brace that attaches to each cat
 

Is it really necessary?? It would not go on after I put my art pipes on. I tried a ton of different methods to get it on too. Thanks for the help!!

Not necessary. I had mine off with no issues or extra rattles. Extra weight to be cast off.

Awesome! I thought so but just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

Before you installed the ART pipes, did you cut the screw flush that was behind the cat? Especially on the driver side it is in the Motordyne directions. Just did this project on sat. along with Berk CBE with no problems. Hope this helps.

it has a purpose and that purpose is to take the excess weight of the cats off of the seals and gaskets between the cat and the motor, in the short term no it doesn't do anything in the long term maybe? you're new pipes are probably a good bit lighter than the cats tho

If you have stock cats, leave the brace on there, those bitches are heavy.

If you have aftermarket cats, ditch it, useless weight.