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This heat shield has rusted and broken around the bolts.

Would it be fine if I just cut it completely off?

Or, if I want to keep a heat shield, could I strap it on by, say, a big hose clamp?

 
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You can remove it, it's pretty common for them to rust off like that.

 
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normally i would say remove them all, i did, except for that cat shield. its important for the cat to stay hot and work properly. without that shield, it may not stay hot enough and the engine light can come on. You possibly may also fail a smog check. look into some metal zipties at the hardware store and use those to put it back together (may need to drill some holes in the shields to use the ties).

 
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Mine fell off almost two years ago. You will be fine without it.

 
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Thanks very much for the replies!

I have a coil of thin aluminum. Do you think that would make for a suitable strap?

 
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I used radiator hose clamps on my old '98