Exhaust Rattle... Help

[kramo]

My car has been making this rattle for ages now.

I have looked under the car and seen the clamps and bolts holding the exhaust shield on.

Is it easy enough to take off by getting under the car without using a hoist, or are there any tricks to it?

[tquarrell]

there are a few little bolts (one to the exhaust on the dump pipe, and the rest join the top and bottom shield together. There's also a couple of clamps, I just bent the end straight and then levered them loose with a screw driver. (they're pretty tight) I doubt a ford dealer would charge much though (shame you're out of warranty)

Mine never rattled, but I noticed that it had like a heat proof cloth around the cat (under the shield), maybe the earlier T's didn't have this?

[kramo]

I would actually be quite happy if a Ford dealer never touched my car ever again.

I actually complained about this rattle when the car was under warranty at least once, but as usual they didn't fix the problem.

I think I could see that cloth you are talking about poking out the end.

[hard-on]

This happened to me aswell on my old turbo.

I just used some wire and a pair of pliers.

Wrapped the wire around the clamps and kept twisting the ends into a knot making them solid as.

Never again did I hear that stupid farkin rattling noise

Used to drive me insane.

[simonhoare]

and if that dont fix it its your cat conv or baffles

[4ST-XR6]

Another thing that causes a bad exhaust rattle, is the stainless brackets that are welded to the engine pipe, these brackes are what the bolts of the heatshield go through, the weld tends to break all the time and its usually the front most one, my guess is ford has dramas getting good penetration with the weld due to the bracket being stainless the engine pipe after the cat being mild steele, you don't have to remove the heatshield to check, just wiggle the bols for the heatshield and if it moves it has cracked and broken, take her to and exhaust shop and get the bracket welded back on.

hope this helps cheers

[antigravity]

Yeah well I took the heat shield off, and theres no more rattles. So thanks for your help guys.

But it was a real pain to get off. Reaching over the top side of the exhaust to hold the nut while taking off the bolt was a nightmare. But finally got it done and it was worth the effort.

I tried to take the mudflaps off, but noticed that there is a white mark on the paint where the mudflaps are. Hard to explain, so I had to keep the damn things on. grrr

But yeah, thanks for your help guys.

[kramo]

Hey antigravity

Thanks for letting us know it wasn't an easy job.

Sounds like something I'll start one morning when I know I have nothing else on that day so when I get stuck and start throwing tools around the garage, I can take a break and try again later.

And as for the mudflap thing, I know exactly what you mean. I have marks in the paintwork where I took them off. Had to though cos I lowered the car.

[jetute]

dont jump on it man ...you might want to put it back on later....

←

You may have just saved the bastard.

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LOL

[4ST-XR6]

Small flat balde screwdriver and a 1/4" drive rachet and 10mm socket. Will save you headaches, spend the extra 2 mins and put the whole car up on stands so you can lie under the car parallel to the exhaust, it will take you 10mins.

hopefully this gives you some incentive knowing its easier, its worth it.