Chevy Silverado 1500 Cat-Back Exhaust Buyer's Guide
Chevrolet, Silverado 1500
Ten Cat-Back exhaust systems for the Chevy Silverado 1500, compared on claimed gains, construction, and the fitment details that actually cause returns.
Plan your own version of this build in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 builder: pick your year and engine, stack parts that fit, and watch the labeled gains and the total cost add up.
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. Prices are the same for you. Full disclosure
# Chevy Silverado 1500 Cat-Back Exhaust Buyer's Guide
A cat-back exhaust replaces everything from the catalytic converter rearward: the mid-pipe, the muffler, and the tips. On a Silverado 1500 it's usually the first bolt-on a lot of owners do, because it's reversible if you keep the stock system in the garage, and it changes how the truck sounds and feels even on the trucks where the box doesn't promise a horsepower number. RideBuildList earns commissions from some retailer links.
Ten systems made this list, one per brand with real stock listed for the Silverado 1500 right now. Here's how they stack up before you spend anything.
| Brand | What it claims | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Corsa Performance Sport 3.0in Cat-Back Exhaust, Dual Rear Exit, Factory Bezels (147in WB) | +17 hp / +15 lb-ft, claimed | Corsa sells more wheelbase- and trim-specific part numbers than anyone else here, including separate turndown versions for ZR2/AT4X. Pull your wheelbase off the door jamb sticker before ordering. |
| Flowmaster FlowFX Cat-Back Exhaust System, Dual Exit, Rear Exit | +21 hp / +26 lb-ft, claimed | The highest claimed gain on this list. Dual rear exit, true bolt-on per the listing. |
| Gibson Performance Exhaust Cat-Back Dual Extreme Exhaust System, Stainless | +10-15 hp / +15-20 lb-ft, claimed | Stainless construction, priced toward the lower half of this group. |
| aFe Power Vulcan Series 3in Stainless Steel Cat-Back Exhaust System, Polished Tips | +5 hp / +6 lb-ft, claimed | The smallest claimed gain here. Polished stainless tips if looks matter as much as sound. |
| AWE Tuning 0FG Cat-Back Exhaust, Split Rear Exit, OE-Style Tips | No figure published | Split rear exit with OE-style tips. The listing doesn't call out cab configuration, so confirm wheelbase fit before you buy. |
| Borla Exhaust S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System, Carbon Fiber Tips, Rear Exit | No figure published | Borla's catalog splits this system by engine (5.3L vs 6.2L) and by wheelbase. Match the part number to your exact engine and bed length, not just your model year. |
| MBRP Exhaust Installer Series 2.5in Cat-Back Exhaust, Street Profile, Dual Rear Exit (Aluminized) | No figure published | The cheapest full system on this list. Aluminized construction rather than stainless, which affects how long it holds up to road salt. |
| MagnaFlow Exhaust Products Street Series Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System | No figure published | MagnaFlow sells other cat-back systems for this same truck that do carry a claimed gain in the catalog but no hp/tq figure attached to the record. Ask the retailer to confirm any gain claim before you buy on the strength of it. |
| Pacific Performance Engineering (PPE) 2014-2018 GM Silverado/Sierra 1500 4.3L/5.3L Cat-Back Exhaust System - Single Exit | No figure published | The only single-exit system on this list, and PPE also sells a resonator delete for this truck if a full cat-back is more than you want to spend. |
| Volant 2014-2017 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 V8 Crew Cab/Short Bed + Double Cab/Standard Bed Volant Performance Cat Back Exhaust | No figure published | Sold by exact cab and bed combination (crew cab/short bed, double cab/standard bed, regular cab/long bed). Get this wrong and the system won't line up. |
What actually separates these systems
Horsepower and torque claims are the first thing people ask about, and they're the least reliable way to pick between these ten. Four brands in this group publish a claimed gain, and none of them tested it the same way or against the same baseline, so a claimed number from one brand isn't directly comparable to a claimed number from another. Six brands here publish no figure at all for the Silverado 1500 fitment, which isn't unusual for a cat-back; a lot of manufacturers only chase a dyno number on their flagship systems and leave the rest of the lineup unrated.
What actually separates these systems in daily use is construction (aluminized versus stainless, which shows up over years of Texas summers and winter road treatment), exit style (dual versus single, and where the tips land relative to the bumper), and how loud they are at idle versus under load. None of that shows up in a spec sheet. If sound matters to you as much as the claimed numbers, look for video or audio clips from the specific part number you're buying, not just the brand's reputation, because the same brand's Sport and Street tiers can sound very different from each other.
Fitment is the real risk here, not horsepower
Every one of these ten systems is built for the Silverado 1500, but "fits the Silverado 1500" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Before you buy any cat-back on this list, check:
- Your engine. Borla and a few others split their part numbers by 5.3L versus 6.2L, and ordering the wrong one means a system that physically won't bolt up.
- Your wheelbase. Corsa in particular sells separate 147-inch and 157-inch wheelbase systems, plus different versions again for the ZR2 and AT4X trims. Your door jamb sticker has this number; your gut feeling about your truck's size does not.
- Your cab and bed combination. Volant's systems are sold by crew cab/short bed, double cab/standard bed, and regular cab/long bed as three separate part numbers. A system built for the wrong combination will not line up at the hangers.
- Your model year range. Several of these systems, especially from Borla, are tied to a specific model year window rather than the full run of this generation. A couple years outside that window and the fitment isn't guaranteed even on the same engine.
None of this is a knock on any of these brands. It's just how cat-back systems work on a truck that's been built across multiple engines, bed lengths, and trims for over a decade. The return rate on exhaust systems is almost always a fitment problem, not a quality problem, and matching your exact spec before you click buy is the single best thing you can do to avoid a return shipping bill.
The legal question, and it is a real one
A cat-back exhaust doesn't touch the catalytic converter itself, which is the part most federal emissions rules are built around. That said, states and some cities do regulate exhaust noise and modified exhaust systems on their own, separate from federal emissions law, and those rules vary by where you live and drive. This isn't legal advice, and nothing here should be read as a statement that any of these systems is street legal in your area. If a listing claims CARB compliance or an EO number, that claim belongs to the manufacturer or seller, not to RideBuildList, and it's worth confirming directly with them and, if you want certainty, with an attorney familiar with your state's vehicle code before you install anything.
Bottom line
If you want the highest claimed number on paper, the Flowmaster system above leads this list. If you want the brand with the deepest bench of trim-specific part numbers, so there's a real chance there's an exact match for your truck, Corsa and Borla both fit that description here. If you're buying on budget alone, the cheapest full system on this list is the one from MBRP. Whichever you pick, confirm engine, wheelbase, and cab/bed combination against your own truck first. That's a five-minute check against your door jamb sticker, and it's cheaper than a restocking fee.