How often should you repack your silencer?

When it’s gone, your bike gets louder, and its performance degrades. It can happen quickly, too. We know mechanics who recommend new muffler packing after every 10 hours of riding. That could be once a month, or even more frequently.

Should I repack my exhaust?

You should take time to repack your muffler. It’s a recommended maintenance item on both factory and aftermarket exhausts. In addition to the racket they make, blown-out exhaust packing robs you of low-end horsepower. And this isn’t just a dirtbike thing; many street bike exhausts need to be repacked, too.

How long does exhaust packing last?

One of the biggest questions is how often the exhaust packing should be replaced. The answer: when it needs to be. How long the packing lasts depends on the rider, the bike and the quality of the packing. A good rule of thumb for the average rider, though, is about every 20 hours of riding.

How do you know your exhaust pack is bad?

On a 2-stroke the packing will need to be replaced if it is real sooty/oily or charred real bad. 4-strokes you can usually tell when they need repacked when they start to get louder. 4-strokes run hotter and they will sometimes blow a hole through the packing causing them to get louder.

Will repacking my exhaust make it quieter?

From what I’ve been told, the looser the insulation is wrapped, the quieter the exhaust note. But the downside is that it won’t last quite as long as having more insulation tightly wrapped.

How do I remove the silencer from my car?

Note that the silencer is actually held together with a pair of bolts to make repacking easy. FMF does this on many of their mufflers, as well. Disassemble the muffler/silencer. Some have an end cap that removes from the outlet, and some are from the inlet or stinger end. Most units will require one cap to be removed, but not both.

Do you need to repack a 4-stroke motorcycle?

Four-stroke motorcycles need a repack, too, though for different reasons. 4T exhaust temps are lots hotter than their 2T brethren, and the packing in those mufflers burns and vibrates. Strands get broken until they’re small enough that they eventually work their way past the core of the muffler and are blown out of the pipe with your exhaust gas.

Do I need to repack my Dirt Bike exhaust?

In addition to the racket they make, blown-out exhaust packing robs you of low-end horsepower. And this isn’t just a dirtbike thing; many street bike exhausts need to be repacked, too. My anecdotal research has shown that older dirt riders are usually good about repacking.

How do strands get broken on a motorcycle exhaust?

Strands get broken until they’re small enough that they eventually work their way past the core of the muffler and are blown out of the pipe with your exhaust gas. Off-road racers generally are aware of this and repack often. Less performance-oriented street riders, though, are often unaware that their exhaust packing is a consumable item.