I was out measuring my ride height & thinking about the buzz from my muffler's heat shield. I really gave a good eye to the low bend of the exhaust just before the muffler. Have any of you heard if this was a concession to fording or deep water running or just an oversight in design.
My muffler shop is going to make something out of the way & better flowing that the stock set up & eliminate the bend... unless it helps with fluid restriction... ( wow I sound like a scientist huh?)

Puzzled Harry

Yup,

That's the factory low point, catches on everything.

I had a custom 2.25" exhaust installed, straightened and lifted up closer to the frame. Untouched on the Rubicon.

No negative results from the change.

I think many of us would like to ask a Mitsubishi engineer about that nice little bend. I have ripped my exhaust out several times, and can attribute damage from that bend atleast once, other times were tail pipe wedged against the ground and not centering the 2.5" suspension lift and having a tire catch the tail pipe. I went straight as well(stock diameter), with a heavy duty and low profile Flowmaster muffler. I have had some issues due to the extra travel from my suspension in rear, and clearence issues, which seem to get tougher with a straight arrangement. There is no question though, that bend has to go!