Rattle noise - Factory cat heat shields

In December I installed a Miller Cat shield on my 2015 TRD pro after one of my vehicles had the catalytic converters stolen. Within a few months I noticed a rattle noise and was certain it was the newly installed converter shield. I have dealt with the noise for a few months since it only really is an issue idling or when I backup at slow speeds, but now that the weather has turned to Spring, I needed to fix this. I removed the Miller cat shield and started the truck and the #$%#ing rattle was still present.

I noticed that the passenger side catalytic converter did not have any factory heat shielding like the driver side did and then as I was shaking the exhaust pipe on the driver side, I noticed this rusted clamp just past the driver side converter resting on the pipe. This was floating around on the pipe sliding back a forth making that rattle.


Question: Do most people just remove those factory converter heat shields? The fasteners look almost disintegrated, thanks to our lovely New England winters.



Are they easy to pry off? I would not want to slip and damage a catalytic converter. What's the best and safest way to remove these heat shields?

Thanks.

 

oops, there should only be one picture of the rusted clamp, not two.

 

Never had one on passenger side only drivers and helps protect the front driveshaft U-joints from cooking.
You can fix drivers side with a large hose clamp and 2 new bolts/washers then good to go.
Some remove the shield but I fixed mine.