knackered cat?

my sports cat has had a rattle from the day it was fitted.

cue me constantly underneath it trying to find a blow, clamping, reclamping and pasting the flanges (fnarrr)

it now turns out it could well be buggered due to some of the paste i, and the original fitting garage have used, getting into the cat.

is there a way to know for sure? is there a way to get the stuff out, if it is that causing the problem? i darent go above 2000rpm, it rattles that badly.

a rattly new cat is usually due to the cell inside moving, and hitting against the outer skin. alternatively if there is a heat shield welded on this could be the source of the movement and rattle.

mine has a welded heatshield... whats the solution, how is it fixed?

well i usually rip the heatshield off, but you can also reweld it, or force something tightly between the cat and sheild to prevent vibration, such as a nut or bolt.

ahright, this heatshield is welded on very close to the actual cat. i may have to remove the unit on sunday and have a nosey.

I heard once that you shouldn't use exhaust paste on any exhaust with a cat .. at least in the sections before the cat. Even a small piece can destroy the cat .....

i know that now. the garage that originally fitted the cat used paste infront of the cat, and it has rattled since then, but i would have a hard time proving it was them that knackered it.