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Are cherry bomb mufflers legal? And what do they do?
A friend of mine recommended I get a cherry bomb muffler for the WRX I just bought. But I don’t actually know what a cherry bomb muffler even is. And are cherry bomb mufflers legal, even?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A cherry bomb muffler, also known as a glass pack muffler, is designed to wipe out the higher frequency sounds from your exhaust, leaving your car sounding throaty and grumbly like an old-school muscle car.
These mufflers ditch the resonating chamber found in most mufflers and instead use a straight pipe with fiberglass packing, resulting in their mean sound.
But are cherry bomb mufflers legal? Yes and no. It really depends on the car and the noise levels you’re emitting, and the state you’re in. Acceptable noise levels vary from one state to the next, and some engines are going to be a lot louder than others.
In most states, muffler laws boil down to the volume level of the muffler. Some states, like New York, say you aren’t allowed to remove your muffler or modify it so it’s louder than the stock muffler. Others like California set an exact decibel level (95 dbA in California) your muffler can’t legally exceed.
You’ll want to take some time to research your state’s muffler laws, and learn just how a cherry bomb muffler will impact the sound levels of your car. Also, please be kind to your neighbors. They aren’t going to be impressed by the new noise levels. You don’t want to be that guy.
Know what else is illegal in most states? Driving without
liability insurance
. And if you bought your car on a car loan, your lender most likely requires you to have comprehensive coverage
, too.Don’t get stuck overpaying for
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