having a bit of an exhaust rattle - sounds like the heat shield did on my old truck - but when i looked underneath i also saw this:

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could this be the culprit or is it normal?

 

I actually just took care of my exhaust rattle today.
I took welding gloves and while the car was running, reached under the car and started to feel the pipe.
The closer I got to the culprit, the more I could feel it vibrate through my fingers.
It ended up being the hanger for my cat-back was hitting the differential.
I took a saw and cut a small piece off the hanger.
Now I'm rattle free!

 

thats a good idea, I'll have to try that, once i find a pair of welding gloves haha, for now a guess oven mitts will have to do? just kidding.

 

yeah it's a good chance it's the hanger hitting the diff mine did the same thing I just bent the hanger out some so it wasn't hitting and have been rattle free since!

 

I have an issue with rough vibrating or idle I think when sitting still or putting into drive or reverse but as I watch the idle move up towards the 1000rpm and drop down it vibrates like crazy. This happens mostly when getting hot outside. The dealer told me my 2005 80,000 mi rx8 touring needs a tune up and new spark plugs,coils etc.

 

Dealers right... you need a tune up.

 

Yea but this car makes me frustrated but makes me laugh all the time. I love my rx8.

 

So that culprit thing in the first pic is where you fixed the problem? I have been trying to find it forever and would love to finally fix it. Thanks.

 

Bump for info. How can a pull it away?

 

The hanger on the car pretty much keeps its at a certain position.
Like I mentioned above, I had enough material on my cat-back's hanger to cut some off so it wouldn't tap against the diff.
My cat-back also had a curved-down hanger at the end that wasn't necessary, so that allowed more material that could be "sacrificed".
Since I can't tell where your hanger ends or the clearance it has with the diff, its hard to tell from just the pics above.
You really need to get under the car, look and feel (with welding gloves), and find out what is rattling.

 

yeah I'm gonna hae to get it up on the lift and check it out. thanks.