rattles? are the manifold heat shields important?

[jizzo007]

everytime i shift or let off the gas my car vibrates really loudly. i don't feel it but i can hear it.took off the heat shields up front(are they important?)thinking it might be them but it's not, can't find it. anyone had a problem like this? it's definitely coming from somewhere in the engine bay. would stage 2 cams have sumthing to do with it? thanks for your help.

joe

 

[Coldandafraid]

the heatshields are not important. Unless you do not want your dipstick handle and a/c fan to melt. Then, they are.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60881

 

[Danielc2003]

Dam i was wanting to take my heat shield off and get some nice stainless steel Exhaust manifold to show off but hell i dont wanna melt my fan and dipstick handle. you know if most of the Exhaust manifolds come with Wastegate outlet or would it have to be some special mod/manifold

 

[Talesin]

If you remove the heatshields, you'll also kill alternators and power steering pumps a LOT faster. They can't take the heat all that well. If you're pulling off the heatshields, just make sure to use that header-wrap stuff... kind of a cloth heatshield ribbon you just wind around.

That or you could just... y'know. Fix your heatshields so they don't rattle. :b

 

[Locke]

My 2gnt has JB weld on the cracks around the bolts, for about a year now. Looks like crap (see gallery) but hasn't failed. No rattle. Someday I will weld or replace them.

 

[edenTSI]

i've attempted this before. i only took my top heatshield off my exhaust manifold, and left the bottom one on. i don't know why i just wanted to see my exhaust manifold i guess. anyways this was right before winter. so during winter i started to notice a crack in my exhaust manifold along by the first cylinder outlet. im guessing this is from it getting hot, and then going to completely cold right away. since theres no heatshield to protect is from thermo-shock, im guessing it cracked. so now im wondering on whether i should get a new turbo header, or just buying some cast iron rods and welding her up.

anyways i'd for sure say leave on your bottom heatshield just because stuff WILL heat up faster. so far my oil dipper and fans havent melted or even look altered.

and where is this noise coming? is it for sure coming for your exhaust manifold? if so try tightening it a bit (not so hard that you'll snap the bolt). if that doesn't work i guess your going to have to take it off. (i see this problem alot, usually with the heatshield on your cat converter not your exhaust manifold though). hope this helps!