Rising Sales Of Walker Premium Mufflers, Assemblies Demonstrate Appeal of Stainless Steel Alternative

Strong growth in sales of Walker Quiet-Flow SS stainless steel mufflers demonstrates the value of offering consumers a premium alternative when recommending replacement exhaust products, according to Tenneco, manufacturer of Walker Emissions Control components.

Sales of Quiet-Flow SS premium mufflers and assemblies have grown 20% in 2015, continuing a trend that began in 2009 when Tenneco converted its Quiet-Flow muffler offering from aluminized steel to stainless steel.

“Quiet-Flow SS is a major success story for the exhaust category because it demonstrates that consumers are willing to spend more on a replacement part when there is a clear and compelling reason,” said John Perrin, director of marketing and engineering, North America Aftermarket, Tenneco. “Many consumers understand the added value of stainless steel in a wide range of products, so recommending Quiet-Flow SS is an excellent way to offer the customer a longer lasting product.”

Featuring 100% 409 stainless steel construction, Walker Quiet-Flow SS mufflers resist rust-out more than three times longer than competitors’ premium aluminized mufflers. In addition, each Quiet-Flow SS unit includes a variety of advanced features engineered to deliver original equipment-style performance and sound. These include louvered tube technology for premium acoustics, domed heads that help reduce radiated noise, spun-locked heads to help resist ruptures due to backfires, durable internal partitions for increased structural integrity and long service life, and a complete internal drainage system that helps prevent condensate acids from collecting between partitions or at the muffler heads. Each unit also features internal tubes that are mechanically joined to the partitions to allow expansion and contraction during temperature changes. This helps eliminate breaking of spot welds and subsequent part distortion and/or noise caused by loose parts.

Tenneco continues to expand the Quiet-Flow SS product line to help parts wholesalers and automotive service professionals address emerging sales and service opportunities.  The company has introduced more than 50 additional Quiet-Flow SS part numbers this year.

“As the premium category grows, we want to be the leader in adding new parts that can help distributors, jobbers and service shops grow their exhaust business,” Perrin said. “The success of Quiet-Flow SS will continue as the market becomes increasingly aware of the significant benefits of upgrading to a longer lasting, better performing, premium product manufactured by one of the world’s leading OE and aftermarket suppliers.”