silver80sa22c

my exaust rattles really bad now and i looked under it today and it has some metal pieces that hold it to the car broken so i can see that problem but it hesitates really bad.. i think its the cat.. but not sure. any ideas

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Those metal pieces that you are looking at are heat shields. If you bang on the catalytic converter with a rubber mallet and there is rattling coming form inside of the converter then it has come apart.

Have you been experiencing any power loss?

7aull

iTrader: (2)

If your car is your sig (silver80sa...) then you don't have a cat, you have a thermal reactor which is attached directly to the block (ie its the exhaust manifold). It is air cooled, assuming you still have the air pump and its hoses attached (if not, you will have cooked the reactor to death). As the Doc suggests, if there is a loss of power that is related to the reactor, then it has to be replaced. The collapse internally and its terminal. Header smartest way to go if no smog issues with its removal where you live. Other wise you'll need a replacement reactor, which I think Mazda no longer makes - and at some $900, who cares!! I have a spare SA reactor with 51K miles on it. PM if interested.
If car seems to be powered OK then just chase down the rattle - As Doc sez, heat shields are usually the offenders. They are just tacked up with sheet metal-type screws. You may need to detach the rear of the exhaust system (ie muffler and main pipe) and drop it a bit to allow access to the shields. I would urge you to REATTACH them -NOT just pull them - that exhaust generates a LOT of heat and you don't need that bleeding into the passenger compartment Buy stainless steel fasteners and they should last forever.
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

silver80sa22c

yea i have noticed alot of powerloss when i take off.. i just dont get it.. 2 of the brackets that hold the exaust up, one in the middle and one in the back broke so then it sounds like **** and runs bad.. why