cats?

for the last month or two my svx has been getting louder and louder. i didnt really pay that much attention to it, just noted that id have to fix it/get it fixed when i got a chance. unfortunately, due to the string of wonderful luck ive been having lately my car seems to have forced my hand.

i was accelerating from a stoplight, somewhat hard on the gas but not terribly so, when i heard a very strange noise. i stopped, looked around confusedly, and started rolling again, carefully. i heard the noise again, so i stopped yet again, got out, and looked under the car. lo and behold, what i think is the heat shield on the left front cat (i think, mind you. i dont deal with car parts very often so i could be wrong) is hanging down off of the cat, an apparent victim of rust. i looked at the other one and it looks like it could do the same thing anytime now. i wired it up with a coathanger, getting fairly hypothermic from lying on the cold pavement with no coat on for about 45 minutes (****ing coat hanger).

aaanyways, i was wondering exactly how much i should expect to pay for a pair of front cats, and how easy they are to install? ill be gone almost all of tomorrow, but ill try to get out on friday after classes and take a couple pictures so i can be sure im talking about the correct part here.

and while im at it, anybody know of any good aftermarket exhaust systems and/or places to get them?

[Sonar]

Hi!

If it's only the heatshield, I don't really think you have to replace the cat.

Just mount a new heatshield, or both if they are bad.

I have made new heatshields to many of my cars, but in aluminium instead.


/Sonny

well the reason im thinking the cat needs replacing is because its been getting hella loud lately, almost like theres a hole in the cat. does the heat shield do a lot to keep it quiet or something?

[CDG]

Heat sheild does virtually nothing for the noise, I'd start looking elsewhere in the exhaust for a leak. My heatshields are completely removed.

[Shadow248]

Mandi's X had been getting significantly louder towards the end of the summer...I checked it out and found that both front cats had rusted through. So likely that is the problem with the sound. That is generally the case.

Good luck with getting new ones...best price I found was $380 a piece. With a bit of welding magic, I fixed Mandi's...but that's only temporary, this summer the car is getting a complete new exhaust system. I'll probably get the stebro setup for the catback part.