Article by John Brady (JBrady)

Several people have asked about my "muffler delete" mod. I thought I would help clarify this by posting pics of the stock system and showing where to remove the mufflers.

BTW, this is on my 1999 LS400 but is VERY similar for all LS400s and in fact SC400s/Soarers.

Tools: vise grips, 12mm socket wrench.

Step one: safely raise the rear of the car (jack stands, ramps, lift).

Two: loosen but do not remove the 12mm bolt in each of the 2 band clamps between the silencers and rear mufflers (see pic)

Notice the piping under the band clamps is split. Once the hanger is loose you need to wiggle the muffler side to side and up and down to slightly expand the split pipe under the clamp.

Next: take the vise grips and snugly grip and lock over the rubber "O" ring shown to the left in the below picture (this is the left side, on the right side it is opposite). Pull the "O" ring down and off the metal bracket on the muffler. The ring will stay on the car. This is NOT easy as the ring is strong rubber so be careful. Once this ring is off the muffler will drop slightly and the other ring will be removed from the car and stay on the mufflers bracket.

Now: as stated above, wiggle the muffler back and forth and up and down to expand the split piping at the clamp. With some work and twisting the muffler will slide off. Do this on both sides. Your car will now have the "muffler delete mod"

I personally leave it like this. The silencers become the "final" mufflers and do a surprising job of quieting the car. Noise levels go up only slightly. Car will sound stronger but not LOUD. You could reduce in car sound by having a muffler shop make extentions from the silencers. For me it is not an issue. You decide.

It is difficult to say if this mod increases power measureably, maybe a couple horsepower, the rest of the system is just too restrictive BUT you definitely save weight and sound stronger.

Here is a pic showing the open silencers