Heat shield, is it needed ?

centralMO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:44 pm **Posts:** 15

I heard a noise coming from the passenger rear of my KK. Turns out, the heat shield between the muffler and the bottom if the jeep came off and was rubbing against the drive shaft. Heat shield looks to be aluminum and the bolts are carbon steel, the aluminum corroded and completely separated from the body.

Question is... Does any one run with out the shield? Is this a must have item? I know it's there for a reason, but anyone who has taken a vehicle off road knows that some of the stuff underneath starts to get damaged, and it doesn't always get fixed.

Any thoughts?

Gageraid · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:38 pm

I would think you're okay without it. Maybe someone could answer better than me with evidence.
That being said, if it were my vehicle, I'd rather fix it, or replace it before removing it.
My guess is it'd be a fairly cheap part.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Mine had loosened and then was grinding on the road because it was catching the wind while driving...I just crawled under and cut it off...haven't noticed my driveshaft boot melting and no one in the cabin complains about heat.

ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:02 pm

2WD KKs had a similar recall for the tunnel heatshield falling and basically lathing into the driveshaft until it broke, which causes all sorts of damage. I would get it off immediately so you don't have the same issue.

As far as keeping it off, you'd have to measure the temperature of the items being shielded with it removed. The engineers put it there for a reason (even though it might only be needed on 5% of jeeps), so even though you might not notice anything immediately, the excess heat can shorten the life of other components. If its just to the body, you should be ok.

Pierocksmysocks · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:28 am

Mine decided to detatch itself while I was driving from Sioux Falls, SD down to Sioux City, IA (about 100 miles ish). I took it into a dealership down there, and they just cut the thing off. Apparently it was needed. I made sure to have the work documented in case there was ever a warranty question about it.

JeepMonkey190 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:55 pm

I just took mine off, I can only see this being a problem if you were to high Rev the motor for a long time while in a garage or something were there isn't any wind blowing that it could be cooled down. But I have felt all around the muffler and piping and I can't feel a difference.

waysidecharlie · **Joined:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:12 am **Posts:** 46

Yes its needed -- or it would not be there. Manufacturers today cut every cost they can, to save every penny they can.
The reason for it maybe not be obvious to us, but its valid or it would not be there.

I've fixed them on other vehicles with a piece of aluminum large enough to over lap where the holes are, and self-drilling sheet metal screws.

-- Besides the Liberty I have an old 1988 VW Quantum Syncro with mechanical all wheel drive. It has a heat shield between the muffler and the plastic fuel tank. In time part of the heat shield rusted off. When I took it off to fabricate a replacement piece, I discovered two of the four nylon mounts had partially melted from muffler heat. And I never had a clue until I was under it trying to mount the replacement part.

Side topic: After driving the Liberty for two years, and the Quantum Syncro in the past on Vermont roads in winter, its my considered view that the old car with all 4 wheel getting power all the time is better on snow and ice than the jeep in 4 wheel drive. It just doesn't have low range or ground clearance. Once years ago, I pull a wrangler out of snow bank with it. The guy was from N.J. He thanked me, but was sort of pissed that it was a VW that got him out.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:32 pm

waysidecharlie wrote:

Yes its needed -- or it would not be there. Manufacturers today cut every cost they can, to save every penny they can.
The reason for it maybe not be obvious to us, but its valid or it would not be there.

I've fixed them on other vehicles with a piece of aluminum large enough to over lap where the holes are, and self-drilling sheet metal screws.

-- Besides the Liberty I have an old 1988 VW Quantum Syncro with mechanical all wheel drive. It has a heat shield between the muffler and the plastic fuel tank. In time part of the heat shield rusted off. When I took it off to fabricate a replacement piece, I discovered two of the four nylon mounts had partially melted from muffler heat. And I never had a clue until I was under it trying to mount the replacement part.

