Can I remove this from my 1.8T golf exhaust?

[bracken78]

My 1.8t Golf has a rattle coming from the exhaust. I have after looking under the car located the problem as being the aluminum Cat shield. The back 2 pins holding it on have almost rusted away. The question is, how useful is the Cat shield and should I either:-

a) remove it or
b) have it reattached with new pins?

I have read that it doesn’t make a difference but I don’t want to do away with it if it is useful.

[Dr G]

Re-attach it (or wire it up for now if you can) - cats get forking hot!

I don't know how close it is to CV boots, steering gaiters etc. on a MK4.

[bracken78]

Thank you Dr G, I think I would rather have it fixed that replaced, it is there for a reason surely...

Do you think it is something that would fail an MOT?

[Dr G]

Nope, might get an advisory if your MOT man is particularly mean.