Yeah you can but if it is not loose or damaged then it is somthing else causing it to rub or rattle like a buggered zaust mount or engine mount.
Unless you have an after market exhaust which is bigger and rubs etc.
I would give the engine exhaust and supension mounts a good check over first, in my opinion i would never remove a shield near the tank
But i have removed them from further up as they can drive you batty
