I had my curent cat installed about a year ago it's a generic cat. After a hard run last week the cat started rattling. You can hear it whenever I hit a pothole at slow speed or when I tap the gas at a stop. Did I burn it out or something? Any adverse effects to the car from driving it around like that?
tyia

 

Probably the core is broken, and the cat is internally breaking up

 

Does it have to be replaced? can I drive it around like that?

 

You can drive around like that. But the rattling is going to become worse and louder.

 

If the cat wasnt designed for the intense heat of a rotary it burned up prematurely.

 

Be prepared to replace the cat or gut it. If you can't afford to replace it, then take it off and gut it now. A hammer and a long socket extension works beautifully. Just stick the extension into the cat and hammer at the chunks until it all comes out.

If you don't do this, all the chunks will move to the back of the cat and clog the exhaust pipe. You will lose power and maybe run hot, basically the same as a clogged cat. But it will do this, just a matter of time.

 

I agree, gut the cat. Thats what i did

Just be sure that when you are having a good time smashing your cat into pieces- don't breathe all the dust and crap that comes out. That "cat dust" is nasty stuff- trust me i know