I just want to share my experience and my thoughts about After Market direct fit catalytic converter that I have installed this weekend.
Here is a short version of what I think: Catalytic converter assembly itself is definitely inferior to the stock one. It is a lot lighter, smaller??, very poor engineered and also has heat shield on the ?wrong? side. So I am sure that it will not last a long as original.

Will see how it does. I am keeping my original just in case, because it?s still works it was just making very trashy metal rattle.

Kind of sad, but I guess I got what I paid for?.
Well there is some good news there: trashy metal rattle is gone and my exhaust sound very nice and clean (stock muffler).

FYI: my truck is 1996 4Runner 3.4L 4x4 and direct fit catalytic converter is made by "Catco" P/N 9023.

 

Do you know why the original was rattling? Mine does it too.

 

hence why I will never use an aftermarket cat. Ever. Keep in mind they also do not use the same catylist material, thereby reducing their effectivness (though they will never admit that)

 

Aftermarket/new cats are lighter only because they are clean. The old one was probably full of so much crap if you were weighing them side by side.

 

The heat sheild is most likely lose on the stock on that's why it's rattling.

Aftermarket cats go from $100-200 for one of those high flow deals.
Factory cat from the stealer can be over $1000.

I think I know what I'll be buying.

 

how do you figure this? Aftermarket cats are smaller, and use cheap materials. thats the main reason they are lighter

 

Remember you get what you pay for with that aftermarket junk. Those things rarely seal and stay sealed like factory parts. You can get a remanned/recerted factory cat for ~$175-250. Greatest part...its FACTORY so it fits the first time with no screwing around.

 

I can get aftermarket high flow cats installed with a lifetime warrenty for $150.

Besides, I get a shop to do my exhaust work 90% of the time.

 

I like Magnaflow's high flow cats, they work pretty well and sound good. I have used SLP before and their cats are awesome and not very restrictive, but they only make stuff for mustangs and camaro's I believe, and they are high dollar parts.

 

Hold up a new cat compared to an old one, both factory or aftermarket, I could care less, but the old one will be heavier because it is full of all the emisions that were taken out of the exhuast.

 

I guess 11 years and 100K can do that.

No it was not a heat shield , it was internal and I am 100% sure of it.

 

progress4m, how is this catco direct fit working for you?

 

This is true...there is always loads of junk sitting in the cat

 

In my experience, the rattling noise is from the internal catalyst honeycomb breaking down. Eventually the flow can become restricted until you lose power. If you are lucky, the material will blow out & you will have a "test pipe". Of course that means the material will get caught in your muffler & the rattle will come from there. (Ask me how I know all this )

Paul