Can a center muffler go bad?

[supplyguy]

Great drive to Carlisle for the show today, except on final approach what started as a little rattle like a loose bracket on the exhaust became a major racket whenever the engine was under load - very metallic like a shot catalytic converter but I don't have on my '71 of course. As far as I can tell it's coming from the vicinity of the little center muffler. All brackets and connections between the down pipe seem tight. Can these center mufflers fail, and would/could the internals rattle like that?

In addition, getting audible unmuffled engine noise up by the exhaust manifold, diagnosed by a Fiat buddy as a probable blown exhaust gasket. Could these be at all related?

Other than the racket, the car ran strong and enjoyed the day!

[So Cal Mark]

of course the center muffler can go bad, probably has a baffle that has rusted loose and is rattling

[srwilson]

Yep, got the same issue. Ping, ding, ding, rattle, ping, ping. Mines seems worse when idling, but it might be I just can't hear it when I've got my foot in it.

[supplyguy]

So mine finally started rattling a little at idle. Tried to visually (audially?) identify the source while poking under the car and all I know is when I push the front muffler/resonator up toward the floor board, the rattle increases. When I let it back down, it goes away. I cannot say with any certainty it is the front resonator. Before I start swapping out exhaust parts wanted to double check with the experts on any additional thoughts?

[azruss]

If you have loose baffles in one, give it a rap with your fist or a rubber hammer. Should be able to identify the source that way.

[fiat218]

You don't need the resonater, do you?
You can run straight back with a muffler, or can you just use a resonater then pipe it back?

[supplyguy]

I bought a center pipe with center resonator only (no forward) already, as I sometimes foolishly do (buying replacement parts when I have not yet diagnosed the problem). I may try to install tomorrow and see if that helps.