[atalarico]

Hey all,



I was offroad a bit today and suddenly something started making a terrible noise. I got underneath and there's a silver metal shield type thing that is unsecured and hitting my driveshaft.



Now, I searched and found the other "heat shield" people talk about, but this isn't the same one.



Just curious what this is, if I need it, how I take it off, etc.



Thanks!

Edited to add; I think it’s a catalytic converter cover?

[y=mx+b]

I had the same thing happen to me while driving home from work this summer. Kind of a scary noise for what it actually is. Like you mentioned, its a heat shield of some sort. The bolts had rattled their holes a bit bigger than the head, so I just ripped it out. I have it in my garage and its in one piece, eventually I may put it back on with some fender washers. I read on some other forum that it will just make the floor of the rear seats a bit warmer, but I haven't noticed anything significant.

edit: looking back at the picture, this does seem farther up than mine was. Mine was closer to the rear and over the muffler, but it could have just ridden the driveshaft back there. If you're really worried about it, I would just slap some fender washers on the bolts so they don't open their holes up any more.

[RemyRunner]

Mine did that last year, when the aluminum corroded away. I cut a couple of pieces of aluminum, around 2"x2" and used them as washers and reinstalled it.

10 min fix. Should be good for another 10 years.

[atalarico]

I don't think we're talking about the same part. I got a better look at this morning, since the first photo I took was at night in the rain.

It's a metal shroud/shield that goes around what I think is a catalytic converter. There's a tab that attaches it to the cat, and it rusted off (I looked at the one on the other cat on the passenger side for confirmation of this).

I'm wondering if I need it, and if not, how I go about removing it. It looks like it's a clamshell kind of deal, so either I have to bend some metal back, or invite my friend over with his cutting wheel.

Thanks!

Edited to add: I wedged it really hard back upward to at least get me around town until I figure out what to do about it permanently. I have no doubt it'll just come down again once I hit rougher roads.

[y=mx+b]

Originally Posted by atalarico

I don't think we're talking about the same part. I got a better look at this morning, since the first photo I took was at night in the rain.

It's a metal shroud/shield that goes around what I think is a catalytic converter. There's a tab that attaches it to the cat, and it rusted off (I looked at the one on the other cat on the passenger side for confirmation of this).

Ah I see now. Yes, I was talking about the dimply shield thing behind all that. I see what you mean about the clam shell type deal. I have not run into anything with that before, but I can see from the first pic how it can touch the driveshaft. I don't really have any experience with the cat heat shield, but I can look under mine and see if I still have one. I think i might have a few more crusties under my car, so theres a good chance the previous owner might have run into an issue with that tab rusting off and had removed.

[sonicc]

I don't know how it is on the 4Runner, but usually you have to kinda cut the shield open. I'd first try to fix it so it's not rattling, as it is a heat shield.

[atalarico]

Originally Posted by sonicc

I don't know how it is on the 4Runner, but usually you have to kinda cut the shield open. I'd first try to fix it so it's not rattling, as it is a heat shield.

Yeah, I took a closer look and there is a tab that goes from the cat to the shield, and it has rusted off. I looked at the passenger side one and I can see the tab clearly.

So I think it has to come off since there isn't a way to secure it back there without it coming lose again.

[sonicc]

One thing I forgot to mention, maybe you could put a big clamp to hold it tight? Like one of those larger worm clamps for ducting.

[atalarico]

Originally Posted by sonicc

One thing I forgot to mention, maybe you could put a big clamp to hold it tight? Like one of those larger worm clamps for ducting.

That's not a bad idea actually. I'd have to get a clamp that can get tight enough to almost dent the metal (but not actually dent it). Hmm....

[y=mx+b]

Originally Posted by sonicc

One thing I forgot to mention, maybe you could put a big clamp to hold it tight? Like one of those larger worm clamps for ducting.

I do like this idea a lot. Lets you keep the heat shield in tact. My thoughts were to drill a small hole and use some metal tying wire to string it up, but this is way better. I'll still check mine after work and get back to you on whether I still have one.

[atalarico]

Quick update: I removed the heat shield by pressing it together since it was sort of clam shelled. The top of it looked like it had been hacked away by the shop that installed in my DT headers. Whether or not that was just a contribution or a cause is TBD since the attachment tabs rusting was probably unrelated.

I wrapped exhaust style heat wrap stuff around it Amazon.com: LEDAUT 2" x 50' Titanium Exhaust Heat Wrap Roll for Motorcycle Fiberglass Heat Shield Tape with Stainless Ties: Automotive

I had a bad feeling that since it was so close to the spinning drive shaft it might catch a thread and get tanged. Well...it did on the highway and the truck started vibrating realllllly badly. I wasn't in a good spot to pull over right away, and when I did I didn't have anything to remove it with so I just cut the strands away that had wrapped themselves around the drive shaft and limped home (not before burning the shit out of my hand).

I cut it all free, and now the cat is just there unprotected. I'm open to other suggestions.

[AuSeeker]

Originally Posted by atalarico

Quick update: I removed the heat shield by pressing it together since it was sort of clam shelled. The top of it looked like it had been hacked away by the shop that installed in my DT headers. Whether or not that was just a contribution or a cause is TBD since the attachment tabs rusting was probably unrelated.

I wrapped exhaust style heat wrap stuff around it Amazon.com: LEDAUT 2" x 50' Titanium Exhaust Heat Wrap Roll for Motorcycle Fiberglass Heat Shield Tape with Stainless Ties: Automotive

I had a bad feeling that since it was so close to the spinning drive shaft it might catch a thread and get tanged. Well...it did on the highway and the truck started vibrating realllllly badly. I wasn't in a good spot to pull over right away, and when I did I didn't have anything to remove it with so I just cut the strands away that had wrapped themselves around the drive shaft and limped home (not before burning the shit out of my hand).

I cut it all free, and now the cat is just there unprotected. I'm open to other suggestions.

Might it be possible to find another OEM heat shield at a savage yard?

[atalarico]

Originally Posted by AuSeeker

Might it be possible to find another OEM heat shield at a savage yard?

It's attached, or was, by metal tabs on the cat itself, so I think it comes as part of the cat or something. I'm not entirely sure, but if someone knows better, let me know.