Those cats can get pretty hot, I wouldn't suggest removing the heat shields completely or you could end up with some toasty carpet inside the car. Have you thought about putting a screw through it or something to hold it in place?

 

well there is still the heat shield that's riveted to the body, wouldn't that reflect enough heat?

i did think about it but when i went out with a pair of pliers i found out that all the seam part is rusted out and would probably just fall apart if i put a screw in it

 

I got the same problem, though mines not very rusty.. It broke off when some kids in an Aztec cut me off in a blizzard, and i swerved and slid part way in a ditch. This was whe3n my tires were bald so i thought for sure I was stuck, but luckily the tires decided to work and get me out lol. And then after that the rattling began.

I still gotta drive it on some ramps, and stick a screw or two in it. I was going to do it when my brother changed my oil(I was going to do it, but he offered lol) but he drove it off the ramps when i brought the screw out..And I hate driving up ramps(always feel like Im going to jump them lol)

Everyone i talked to said either Repair it(putting new screw in it) or replace it, either or, but it needs to stay on.

 

i took the bottom part off and now it's all good. actually it kind of fell off but the top is held on with this chunk of steel coming off the bracket. anyways i have bigger things to worry about at the moment, like why one of my subframe mounts is so rusty i can bend it with one finger