Last month, my friend came to visit, and the sound from his SUV was crazy. I couldn’t help but admire the roar of his machine, which is what we usually called his car.

Listening to him made me want to turn up the volume on my truck even more, but now the tables have turned. Anyway, we are always trying to beat each other, and I had to win this one. After all, I like loud cars.

I thought it would be a good idea to tell you how to make your exhaust sound louder, deeper, and better. So continue reading to find out how to make your car, truck, or SUV louder.

How To Make Your Car, Truck, or SUV Louder

Even though most people like quiet cars, a few like me like loud engines. To do this, you need to change the few parts of your exhaust system that are responsible for making the noise stop. There are resonators, mufflers, and exhaust pipes among these parts.

Here is a list of some of the best and cheapest ways to make your car louder, as well as why you should think about each one:

1. Installing a Performance Muffler

A performance muffler is a piece of equipment that changes the sound to make it louder and more aggressive.

It doesn’t work as well to shut it up. A normal muffler has many chambers and metal plates that all have the same job: to bounce sound waves off of each other until they cancel out.

Less plating is used on a performance muffler, which makes it even more hollow. This makes it easier for sound waves to leave the car. The result is that your truck will make a louder noise.

This also makes it easy for the car’s exhaust gases to get out. This increases the horsepower and overall performance of the car, but not as much as it could.

Performance Mufflers are the Safest Option

Putting a performance muffler on your SUV is the safest way to make it louder. The device is very good at making the sound better and has no bad effects.

When you have a performance muffler, you get the following:

A truck sound that is louder and deeper

Usually lasts longer than five years.

Because it is made of stainless steel, it won’t rust.

Just keep in mind that a performance muffler’s job is to make your engine sound louder, not to make your car go faster.

Also, make sure it’s legal in your state to put one up. It could get too loud and get you in trouble with the law.

Shopping For a Performance Muffler

Look for a performance muffler that makes your car sound better when you’re shopping for one. That’s all there is to it.

Still, you should think about whether you want one with a quiet, cool sound, one that is very loud, or one that sounds like a tractor. Even if you don’t believe it, you can choose any of these.

The prices are different for each type of car. But a good device made by a reputable company should cost you about $80.

2. Introducing Cold Air Intake

The cold air intake is a cool way to make your truck sound better.

It works based on the idea that when your car takes in cold air, it runs better. Cold air has more oxygen and is denser, which makes it easier for things to burn.

Strangely enough, cold air intake leads to better airflow, which makes your car sound better. It might not have much of an effect, but the sound will definitely get better. The sound it makes is beautiful.

Cold Air Intake Produces a Unique Sound

The cold air intake makes a small difference in how your SUV sounds. But you’ll be able to hear a sound that no other device can make.

Some of the good things about it are:

It produces a unique car sound upon acceleration

It makes your engine look interesting.

It gives the engine more power.

Just make sure you get a good cold air intake if you want the sound to be louder. It might be pricey compared to other ways to improve the sound, but it’s a lot cheaper than turbos, exhausts, and other performance upgrades.

3. Removing the Muffler

Taking off the muffler is an old way to make your car sound louder, but it still works!

It means removing this whole thing from your car’s exhaust pipe and putting a pipe in its place. Usually, the pipe is attached to the exhaust by welding.

When you take off the muffler, your car sounds louder and more angry.

But it’s not legal in all states to get rid of your muffler. For example, in California, you have to have a device in your car that blocks out very loud sounds.

Luckily, most cars have both a muffler and a resonator. So, technically, taking off the muffler won’t be against the law.

To be safe, make sure your car has both, so that if you take out the muffler, you can still control the sound with the resonator.

Muffler Removal Is a Cheap Option

After cutting off the muffler, your car will sound much better. You can also do it yourself. But it will cost you a few dollars to buy a pipe that you can weld into the space where the muffler used to be.

In general, removing the muffler is one way to make your truck louder and save money at the same time.

4. Installing a Resonator Exhaust Tip

The way a performance muffler works is the opposite of how a resonator exhaust tip works. As we’ve already said, a muffler makes sound waves bounce off each other and cancel each other out.

When you put on a resonator exhaust tip, the sound waves start to vibrate, and as they bounce off each other, the sound gets louder.

Installing a resonator exhaust tip is pretty easy; you just hook or clip it to the end of your exhaust pipe.

A Resonator Exhaust Tip Gives Your Car a Better Appearance

A cheap way to make your car louder is to add a resonator to the end of the exhaust pipe.

When you use this device, you get the following:

All states let you do it.

Very inexpensive. It costs only about $30.

It makes your car look more valuable. Everyone will keep looking at your truck because everyone can see the device.

Simple to set up. You only have to attach it to the end of your exhaust pipe.

