johnpau201

Hi All,

2002 Lexus ES 300, Silver , fully loaded. 225K miles currently.

Over the weekend , while driving I suddently heard some scratching sound coming from underneath my car,
so I pulled over in an empty parking lot and looked under. Saw a metal splash guard type part hanging down,
almost rusted on both ends and one end is broken and was scratching the road.

I forcefully pulled it out, it came out easily because both the ends were fully rusted.

I'm posting the pictures, in case someone can tell me:

What is this part called ?
What is this part used for ?
Is it Ok to drive the car without this part ? ( I'm already driving and didn't notice anymore sounds under the car)

On two of the pictures I highligted them with red arrows and red circle where this part was hanging.
It was kind of on top of a rusted pipe

when I removed it.

Thanks for your time.

LeX2K

Lexus calls that an insulator most say heat shield. Long term effects without it are unknown.

booboofoo

You'd have to think it's repairable, I would wager.

Depends if the upper half and lower half are still available I guess.