whenever i take off it sounds like something is rattling underneath and i was wondering if that could be my catalytic converter or the like metal heat shield around it? if so can i just take that metal shield off?

 

take a look at that metal sheet, and the one by the exhaust too and see if it's physically loose. mines rattling too, both places.

 

you can just take it off, if you would like. its not going to hurt anything. mine was all rusted and half of it was desinagrated, so i just took the rest off.

 

yeah, dead weaight. Take it off. Check the bracket at bottom of motor (two bolts) that attaches to the 2-1 point of the header. That could be loose or broken off too. Buy an aftermarket cat from magnaflow for 150. :D If its old replace it.

 

$150? Where the hell do you shop? Magnaflow universal highflow cats ~$60-80.

 

Good to know that all of the metal shielding throughout the stock exhuast system is dead weight, I was wondering about that the other day when I removed my exhuast system.