No it's not dangerous [for the car] to weld on an exhaust system, they do it all the time.

Sure it's worth $40 to have someone do it, most people don't have the equipment or skill to weld. I have the equipment but my skill is somewhat rusty since i don't do it very often. Something like this where nice looking welds aren't an issue, I'd do.

Problem with welding stiff like this is the different thickness and alloys of the metal. Usually when you try to weld something like this, the thinner metal gets way too hot and burns through or weakens the metal around the weld site. Then you have the constant heating and cooling and eventually it lets go.

If you can have a friend do it for a six pack or a cheeseburger, that's the way to roll, if as you say he has a decent idea of what he's doing.

To get a decent weld on it, make sure the weld site is clean of rust and grease.

Only other thing i can think of is to shoot some self tapping screws through the shield into the exhaust pipe. the threads should seal well enough where exhaust leaking isn't an issue.

 

Self tapping screws thru the shield up to the exhaust pipe..(not into the pipe)..generally works very well..our subi dealer does this for you while the motor oil is being drained...no point having the mechanic stand around doing nothing

 

Welding old nasty rusty metal is a challenge, but if you have a bud that can weld I'd have him give it a go. Make sure he, or the shop for that matter, put the grounding clamp on the exhaust pipe being welded. Keep the path from the welding rod to the clamp as short as reasonable. (you don't want the return welding circuit to go through any of the car's wiring, for obvious reasons.) If those shields are coated in zinc the welding smoke is toxic.

I had a honda with heat shields that rusted loose and I just removed them altogether. If their being gone caused any problems I sure couldn't tell, maybe it was a little bit unsafe to park on long dry grass. :8:

 

Yeah, should have said ground to the pipe. I figured if the guy knows how to weld he knows the keep the circuit as short as is reasonable. Forgot that just because you know how to weld doesn't mean you know how to weld on cars.

 

I used a couple short bits of wire to tie the shield down, and when that stopped working, I just yanked the sucker right out. As mentioned, I don't park in tall, dry grass, which doesn't exist up here anyway.

I still actually have the shield somewhere, I think, though I'm not entirely sure why.:8:

 

Im thinking of removing mine, I havent taken the time to actually look at it, but Im wondering if you could get some of the high temp foam that some people use to wrap their exhaust in and put it under the shield, and then clamp it down ?

its really annoying, and I can see if it is tapping the exhaust piping itself how it could eventually lead to a hole in it as it would cause a weak spot from wear n tear.

 

When removing heat shields, especially around cats, realize that they help stop heat from being directly transferred to the floorboard as well as reducing the chance of starting a fire in dry grass.

Cats can get up to 1000 deg F, if it was only heat going down that was a concern, they would only put the shields on the bottom.

Your car, your choice , just something to think about.

 

Take the shield off and wrap the pipe with some header tape from Summit Racing or some other performance supply house. It will keep the heat in the pipes and permanently stop the rattle.

 

Take the shield off and wrap the pipe with some header tape from Summit Racing or some other performance supply house. It will keep the heat in the pipes and permanently stop the rattle.

thats exactly what I decided to do.
however as a temp fix, I just wedged a screw between the shield and exhaust until I can get some of that tape

 

I had a friend who runs a muffler shop remove all of the shielding on my 98 Outback.

 

Thanks for the discussion everybody. It's been helpful. I'm probably going to wedge a screw in there as well until I can get back to a muffler place and have them tack it back on... (I just moved so I get to go to a new shop :8: )

Thanks again! and keep ideas coming if anybody has any!

 

i'm way late to this party, probably everyone is drunk and gone home...

i've had a metallic rattle that i 1st noticed after our 1 and only snow last year. it comes only at low rpm's, and has steadily gotten worse. one time i took it to a shop and it didn't do it (it was a rainy day then, and i thought that might've minimized it).

it only happens when i'm in drive or reverse, at low rpm's (although i may not be able hear it), BUT it sounds like it comes from the front of the car. is this likely the heat shield, or maybe i can't tell the location when i'm in the car and it's in drive?

thanks for any help in this matter.
marc