RX 450h Exhaust Heat Shield Rattle

[MUDGUTS]

Hi all,

I have recently bought a 2009 RX 450h. The heat shield over the rear exhaust box was loose. As I have read on various forums the aluminium heat shield corrodes where it meets the steel bolts. I read somewhere a chap fitted a large washer onto the existing bolt to hold it in place but this is not an option for me as both nuts are totally rusted on. I have secured the heat shield with strong wire as a temporary/permanent fix.

Has anyone else had a similar issue and if so how did they fix this? 

Has anyone removed the heat shield totally? If so did they encounter any issues?

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.  

[MUDGUTS]

Update;

The car has been into Lexus Coventry for a service and the Tech has secured the heat shield in one place with a larger nut/bolt. By the looks of it this has been screwed into the hole where the original stud or bolt was.

[AWC]

It's not an issue really, the rear box heat shield fell off on my 2008 RX400h and the mechanic said the rear box never gets hot enough for it to be needed. The front box heat shield is a different matter though!