Catalytic Converter Protection | MillerCAT Cat Shield

I installed mine about a month ago. IMO the aluminum one is enough to deter theft but of course, stainless steel is harder to cut. My only issue was with their customer service. I was short one bolt (this appears to be somewhat common if you read reviews on their website). I emailed the company and did not get a response. I called and was told they would mail me the missing bolt but it never came. I wound up just buying the bolt. Besides that issue, I'm happy with the purchase.

Just a note for people with a skid plate. You do not have to remove the skid plate to install the cat shield. Leave the driver's side wing off until you tighten the front three bolts then install the driver's side wing. Thanks to the TW member who told me that.

 

I need to do this, as with many things I have procrastinated. Would using a thread locker be useful or just serve as an irritant when I need to remove the cat guard?

 

I used blue Loctite on all the fasteners and the supplied lock washers, mainly to help it from vibrating loose, not as a security solution.

I have never had problems with the blue Loctite with regard to removing the fastener when needed.

 

Good advice, thanks Mac.

 

I did the same when I installed my shield, and haven't heard a peep from it since the install. Looks great, and while under the truck two weeks ago for an oil change I checked the bolts and all were still snug.

 

I just installed the aluminum Miller Cat Shield for Tacoma Access Cab 2018 3.5L 4x4 AT no lift.
A few tips that may help future installers:

Parts bag was missing a small lock washer. Not a problem to find in my junk tray but check parts bag right away. There are others have had more important pieces missing.

I used a bottle jack and piece of wood to hold shield in place and position. Any jack will do but the small footprint to wiggle around it was convenient. I did this without jacking up the truck. Just laying on my back on garage floor was fine. I first tried without a jack and it was near impossible to support and position.

[edit: see next post. not completely detaching crossbar may make security bolt harder to start]
When detaching the cross bars, remove 3 bolts but just loosen the outer 4th bolt so they swing away rather than detach. Swinging back helps support shield for alignment and easier to bolt up again.

The biggest problem I had was with the security bolts that replace 2 stock bolts on each cross bar. They are not "grabber" bolts (the stock are) and getting them to grab was a problem and I was worried about cross threading. Lots of cursing for what should have been the easiest part. "Grabber" is probably the wrong term. Stock bolts have a starting thread taper that makes it easier to get started. Anyone know what that is called?

The 3 forward long security bolts and threaded plate were not that bad to get started. Instructions warn it may take a few tries, and it did, but very minor real world stuff.

I was amazed at the closeness of the shield edges to other parts on the truck. When first positioning I expected problems and a need to trim but it turned out fine. Awful close but nothing touching to bang. I flexed shield as I installed to make sure.

Not sure where to place the red stickers. It comes with two. I doubt a scumbag checks the windows and placing on the exterior where scumbag rolls under will surely peel off in the weather.

Overall please with it. It does leave some pipe exposed to a saw blade but only on one side of a cat, not two, so cat removal not possible/easy. Good deterrent.

Edit: Oh yeah, grease your front propeller zerks and torque flange bolts before installing. You will have to remove shield to do it again.

 

The easiest way to start threading the security bolts on the cross bars and making sure they don't strip, is to actually remove the cross bars first.

I did the same method as you where I left one cross bar bolt in and swung the cross bar out of the way, but starting to thread in the security bolt didn't feel all that natural. So to remedy, you remove the cross bars and all the bolts will thread in easily.

 

lol. figures. the one improvement i thought i made. makes sense.

 

Hi friends, I've been trying to reach Millercat to check on buying a millercat catalytic converter theft shield. I have a 2nd generation Tacoma, 2009 Regular cab (2 doors, 4 seats), extended bed, V4 2.7L. I saw on their website they match all my truck's specs except for they're for a v6 engine, not a v4. Do you know if it would install the same/fit a v4?

Thanks!

 

Just finished easy stainless install on 2017 TRD and have the same rattle as Stan23 describes. Will remedy as he recommends with VHB tape. Chopsticks as harrytasker mentions in #128 worked well for me, as did leaving off the driver side shield for access during the install. Floor jack supporting the shield during install, and raising the front end off the ground about 4" really helped me. Thank you forum for all the tips as I tend to overthink and make things harder than they are.

 

Fast shipping, great instructions and straightforward installation.

 

Just ordered 2 shields for our vehicles.
5% Discount code “MillerCatProtected”

 

As far as I know, the frames are the same for V6 and 4cyl(i’ve had both). There’s a phone number provided on their website.

 

The MillerCats also seem to be offered as a Toyota accessory in case your dealer offers OEM parts discounts

Cat Shield by MillerCAT - Associated Accessory Products (AAP) - 4WD Aluminum
Stock Code PTN5935211
Price: $ 290.00

Cat Shield by MillerCAT: Associated Accessory Products (AAP) - 2WD Aluminum
Stock Code PTN5935162
Price: $ 290.00

Cat Shield by MillerCAT: Associated Accessory Products (AAP) - 4WD Stainless Steel
Stock Code PTN5935221
Price: $ 430.00

Cat Shield by MillerCAT: Associated Accessory Products (AAP) - 2WD Stainless Steel
Stock Code PTN5935163
Price: $ 390.00

 

Aloha,

I wish I had come across this thread before I bought the shield just recently. I could have saved a few bucks.

Anyway, delivery was fast with tracking information.

Quality product and great installation instructions.

Installation was straightforward on my 22 4WD Double cab. Watching a couple of youtube videos posted by other taco owners was also very helpful.

I didn't have help with the installation. I also didn't have a floor jack. I had to find something to lift the shield to the underbelly of the truck.

With the truck on the ground and not on a lift of any kind, I measured the height from the floor to the cross bar. It was 9 inches.

I went to my garage and started to look for a sturdy box with one side close to 9 inches.

I came across a box of the Costco LED string lights. It was perfect at 9 inches tall!

I lifted the shield with one hand and slid the box under it. Aligning the holes and installing the screws went smoothly after that.

One thing I noticed though is that the provided screws seem to be softer than they should be. A couple of screws got stripped while setting them at the prescribed torque specs.

I also noticed that some edges were really sharp. I wore leather gloves and was careful in handling the shield so I didn't cut myself. But this could be looked upon as a positive to help deter thieves.

Other than those two things, I feel relieved now that the deterrent has been installed.

 

Is this basically a one and done install? I am debating between Millercat and Caliraised cat shields, but don't know if I will need to be removing my cat shields to do maintenance on the truck (like change fluids and whatnot). Also, is the install any different for TRD offroads or are the all basically the same steps for 4wd Tacomas?

 

with the miller shield you will need to remove it to do maint greasing of front propeller zerks. cali does not have that problem.
i am dreading having to go thru the smog station (DEQ here) where they visually check for the cats. i have not heard of any problem but
would suck if they said remove it for inspection.

 

DEQ just plugged in for me. I had cat shields on both my 4wd trucks. No trouble there. They didn’t even mind my airbag light.

 

Just another happy customer here. Ordered and shipped same day and was at my dad’s a couple days later. We just did the install this morning and took no more than 30 mins together. Perfect fitment as far as I can see and hear. Very happy with the stainless and peace of mind now in cat-thief heavy Seattle.

 

How's it with maintenance? Can you just remove one of the 'wings' to get to the zerks on the front drive shaft?