Legacy 3.0 r exhaust rattle

[dolomite16v555]

Hi,
I have a 2005 Legacy 3.0 RN Auto which has a Powerflow cat back stainless exhaust fitted. The car has recently developed a rattle from the exhaust which sound like it's coming from nearer the front of the system. Are there any fellow 3.0 owners who have addressed this issue before I start getting my hopes up that it's just a loose heat shield?
Cheers

[sawman]

mine does this - the heatshield that is just about under the front seats is the culprit, I think. mine thrashes about like one of Keith Moon's cymbals esp at dual carriageway speed or on windy days - I have tried bending it away from the pipe, but raelly I think it just needs to come off

[74merc]

It could well be the heat shield that fits like a collar around the exhaust or the tin foil like sheet that is fitted to the floorpan. I had to fix both in mine. Neither was a difficult fix.

[dolomite16v555]

Thanks for the replies, I will get the car in the air and have a look - hopefully it is that easy fix

[TheBigUnit]

I had the same issue, and it turned out to be the heat shields.

Both had corroded, with some of the corroded metal having fallen into the base of the remaining heat shields, causing the rattle.

I had both pulled off by the garage, and because the replacements were so ridiculously expensive, I did not have new ones fitted. That was 5000 miles ago, and aside from a bit of stem when it's wet, I have not noticed any difference.

[S47]

Almost certainly the heat shields, the bolts which go through 'em rust through, easy fix is to , fit a new Stainless bolt, 5mm if I remember correctly, might as well replace them all while you're at it
I've had several legacies this has happened on all of 'em.
Only other problem with exhaust is the 'Y' piece which eventually rusts through [even though the pipe is S/S?] My 05 estate came with this when I bought it 3 years ago - just reweld a s/s plate over leaking area - PERMANENTLY SORTED

[dolomite16v555]

Yep it was the heat shields causing the noise, had a clamp fabricated to hold them together and the car is back to normal. I'll see how long the bodge lasts Thereafter I'll probably just remove them / see if a replacement can be made up at reasonable cost (Subaru parts such as this tend to be prohibitively expensive!)
Thanks for the input.