YT video

heat shield where the 3rd cat used to be has rusted out from the rear 2 bolts and is hanging, making some slight rattling.

Is it easier to put the front wheels over a curb, and unbolt the 2 front bolts to take the whole thing out? 3rd cat is deleted, and don’t think any heat issues would arise…. Or should I use a few zip ties each side to secure the shield back again?

also what size ratchet head do I need for the bolt, if you know that from the top of your head?

 

10mm, like the rest of the entire car.
Zip-ties that close to the exhaust are subject to melting pretty quickly, then your stuck in the same boat.

I just did this a couple weeks ago, due to the same problem. Take the 10mm bolts out, get an even bigger diameter washer (who's OD is larger than the rusted hole in the heat-shield) and bolt it back into place. The bigger washer should grab onto the heat-shield.

While the proper solution is to buy a new heat-shield, my solution was quick AND FREE!

 

this only works until the heat shield rusts further and then you need a bigger washer, over and over. Just remove the heat shield

 

not a bad solution for a year-2 atleast, given how long the original lasted. You can use a much wider washer and secure with the old washer, as I don’t think some washers with the original 10mm bolt but also wide enough to hold a rusted out shield are available easily.

that said, I’ll go ahead and take it off. No 3rd cat and I see plenty of clearance for cooling so. Thanks to exlcoupe for the size!