Muffler Heat Shield Repair

[jzeyer]

So, it looks like the rear fastener for the heat shield above the muffler has worn through. The heat shield is banging against the muffler when I hit a bump or the air kicks on when I am idling.

Has anyone found a good way to get at this fastener without dropping the muffler? Is there a frame component somewhere that I can just pop rivet the thing to?

This is the muffler in front of the rear axle. I'm just trying to avoid killing an entire day in the garage attempting to get to one screw to put a fender washer behind it. From some of the threads here, it seems like this might be a common issue. But, I haven't read any good repair strategies for it.

 

[cjsmuscle]

I'll await an answer as well, haha! Put some Gibson exhaust on my Runner a weekend ago and the damn thing just fell off. So, it is sitting in the hatch until I can figure out a good way to put it back up there.

 

[jzeyer]

My brother mentioned that I should just pull the rubber stabilizers off the muffler and that should drop it enough to get in between the muffler and the heat shield. But, after looking, I don't think that's going to work.

 

[NuclearN8]

I think in general what you'll find is that when peoples' heat shields detoriate and begin to rattle, people just remove them (by force if necessary).

If you can get the nut off the thread, then of course you can put on a SS fender washer to cover the degraded part of the shield enough to keep it from rattling when the nut is tightened back up.

I'm not familiar with the specific location you're having problems with but I'd suggest you either try to find a tool that works or just rip it off and be done with it.

 

[blackoutt]

This was a common issue growing up in the northeast. Common solution? Just ditch the shield.

 

[jzeyer]

I would just ditch it. But, doesn't that build heat in the back seat? My son is regularly in the back seat. So, I don't want to make it too uncomfortable back there for him. I did see online that they sell adhesive heat shield material that just adheres to the surface. Maybe I'll just rip out the old and replace it with that. It should be easier to fish that up there behind the muffler than take down the entire exhaust.

 

[NuclearN8]

If you can measure any heat increase in temperature inside the passenger compartment by removing the heat shields, I'd love to see that data. to be honest, I have no idea why Toyota puts them on to begin with. As a safety engineer, I think they're a joke.

I've had them off our 2007 4runner and haven't noticed a damn bit of difference except we no longer that annoying rattle sound.

 

[jzeyer]

Thanks everyone for ringing in on this. I think I'm going to "red neck repair" it. I found this heat shield tape at the local parts shop and I'm going to try that tonight: Design Engineering 010408 - Heat Shield Tape | O'Reilly Auto Parts

If that doesn't work - out it comes!

 

[wyanrard]

I just removed mine.

 

[flash23]

I had the heat shield taken off my previous 4runner, didn't notice any increase in heat in the backseats. I had it done at Simon's Auto on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. They charged me about $40, if I remember correctly.