So I have this terrible rattle.. and it's driving me batsh!t crazy. It sounds metallic coming from around the center of the car. Pretty sure it's a heat shield on the Y-pipe, or a heat shield near it. Rattle usually happens at 1800 RPMS.
Dealer said they can either adjust it for $200 or so, or replace the entire Y-pipe and install it for $850. I'm pretty sure I can find a cheaper, stock or even after market Y-pipe. (recommendations? Megan Y-pipe seems pretty good and under $200) If I get just the aftermarket y-pipe.. will that still be compatible with the rest of the stock exhaust. (I would assume so)

My question is this.. am I better served just replacing it? Or bringing it to a muffler shop and having them cut off the heatshield. Is it advisable to even cut off a heat shield? Or does anyone know if it's something else? I know it's not that muffler rattle thing.. I had that fixed a while back under warranty. Thanx

 

Take off the heatshield yourself.

 

pretty sure they're welded to the y-pipe itself...

 

so i had the heat shields on the y-pipe cut off.. the rattle is still there.. i guess now it's that infamous muffler rattle that the coupes were known for.. I've had the muffler replaced once already under warranty. The car is no longer under said warranty. so if I can pinpoint that it's actually that, i'm going to just do a full muffler delete at a shop in town.