Side topic: After driving the Liberty for two years, and the Quantum Syncro in the past on Vermont roads in winter, its my considered view that the old car with all 4 wheel getting power all the time is better on snow and ice than the jeep in 4 wheel drive. It just doesn't have low range or ground clearance. Once years ago, I pull a wrangler out of snow bank with it. The guy was from N.J. He thanked me, but was sort of pissed that it was a VW that got him out.

Do you have Selec-Trac or Command-Trac?

waysidecharlie · **Joined:** Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:12 am **Posts:** 46

I have the part-time 4wd = command-trac.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2015 1:37 pm

This is off topic, but maybe you need better tires.

gabbymae3 · **Joined:** Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:26 pm **Posts:** 7

I have the same exact problem! Mine is a 2008, and it seems like the screws just rusted away. Havent taken mine off, kind of just shoved it up there. I've looked at the chrystler dealer parts, but theres so many. Who knows where I can get one?!

Scar0 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:11 am

Just so we are clear, we are talking about the heat shield that is on the floor pan above the trany, x-fer case, and drive line. It is just held in place with small screws which either pull through or the shield rusts out. Then the shield drops down.
It is a crappy design and getting a new one will not solve the issue long term as it will do the exact same thing again. The recall for this problem was only issued for the 2WD rigs because, in theory, if you have a 4WD the transfer case would keep it from hitting the drive line when it comes loose.
The recall "fix" is to add a metal bracket to hold the rear of the shield up when the screws tear through the shield. When mine does tear out, I plan to do a DIY bracket and hope for the best.

centralMO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:44 pm **Posts:** 15

Scar0 wrote:

Just so we are clear, we are talking about the heat shield that is on the floor pan above the trany, x-fer case, and drive line. It is just held in place with small screws which either pull through or the shield rusts out. Then the shield drops down.
It is a crappy design and getting a new one will not solve the issue long term as it will do the exact same thing again. The recall for this problem was only issued for the 2WD rigs because, in theory, if you have a 4WD the transfer case would keep it from hitting the drive line when it comes loose.
The recall "fix" is to add a metal bracket to hold the rear of the shield up when the screws tear through the shield. When mine does tear out, I plan to do a DIY bracket and hope for the best.

Yes... the one you mention is what came off. I was planning on a DIY fix but haven't since its been 10-30 degrees out and I only drive 2 miles to work. I was planning on using the existing bolts, but the nuts are so rusted I don't know if ill be able to get them off with out breaking them. Do you know if there is a topic on this is the tech section?

thanks you all for the input.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 3:00 pm

I looked at the TSB and recalls here and I did not see it.
What the recall says is they add a bracket to the rear, which they drill 3 new holes for in the cross brace above the drive line. The holes do not go into the floor pan, and the bracket is attached with rivets. If the shield and/or the drive line is damaged, they also replace those.
If you have a 2WD they do this for free.

You can order the bracket and rivets from a dealer if you want.
Package # CBEZNI03AA
EDIT:
I have a copy of the recall I created for another forum. If it is OK with the Admin here I can post a link to it, but it does have a water mark with the other forum name on it...

centralMO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:44 pm **Posts:** 15

Thanks for the part number and the help. Ill update with my DIY once it is done.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:03 pm

Your welcome. Looking forward to your DIY.

ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2021 12:41 pm

I was under my Jeep yesterday and noticed my muffler heatshield finally failed, which would explain the rattle noise. Since this topic seems to be the best Google result, I'll document my $6 hardware store fix here.

Unfortunately, Jeep decided to use some oddball nut size (or at least one i don't have in my junk drawer) so you'll have to reuse the existing nuts. The issue is due to dissimilar metals causing corrosion, so a lasting fix needs to avoid steel to aluminum contact. I used 1/4-1.5" fender washers on top of a slightly smaller neoprene washer to provide this insulation. Socket size for the nuts that i used was 7/16.

Corrosion around nut:

After the fix:

Heat shield, is it needed ?

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