Soundproofing

[wind79]

I am intending to soundproof my car's undercarriage and under-bonnet to reduce noise, anyone got lobang to recommend? I don't mind driving to JB if necessary. Important thing is material needs to be of good quality, won't melt under the engine etc...

 

[nehpyh]

I am intending to soundproof my car's undercarriage and under-bonnet to reduce noise, anyone got lobang to recommend? I don't mind driving to JB if necessary. Important thing is material needs to be of good quality, won't melt under the engine etc...

Hi,


Before you spend all the money, let's evaluate a few pointers:


1. Are you aware of all the sources of noise from where you are sitting in the driver or passenger seat?

There are many sources of noise and most of them cannot be effectively rectified due to cost and availability of solutions.

Common sources of noise:
a. Engine - how your engine is isolated from the cabin. Lexus has impressive dampener for example.

b. Windscreen - does your car come with double-glazed wind screen? Angle of your car's wind screen etc.. plays an important part acting as resistance and creates noise.

c. Wind - Related to above. Wind against your car at various driving speed creates noise.

d. Passing traffic - busy roads have more noise pollution.

e. Air-con - is your air-con fan speed on turbo too?

f. Tyres - Performance tyres have harder and bigger shoulder blocks which will create more noise. Worn tyres have less 'cushion' to absorb road noise. Tyre compound and hardness affect noise level too. However, please note that tyre noise above a certain speed is inevitable and friction creates noise.

g. Road - For obvious reason. Carparks with smooth concrete road will have less noise compared to rough, undulating tarmac.

h. Noise from exhaust pipe - if you have an ah-beng with an ha-beng exhaust on the outside, dun expect to have a quiet cabin.


2. How do you evaluate/measure the improvement?
After you have spent a few thousand dollars, are you able to scientifically tell a difference? Or as long as retail therapy works, it works?



3. Which frequency of noise irate you the most?
Certain sound frequency irate us more than the other. What irate you most? Different mass absorb different frequency. Most sound proofing can only target certain freq.



4. Are you concerned with fuel efficiency/ performance of your car?
Mass is the ultimate killer for noise. Thus the mass of the dampener, mats, seals, will inevitably add weight to your car. Are you ready to compromise your car's fuel efficiency and performance?

Of course, you'll have to be skeptical with thinny whinny material that is supposed to absorb vibrations...


From the above, after market sound proofing service can only ATTEMPT to solve the following:

1. Vibration from engine into bonnet, doors, boot and in cabin by dampening.

2. Reduce reflection by changing your cabin upholstery.

 

[hpv500]

most pple do soundproofing for doors, roof, wheel arc....

the rest of the places are quite useless actually....

 

[-nzy90]

I got the materials and DIY myself. Did the doors, wheel arches, boot, roof, pillars, engine firewall, bonnet and floor. For the doors I did 2 layers just to test and realised not much difference. the result is reduced road noise by quite alot. Many people who say in my car before and after noticed the difference even though I never tell them I did soundproofing. And can't really hear my engine. If idling I sometimes can forget the engine is on. Wind noise also improved by alot. The doors closing sound also sound very nice now. Think maybe thats why conti cars got the nice sound. Cuz of their soundproofing.

To me its worth it as I spent less than $300 on materials and total time I took to do my car alone was around 5hrs.

 

[nehpyh]

I guess what we are all trying to say so far are:

1. Sound proofing has marginal impact

2. There is anecdotal improvement form DIY. Damage =$300/5th.

3. No referral on brand and shop.

So to TS, if You are paying $1K plus, are you willing to invest?

 

[cueball1981]

Im noob in sound proofing.. but heard if it engine noise you wanna block out.. the firewall is the main thing.. and soundproofing that is not cheap right?

 

[hpv500]

for me, i do soundproofing on my doors oni....main idea is to reduce the vibration when turning the volume up....

 

[edmundwave]

hi all jus to check... will soundproofing of 4 doors prevent road noise??

msia quote me 4 doors soundproofing for Rm450.
Brand is MFC. dont noe wad brand also... is brand very impt?

 

[-nzy90]

Don't think doing the doors only will improve the insulation against road noise. For road noise I think the wheel arches more important. Brand should not be that important. I got those no brand ones from china but they are good enough to make a significant difference that people can notice even if I don't tell them I did soundproofing.

 

[hpv500]

the main point y some brands like STP or dynamat is expensive.......they dun really melt inside ur doors after pasting it for a year or more....some materials are thicker than others also...

cheapo brands one can melt easily....

 

[tazzi80]

Soundproof the door mostly for ICE purpose. The rest of the car you soundproof noise won't really reduce by a lot. But you must evaluate whether its worth spending the money and in addition soundproof material are not light, your FC would most likely be affected as well.

 

[nehpyh]

I am intending to soundproof my car's undercarriage and under-bonnet to reduce noise, anyone got lobang to recommend? I don't mind driving to JB if necessary. Important thing is material needs to be of good quality, won't melt under the engine etc...

Gathered from the above,


Unless you have a way to measure 'before and after', it's best to try out some alternatives:


1. Change your tyre to premium comfort. I've tried the highly reviewed Bridgestone Turanza GR90. I believe Bridgestone has done everything they can in tyre technology to silent road noise from tyres.

Beside aural comforts, GR90 improves safety and handling.


2. If you are lucky, find someone driving the same car model as you who has sound proofed their cars. Sit in, drive and listen. Also observe their tyres.


3. New tyres soak up road noise tremendously. Worn tyres are noisy. What's your tyre condition?

With all due respect, sound proofing works, but to a certain extent, depending on your car. I'm not dissing Chery QQ but try sound proofing that and you know you need a lot more work.

Or lastly, buy a pair of Monster Dr. Dre Studio reference headphone and connect to your iPhone la. The headphone is super bling and 'blended'. Who can see your insulation? lol

 

[-nzy90]

Soundproof the door mostly for ICE purpose. The rest of the car you soundproof noise won't really reduce by a lot. But you must evaluate whether its worth spending the money and in addition soundproof material are not light, your FC would most likely be affected as well.

Yep. Soundproofing adds quite abit of weight. Total weight I added to my car when I soundproofed the door, boot, arches, roof, pillars and floor is about 20kg. Like carrying an extra spare tire.

 

[edmundwave]

Melt???

Y will melt?

So must get harder one?

wad type to get??

 

[tazzi80]

Melt???

Y will melt?

So must get harder one?

wad type to get??

Get those more reputable brand one like stp, dynamat and accumat. Else u find some other unknown brands and if it melts, it will be very very troublesome. Like leaking oil from the door.

 

[hpv500]

mine is using stinger expert roadkill.....installed on nov 2010....hopefully it can last...

 

[r_aquarii]

did my autoimage at sim ming using soundguard. $110 for 2 door.
road noise reduce abt 30%

 

[Dragon]

Personally I find that road noise is almost impossible to block out significantly on expressway tarmac, especially if you drive a low profile car. Or anyone managed to cut out road noise significantly, do share your tips.

 

[edmundwave]

confuse le... some say sp door can block road noise some say cannt.

Which is real?

 

[gohsj89]

did my autoimage at sim ming using soundguard. $110 for 2 door.
road noise reduce abt 30%

you did single layer.
i did double layer thus 2 door = $220 =P