Let's assume that you have decided to purchase a performance exhaust system. Let's also assume that you already know the benefits of putting a high-performance exhaust system on your truck or SUV: better gas mileage, more horsepower and torque, and a louder, high-performance sound. These high-performance exhaust systems give you all of those benefits by providing less restriction and making it easier for your motor to send it's exhaust gases through the exhaust system.

And just a side note, the following phrases all mean the same thing: cat-back exhaust, high-performance exhaust, high-flow exhaust system, performance exhaust, free-flowing exhaust, aftermarket exhaust, and custom exhaust.

So, now that you already know the benefits of a high-flowing exhaust system, let's talk about the different styles or the different configurations for cat-back exhaust systems.

Single Side Exit
This type of aftermarket exhaust system uses one pipe to vent the exhaust gases from your motor and away from your truck or SUV. Typically, these have an exit location (where the end of the pipe is) just behind the rear, passenger-side wheel. These also generally cost less than a system with two exhaust pipes. Surprisingly, these single pipe systems tend to produce more power than most dual systems

Dual Side Exit
This style of custom exhaust system is quite similar to the Single Side Exit, but uses two pipes to exit the exhaust gases from your truck or SUV instead of one. This means that your engine has less restriction and generally has quicker throttle response. It also lends itself to producing a louder, more aggressive exhaust tone.

Dual Rear Exit
This configuration of high-flow exhaust system uses two pipes to vent the exhaust gases from your motor. This unique design differs from the previous two because the pipes exit out the rear of the vehicle, just under the bumper or roll pan. This free-flowing style of exhaust system has all of the benefits of the Dual Side Exit exhaust but can be perceived as louder because the sound is directed out the rear of your vehicle, directly at the traffic behind you. Depending on how aggressive your driving habits are, this can either be a good thing, or a bad thing. One side note: you may not be interested in this exhaust system if you are towing any kind of trailer because the exhaust gases can leave soot on whatever you're towing.

Extreme Dual Exit or Opposite Side Dual
This style of cat-back exhaust uses two pipes to exit the exhaust gases from your motor but differs from the Dual Rear Exit. The Extreme Dual Exit has one pipe exiting behind each rear tire. This free-flowing exhaust system has all of the same benefits of the other dual systems, but unlike the Dual Rear Exit, it won't leave soot on your trailer.