I've just been sent this picture by the missus after discovering a scraping sound going over a speed bump. Any ideas what it is? Should it be reattached or can I just pull it off?

its the heat sheild lot of us pull them off but i re fixed mine with some big washers
on the old fittings

As above.

I always try to reattach them with big aluminium washers where possible.

aluminium washers good point dont rust

[quote name='dezwez' timestamp='1359729852' post='232247']
aluminium washers good point dont rust
[/quote]

It's more for the dissimilar metals. The aluminium washer won't cause the aluminium heat shield to rot away like the steel nut securing does to them.

I use a 35mm hole saw and 1mm aluminium sheet most of the time.

thanks a bunch guys