Just a 'PSA' that the half shaft heat shield bushings can wear out and cause an annoying as heck rattle. Its been intermittent for some time and was unable to reproduce the sound while in the bay/under the car until now. The bushings look like they're made of... steel wool, and they can wear down. Tightening the bolts does nothing as the bushing sleeve prevents this. The bushings are also not removable from the shield without cutting.
The heatshield mounts to the half-shaft to engine-block mount, between the shaft and catalytic converter.
Just a PSA in case anyone else is looking for rattles/answers hopefully this comes up in search.
I had a nice GIF showing the movement but for some reason won't load in my editor, but this is the one that wore out on mine (of 3 total bolts/bushings for the heat shield).
![Image]()
The whole shield:
![Image]()
Good bushing (if you can call it that):
![Image]()
Totally worn out bushing:
![Image]()
Cynical theory: Honda chose steel wool for bushings knowing it would wear out and customers would come in to diagnose an annoying rattle and sell them an $87+ (they're definitely going to mark that up from list) heat shield with labor.
The heatshield mounts to the half-shaft to engine-block mount, between the shaft and catalytic converter.
Just a PSA in case anyone else is looking for rattles/answers hopefully this comes up in search.
I had a nice GIF showing the movement but for some reason won't load in my editor, but this is the one that wore out on mine (of 3 total bolts/bushings for the heat shield).
The whole shield:
Good bushing (if you can call it that):
Totally worn out bushing:
Cynical theory: Honda chose steel wool for bushings knowing it would wear out and customers would come in to diagnose an annoying rattle and sell them an $87+ (they're definitely going to mark that up from list) heat shield with labor.
