emissions of the vehicle. It’s what makes all performance exhaust systems street legal.
• Downpipe – Furthermore increases the airflow and is one of the most important components in an exhaust for turbocharged vehicles.
• Mid-pipe – It connects the muffler and the catalytic converter.
• Muffler – The end of the exhaust that is responsible for the sound that comes out of the exhaust. It’s possible to find these with silencers which significantly reduce the exhaust system’s volume.

These parts and the exhaust system as a whole can be made from the following three materials: aluminised steel, T304 and T409 stainless steel. Aluminised steel is the most used one on stock exhaust systems. It’s relatively inexpensive and provides the basic performance needs. However, it can rust and corrode over time and doesn’t maintain sheen as good as stainless steel does. The T304 and T409 stainless steel contain chromium and nickel, which makes them rust and corrosion resistant. The difference is, T304 is more lightweight and has significantly more nickel and chromium which make it even more rust and corrosion resistant and help maintain its appearance over years of use and abuse. T304 is the highest grade of stainless steel used for vehicle parts.