Hi All,
our 2002 AWD S60 (160k miles)has a hard life on rutted muddy roads and snowy/salty interstate. Recently (January this year) there was a slight 'twang' (and a slight leaky sound)emitted at start up and when you revved the car while stationery. I assumed (and was hoping) that it was a loose clamp...

Just last weekend it turned into a loud steady unpleasant drone. When we got it up on a lift we couldn't see a loose clamp or an obvious hole. When we started the car you could hear that the noise was coming from the muffler in the middle of the car (the resonator?).

When I looked on line at TASCA and FCP Groton I saw parts that replaced this middle section. BUT my question is when I looked at the stock exhaust it seemed to be ONE PIECE all the way to the rear (very oddly shaped) muffler. How would we cut and insert the replacement part is there a kit or something? This seems odd to me.

Any advice is welcome,

Rod

I was looking under our V70 the other day and saw that the front muffler was rotting a little by the front seam. The exhaust system is one piece. If you have a wire feed welder you can probably cut the old muffler out and weld in a new one. Otherwise, I think you are in for a complete cat-back exhaust system.

Greg

Hi Greg,
Yes that is what ours looks like and we may go the route you suggest.

What is odd is that when I look at the diagram at the Tasca web-site they show components that separate the resonator from the very expensive odd-shaped rear muffler. I am wondering if they changed the way the system was made subsequently.

Here is the Tasca link:

http://www.tascaparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=213668&chapter=&Sectionids=0,2489&groupid=2490&subgroupid=51841&componentid=0&make=36&model=S60&year=2002&graphicID=9715430&callout=8&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

(sorry I don't know how to make this a hot link in this message system).

My question for anybody is what would happen if we just put in straight pipe? My understanding is that the function of the long muffler is as a resonator.

BTW our muffler has no signs of impact damage (common on our roads) but does show evidence of the outer layer peeling off at the top which is too bad. I am thinking that given the miles and conditions it is not too bad.

Rod