Most people have resonator exhaust tips, especially those who own Subarus. The sound isn’t too loud, but it sounds better—more aggressive and deep.

At such a low price, this deal for your car is definitely a good one. You can choose from many different brands. Just make sure you get the right size for your car and enjoy the loud sound it makes.

5. Drilling Holes in the Exhaust

I later found out that this is what my friend did to make his SUV really loud. It’s a pretty good way to do things.

But how does it work?

Well, the plan is to make a few holes in the exhaust pipe near the muffler. Some sound waves will get out of your car before the muffler can stop them. The sound will get louder as a result, but not too loud.

Of course, not all waves will leave before they hit the muffler, so there will still be some quieting.

It’s important to remember that with this method, you have to be careful about where you drill.

How to Approach the Drilling

As I said before, the holes should be right in front of the muffler.

Also, you must be careful that the holes don’t get in the way of the catalytic converter. If they don’t, your car could end up putting harmful gases into the air when the engine burns.

Also, make sure that the holes are drilled past the O2 sensor. If you do this, the sensor won’t get the wrong reading and waste fuel.

Also, follow these steps while drilling:

Use a drill and a 3/8-inch drill bit to make 3 to 6 holes in the end of your exhaust pipe, right before the muffler.

Make sure this is past the O2 sensor and the catalytic converter to keep the drilling from causing other problems.

Even though drilling holes is a quick and easy way to make your car louder, there is one thing I don’t like about it. These holes can speed up rusting, which can damage your exhaust pipe in the long run.

So, if you don’t have any money but still want your truck to sound louder, this is a free way to do it. And the effect is felt right away.

6. Replacing the Cat-Back System With an Improved One

The catalytic converter is the first part of a cat-back system in the exhaust pipe. It goes all the way to the end of the pipe. If you change the cat-back system, you can make your car’s exhaust sound louder.

The flow of the new system should be easy. Since the new system has a bigger diameter and fewer restrictions, the back pressure goes down. Because of this, the sound gets louder, making even more noise.

You Cough Out More

If you want to make your SUV louder, replacing the cat-back system will cost you a lot of money. When you’re doing it for the first time, the parts can be expensive.

Also, you can’t do it yourself, which means you’ll have to pay a mechanic to do it.

Remember that most states have laws that say you can’t change the cat-back system to cut down on pollution. So, make sure you don’t break the law when you try to make your car’s exhaust sound better.

When the cat-back system is changed, the sound gets really loud. Even though it makes your truck load bigger, it’s a good choice if you can afford it.

7. Forced Induction

Your car will also be louder if it has a forced induction system. But you’ll have to dig deeper into your pockets.

You can get superchargers if you like the sound of a whine. How loud your car sounds will depend on how you set up the system.

You can also spend a lot of money and buy a turbocharger for your truck. But keep in mind that not all cars can work with turbochargers, so check to see if yours can before deciding on this choice.

A turbocharger not only makes your SUV sound louder, but it also makes it go faster.

If your car can fit a turbocharger or another system that forces air into the engine, then you can do it. If you can’t have one, then you should think about other options.

8. Install Headers

Putting a set of headers on your car instead of the restrictive exhaust manifold can make a big difference.

This kind of change speeds up the flow of your exhaust. Also, the headers get rid of the noise insulation, which makes the sound louder and more aggressive.

Headers have larger-diameter tubes or collectors, which also helps make the sound louder.

You can install either the long-tube or the short-tube headers.

I’d recommend long-tube headers because they give you more power, even though they’re harder to install and usually cost more than short-tube headers.

Still, short-tube headers aren’t really that bad. The goal here is to make your SUV sound louder, which they do pretty well, and they also improve your car’s performance.

You’ll save a few dollars if you choose this option.

9. Unclog the Exhaust Pipe

Sometimes, your exhaust pipe may not make as much noise as you’d like or as it did before. In this case, check the pipes to make sure there are no clogs.

If you see clogs, you should clear them out by unclogging the tube. You never know, it might make your exhaust system sound better.

Most people don’t realise how much cleaning the exhaust pipes can change the sound of their truck. But I can promise you that it works well and that it shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to finish the job.

Before you try any of the other things on my list of ways to make your car, truck, or SUV louder, you might want to try this and see how it changes the sound of your car. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

10. Install a Larger Engine

If you want that brand-new exhaust system sound—you know, that loud, throaty roar as you speed down the road—a new engine would be the biggest change you could make.

Your car might sound too quiet right now, and that’s probably because the engine isn’t big enough to make the roar you want.

Not only will a bigger engine make more noise, but it will also have more power. You might be able to go faster, ride more smoothly, and make more noise in general.

But before you spend thousands of dollars, make sure the engine you’re looking at will work with your car. After all, not all of your parts might be able to handle a bigger engine.