OEM Muffler going bad?

Gentlemen - I purchased my ‘03 new and about once a year or so, I will spray the exhaust / muffler with VHT High Temp Aluminum color spray paint. This is the original muffler.
I noticed near the top where the horizontal seam is located that it appears to be bulging. I shook the muffler but there is no sound of rust or the insides rattling. I also took a rubber mallet and gently tapped on it but it’s solid.
Truck doesn’t sound different.
Is this a sign that the muffler will need replacing soon??

 

The seam of my last muffler was completely burst open. So I replaced it.

So...yes?


Not sure what the cause is.

 

Appreciate the response. Yeah I was afraid of that. I’m gonna keep an eye on it for now.

 

The thing you want to avoid is exhaust gases blowing onto frame/body, which will accelerate corrosion.

I brought mine to a local muffler shop and they cut off the old, welded on a new one, and disposed of the old one for ~$100.

I looked at some of the complete stock replacement systems from walker and others and wasn't satisfied that the quality was any good. We'll see how the no name economy muffler holds up

 

The thing you want to avoid is exhaust gases blowing onto frame/body, which will accelerate corrosion.

Excellent point. I didn’t think about that.

 

I completely disagree.

If you have no change in sound, then there is no need to change it.

You can buy a complete muffler from the cat back to the tail pipe for around $180. There are only 2 bolts to replace and 1 exhaust gasket and 1 02 sensor gasket to replace.

That muffler is fine.

 

I wouldn't change it yet either. But, if that's the original from '03, then it sure doesn't owe you much.
Jeff

 

Like I said I’ll keep an eye on it. 0xDEADBEEF brought up a good point though about the exhaust possibly coming through. Next time I change the oil I’m going to check and make sure the exhaust isn’t coming through.

 

that is a new one for me!
never heard of it before, my muffler seam i guess split but not sure if it was due to the winter slop sitting on top, I tried not to hose that off when it is hot or maybe i did and just made it worse

 

What first got me on to it was a read about a guy who had a hole in the top of his muffler and it put a rust spot, and eventually a hole, through his bed.

My muffler was split when I got the truck and the floor seam in that side of the bed was all rusted out, while the other side was perfectly fine. Now that it's all fixed up I hope it stays that way.

My only guess as to why the seam splits is that there might be some batting material in them that is swelling by taking on water. Not sure though.

 

OP just run it to it fails .

Then get it fixed .

Sure if you have hot exhaust coming out of a hole hitting one spot it will burn down to bare metal and allow things to rust.

Dumping exhaust behind the cab on trucks has been done for years

I gotta say I like my Walker Exhaust you can get them most anyplace in the country nothing like being at the mercy of an Exhaust shop 1000 miles from home with a failed exhaust system.

Replace that muffler " We should be able to for around $300.00"