So i have ad this rattle for some time now. Right around the 2K rpm range. I finally narrowed it down to the converter bracket, the one that braces the converter to the back of the engine. The bracket has cracked around the bolt, and I was wondering, do they sell these brackets, or do you have to buy the whole assembly(cat and bracket)? It look as though the bracket is welded to the converter. Please let me know your thoughts.[headbang] Might be an excuse to get a hi-flo cat. I might be able to fix the rattle by placing a washer in there and that might prevent the rattle.
catalytic converter bracket issues!
Nevik
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So i have ad this rattle for some time now. Right around the 2K rpm range. I finally narrowed it down to the converter bracket, the one that braces the converter to the back of the engine. The bracket has cracked around the bolt, and I was wondering, do they sell these brackets, or do you have to buy the whole assembly(cat and bracket)? It look as though the bracket is welded to the converter. Please let me know your thoughts.[headbang] Might be an excuse to get a hi-flo cat. I might be able to fix the rattle by placing a washer in there and that might prevent the rattle.
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791 Posts
Remove it. It's just extra weight! 
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791 Posts
Basically, it replaces the front-motor cat brackets that supported the catalytic converter on the base Zetec engine. The factory cat is heavy. But from my experience, also suffering from a broken cat bracket, it seems like it's unnecessary. So I simply removed mine, and I haven't had any problems at all.
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1,379 Posts
Guys, that bracket is there for a reason and very important - it locates and supports the header, which grows (a lot) when it gets hot. The bracket is the only fore-aft support in the whole exhaust system. Without the bracket, one little ding on that low-slung header tube and you busted one, maybe two O2 sensors, and eventually your header may crack.
DON'T ask me how I know! Just buy the dang brackets or if the bracket that is part of the cat is busted, weld another on or get a big screw/hose clamp (or two) and strap the puppy down. Mine has held up for years that way.
DON'T ask me how I know! Just buy the dang brackets or if the bracket that is part of the cat is busted, weld another on or get a big screw/hose clamp (or two) and strap the puppy down. Mine has held up for years that way.
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1,914 Posts
I'd second the idea of keeping the bracket if at all possible for above mentioned reasons. The stock catalytic converter is heavy and combined with the heat places a lot of stress on the header to support everything if it's broken/removed. It may not cause problems on every car or might take a very long time to develop on others but I wouldn't want to risk it. If our supporting vendors offered an aftermarket high-flow cat pipe option to retain a factory-like support I'd even pay extra for that just for peace of mind even with a lighter aftermarket cat.
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21,853 Posts
The brackets are both available,
Engine half $24.18
Cat half $50.24
The cat half broke on my car three times I'm currently running an ORP with no bracket but I'd like some sort of a support on there.
Engine half $24.18
Cat half $50.24
The cat half broke on my car three times
I'm currently running an ORP with no bracket but I'd like some sort of a support on there.
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791 Posts
Before I replaced my cat with my ORP, I had the bracket removed for two years and 20,000 miles, no problems at all. No telling how long it was broken before I finally removed it...Maybe I'm just lucky or something.
I'm getting the ORP from you soon - do these two parts work in conjunction with the ORP too?The brackets are both available,
Engine half $24.18
Cat half $50.24
The cat half broke on my car three times
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1,105 Posts
I think CFM cat is a lighter than stock
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4,332 Posts
Hmm, can someone get any pics of where these go? I had a CFM OPR, and my mechanic removed the bracket. Which I believe has lead to my ORP cracking (like stated above). Since then I have went back to my factory cat, and have been driving without the bracket for a few years now. Since I my car is currently down (due to tranny issues), I have taken apart my exhaust at the header/cat and found that the bottom of the gasket looks to be burnt. I cant say I have had any other real issues without having the bracket removed, HOWEVER, the burnt spot on my gasket is a true testimony in itself that the bracket is there for a reason.
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21,853 Posts
No, the stock brackets will not work with an ORP.
Cool, thanks. So just to double check, when running an ORP, you don't need any bracketry?
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1,379 Posts
I say you do - the thermal growth force (fore-aft) is what the bracket reacts, keeping the load off the header. Headers, ORPs and HFCs are known to crack when the bracket is missing.
I haven't seen an ORP design with a bracket tho. You could fab one, but keep in mind the support isn't just gravity - it's the thermal stresses fore and aft (and hitting-the header-on-a-curb forces).
I haven't seen an ORP design with a bracket tho. You could fab one, but keep in mind the support isn't just gravity - it's the thermal stresses fore and aft (and hitting-the header-on-a-curb forces).
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