1998.5-2002 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Mufflers

Mufflers on the 1998.5-2002 RAM 5.9L Cummins

The factory exhaust on the 24-valve 5.9L Cummins runs from the turbo's cast elbow into the downpipe, then out a single tailpipe with one muffler. Complete turbo-back kits for the second-gen Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500, such as the 4-inch T409 stainless and 5-inch-with-4-inch-downpipe systems, are sold with the muffler included. A standalone muffler is what you buy when you are building or repairing a system yourself, changing diameter, or changing the sound.

When to replace one

Because no muffler failure pattern is documented on this truck, the reasons to replace one are practical: physical damage, a system you are piecing together, or a tone you want to change. If what you are chasing is a ticking that climbs with engine speed, the usual suspect is upstream. Cracking at the exhaust manifold, from heat cycling, is this engine's documented exhaust failure, so check there before you buy a muffler.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

Sizing comes first. Match the muffler's inlet and outlet to your pipe: 4-inch for a 4-inch system, 5-inch for a 5-inch one. Then choose the sound. MBRP's Quiet Tone mufflers are named for what they do, the Armor Plus 5-inch is sold as a high flow muffler, and the resonators shape the tone alongside a muffler. Material is the last call: the plain universal 4-inch and 5-inch mufflers here are 409 stainless, and the diesel resonators come in aluminized or stainless steel. The towing gains documented for these trucks, less turbo lag, more torque and lower EGT, are credited to an aftermarket exhaust as a whole, so think of the muffler as one piece of that system rather than an upgrade on its own.

What we carry

Everything in this group is from MBRP: universal 409 stainless mufflers in 4-inch and 5-inch, Quiet Tone mufflers in a 4-inch universal and a 5-inch Armor Lite version, the GP290022 Armor Plus 5-inch high flow muffler, the M20681 Armor Lite resonator muffler, and MBRP's diesel resonators in aluminized and stainless steel. For pipe, tips, clamps and the rest of the system, see the main exhaust section.

Fitment notes

Most of these are universal mufflers, so fitment comes down to diameter and length rather than a truck-specific bracket. Measure your pipe and the space where the muffler hangs before you order. The 1998.5-2002 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 came as regular cab, Club Cab and Quad Cab with wheelbases from 118.7 to 154.7 inches, and every 3500 of this era is a long-bed dually, so the room available differs from truck to truck. Verify by VIN, or call us for help matching a muffler to your system.

Frequently asked questions

Do mufflers fail on the 24-valve Cummins?

No muffler-specific failure pattern is documented for the 1998.5-2002 trucks. Replace one when it is damaged, when you change pipe size, or when you want a different sound. If you hear ticking that rises with rpm, the exhaust manifold is the usual suspect.

What size muffler fits my truck?

Match the muffler to your pipe. Turbo-back systems for these trucks come in 4-inch, and in 5-inch with a 4-inch downpipe. The MBRP mufflers here are offered in both 4-inch and 5-inch.

What is the difference between a resonator and a muffler?

Both shape exhaust sound. A muffler does most of the quieting, while a resonator is a smaller can used alongside a muffler to tune the tone. MBRP's diesel resonators come in aluminized and stainless steel, and the M20681 Armor Lite is a resonator muffler that combines the two jobs.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.