Exhaust heat sheild.... do i need it?

[TimboSHO]

The other night i was coming home and hit a 3' deep puddle on a poorly lit section of road going about 40mph. Not only did this scare the living crap out of me, it also ripped the heat sheild off of the front mounts and bent the ground effects on the left side in front of the rear tire back far enough to rub the tire. The trim was easy enough to bend back, but the heat sheild rattles around like crazy! Every time i shift it 'pangs' against the exhaust pipe, as well as every time i go over a bump. Can i just rip the whole thing off without worrying about anything? Or is this piece really important underneath? If it is important, what would be the best way to re-attach it (the front two holes are ripped right out)? Thanks for reading my long post!

<small>[ July 21, 2003, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: TimboSHO ]</small>

 

[Mr Anonymous]

TimboSHO:
The other night i was coming home and hit a 3' deep puddle on a poorly lit section of road going about 40mph. Not only did this scare the living crap out of me, it also ripped the heat sheild off of the front mounts and bent the ground effects on the left side in front of the rear tire back far enough to rub the tire. The trim was easy enough to bend back, but the heat sheild rattles around like crazy! Every time i shift it 'pangs' against the exhaust pipe, as well as every time i go over a bump. Can i just rip the whole thing off without worrying about anything? Or is this piece really important underneath? If it is important, what would be the best way to re-attach it (the front two holes are ripped right out)? Thanks for reading my long post!

Are you talking about one of the heat shields on the cats, or the heat shields on the exhaust manifold? (If it's the exh. man. shields that was one **** of a puddle! eek! ) In either case, those are designed to provide a specific space for cooling airflow between the exhaust component and the shield, so removing them would have a negative effect. Best bet would be to take it to an exhaust shop to be welded back in place. Should be short $$$ as long as there is no other damage besides the shield.

 

[projectSHO89]

Do try to keep them.

Pick up a couple of stainless steel screw-type hose clamps, join them end to end around the heat shield and the pipe/cat, and crank them down tightly. That way you will keep the shield and get rid of the noise.

Steve

 

[NatedawgV8]

Sorry I dont have an answer to your question, but I had another heat shield question of my own..

I have some small particles (look like gravels) between the metal heat shield and the catylitic converters. Are these supposed to be there (perhaps used to be a ceramic liner that's broken up), or are they really gravels?

I think they're contributing to much of the rattle I hear when idling. I'd love to get these things outta there if they're not supposed to be there.


Thanks!

Nathan

 

[SHO--ripper]

You are exactly right about the ceramic material breaking up. Get rid of it! This could cause serious damage to your engine. BTW what part of CT are you from?

 

[projectSHO89]

SHO--ripper:
You are exactly right about the ceramic material breaking up. Get rid of it! This could cause serious damage to your engine. BTW what part of CT are you from?

Uh, no!

He has road gravel caught between the cat EXTERIOR body and the heat shield. The ceramic material is INSIDE the cat body.

Steve

 

[TimboSHO]

This is the heat shield between the resonator and the car chassis, just south of the cats. Is it possible to just screw into the holes that are already there from those clips? I guess i will have a closer look under there when i jack the car up. Thanks for the replies guys.