A muffler has a pair of spaced baffle plates that each receive a flow tube. The flow tubes have spaced ends such that an intermediate chamber is defined to receive air flow to be dampened. In existing mufflers, a bracket needed to be formed to the desired length to support the two spaced baffle plates. The inventive support tube is cut to the desired length, and then utilized to provide the support between the two baffle plates. The support tube is preferably of a diameter that is much smaller than the flow tubes. The support tube may be deformed to have a blockage preventing flow of air through the support tube.