The Chrome Delete Guide: How to Black Out the Exhaust Tips on Your Silverado RST
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You bought a Silverado 1500 RST or Trail Boss because you absolutely loved the color-matched bumpers and the aggressive black grille.
It’s the perfect modern "sport truck" look.
Except for one glaring thing.
Sticking directly out of that beautiful, color-matched rear bumper are two bright, cheap-looking chrome rectangles. On a blacked-out or color-matched truck, they stick out like a sore thumb.
You want to fix it, but you look underneath and realize you can't just unbolt them.
On the 2019+ Silverado equipped with the integrated bumper, the exhaust tips aren't really tips at all—they are plastic-housed Bezels aggressively clipped directly into the bumper step pad.
You have two options to fix this:
- Paint them: (Cheap, but usually peels and blisters rapidly due to exhaust heat).
- Replace them: (The right way). Premium brands like Borla manufacture direct replacement bezels in highly durable Black Chrome or Carbon Fiber.
In this guide, we show you exactly how to safely pop out those factory chrome squares without breaking the bumper tabs, and snap in a set of premium black bezels to finally finish your chrome delete.
Compare Premium Tip Styles
Clamp-On Aggression or Bezel Replacement?
|
Tip Style |
Top Brands |
Function |
Best For |
|
Replacement Bezels |
Borla |
Aesthetics. |
RST / Trail Boss. Directly replaces the factory chrome rectangles in the rear bumper with aggressive black or carbon fiber rings. |
|
Clamp-On Round Tip |
MBRP / aFe |
Style. |
WT / Custom. Easily slides right over the factory side-exit pipe and clamps down in 10 minutes. |
|
Weld-On Tip |
MagnaFlow |
Security. |
Theft Prevention. A permanent, professional installation. Offers a cleaner look with no visible clamp hardware. |
|
Dual Wall / Intercooled |
Borla / MBRP |
Quality. |
Durability. Resists heat discoloration. Looks significantly thicker, heavier, and more expensive than cheap single-wall tips. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Exhaust Tips)
My Silverado has the rectangular exhaust cutouts. Can I put round tips on it?
Not easily, without custom work.
The factory "tip" you see on these trucks is actually a rectangular bezel mounted to the plastic bumper step pad, not the exhaust pipe itself.
- The Upgrade: You can buy premium Aftermarket Bezels (from brands like Borla) that snap perfectly into the factory location but change the look to Black Chrome or Carbon Fiber.
- The Custom Route: Some owners cut the factory bezels out entirely and pay an exhaust shop to weld large 5-inch round tips to the pipe, but this requires custom fabrication to center them perfectly in the bumper holes so they don't melt the plastic.
What size clamp-on tip fits the 5.3L Silverado?
Usually a 3-inch Inlet.
Most 5.3L V8 Silverados (2019+) feature a 2.75-inch tailpipe that flares slightly at the very end. A generic 3-inch Inlet tip from MBRP or aFe Power will usually slide cleanly over it and clamp down securely.
(Note: Always measure your specific tailpipe's outer diameter with a caliper before ordering, as GM occasionally varies pipe diameter by year and exact trim level).
Will a black exhaust tip peel or flake off?
Cheap paint will. Premium Ceramic won't.
Exhaust gas is incredibly hot and highly corrosive.
- Avoid: Cheap, spray-painted tips from local auto parts stores. They will blister and flake within a single winter.
- Buy: Tips from our catalog featuring High-Temp Ceramic Coating or Black Chrome plating. These premium finishes are chemically designed to withstand extreme heat and corrosive winter road salt.
Finish the black-out.
Ditch the cheap chrome and perfectly match your bumper. Shop our verified collection of premium 2019–2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 Exhaust Tips.