exhaust piping Options

[99Celica]

I plan on getting 2.25in piping done and i'm able to get a good price since my buddy knows the owners of a muffler shop. They have a good reputation for their work but he said they don't do mandrel bending. Are mandrel bends important on exhaust piping?

Also I read that ebay mufflers and brand name mufflers sound alike but do they give the same performance gains?

Thanks

[GriffGirl]

I think there's also a difference in the way the inside of the mufflers are made... I don't remember the exact terminology, but I remember there was something like glass-pack or something, vs. a different way the insides are made. I believe this is a primary difference between quality mufflers and cheap-o mufflers; mufflers tend to go bad from the inside-out, and the material used in cheaper ones will break down much sooner. Mufflers really don't cost all that much, so IMO I don't think it's worth saving a few bucks on.

Edit: I just realized you're in Cali. You might especially want to research this, as I know your emissions are super strict; the cheap mufflers might not even be legal for you.

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Mar 27, 2008 - 6:45 PM