My wife's 02 Firebird is making an aweful rattle at the catalytic converter. Once warmed up it seems to go away, but when it is cold the reattle if aweful. I have checked and it is not the heat shield or anything obvious.

So the question is, do I need to replace the whole y-pipe with a new cat or can I cut the existing one out and put a new one in? If so who makes one like that.

Thanks

 

you can cut and weld a new one in... check the heatshield to for the rattle as well.

Its likely the CAT, but if its that bad the SES shoudl be going off on the post CAT o2, even if just intermittantly.

Also if the car is bone stock, take it to the dealer, I believe emissions equipment is replaced for free 7year/70k miles.

I got mine replaced with like 38k and 4 years for free. Out of the original warranty.

BUT, you have to make sure its the CAT that is out or you will have to pay the diagnostic fee. So I wouldn't do it until the SES went off a few times.