Octavia Wagon sound deadening

[Transporter]

back on topic, you can buy 8mx2.4m of recylced foam rubber underlay with a plasticy foily type backing from bunnings for about $80. I've used in in my mk1s for sound deadening where i also didnt want to add weight and it does a reasonable job. Its just so cheap for such a big quanitity and id chemically inert.

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to change the rubber mat in my T5, I'm going to use marine grade carpet and will put the Bunnings underlay under it.

[gldgti]

yeah I'm going to do the boot of my octy wagon aswell. I don't like adding too much weight but this is very light stuff.

[brad]

Went and looked at the $77 Dunlop underlay in Bunnings. It seemed like overkill.

bought a $47 roll (1m x 10m) of Lamilay Premium Gold Sound Reducing Cushion Underlay used with timber floating floors. 3mm foam with a gold foil backing. The whole roll weighs maybe 750grams so it won't add too much weight. I think the biggest concern will be durability when used in the spare wheel well.

[bobski]

Went and looked at the $77 Dunlop underlay in Bunnings. It seemed like overkill.

bought a $47 roll (1m x 10m) of Lamilay Premium Gold Sound Reducing Cushion Underlay used with timber floating floors. .

Let us know how you go brad I don't really have a problem with the noise, but if its a noticeable difference I might as well give it a tweak!

[brad]

I drive on a fair bit of course chip bitumen & the roar really annoys me. Something like the M5 & they are OK

The Michelin Primacy (or whatever they are) have done 20,000km now & don't look overly worn but I'm sure they are noisier than when new.

[brad]

Pulled the car apart on Saturday. Sorry, no photos because I was a bit busy (forgot I was on "babysitting" duties for Mum who has severe dementia).
Basic disassembly notes for a hatch/sedan:

• Remove luggage hooks - 2.5mm (?) torx
• remove the net hooks near the interior lights - #2 phillips
• remove the hatch cover
• put the rear seat bases forward & the rear seat backs flat
• remove/unscrew the 3 buttons that hold the carpet down (up near the seats)
• lft the spare wheel cover/carpet & manipulate it forward onto the rear seats. You'll probably have to bend it a bit & wedge it against the roof.
• remove the spare wheel & the big plastic thing that holds it down.
• remove the plastic 10mm nuts from the rear panel (with the safety triangle area). Prise the panel upwards - there are about 8 clips.
• passenger side panel. There are no screws but you have to wrestle it, bend it & think you are going to destroy it. Unplug the interior light halfway through.
• As above but the net is held onto the body with a push grommet. Use a screwdriver to get it out.
• handy hint: DO NOT remove the seat bolsters

After all that, cut various shapes of foam to cover the quarter panels & wheel tubs. Spray-on contact adhesive would probably be best but I didn't have any so I used liquid nails. I didn't get overly carried away trying to cover every square mm of panel either. I glued it foil side to the panels.
Cut & glue more bits to go around the vertical part of the spare wheel well.
For the horizontal parts of the wheel well & general cargo area, I just laid the stuff flat on the assumption that the carpet & spare tyre would hold it all in place.
I used a single 3mm layer - mainly because I didn't have enough glue but you could layer the foam if desired.

Re-assembly requires another wrestle with the side panels but eventually they pop into place.

Before putting the seat bases back to their usual position, I put 2 layers of foam under the back seats (hidden by the carpet), again there was no glue used.

From what I can see, apart from the actual carpet, there is very little (none?) sound insulation besides the actual carpet. If you ever have to take the seats out then you could do wonders.

Was it effective? I have no idea. Haven't driven the car yet but it won't be any worse.

How long did it take? It took me 6 hours but I had several interuptions. There was probably 4 hours of actual work & now I've done it it would probably take 2-3hrs. Spray contact adhesive would be great.

Alternatives? Pull the wheels off, remove the guard liners & go crazy with some bitumised paint. Messy but effective.

I still have 6.5m of foam left if anyone wants some. $4.70/m

[RSOK]

Sounds like a heck of a thorough job Brad! I'm sure the payoff will be worth it, a better-isolated and slightly quieter interior ambience can't be a bad thing given the number of coarse-surface roads in and around Sydney.

[brad]

Happy to report that it has made a difference.
Didn't drive on course-chip today - just the normal KGR/M5/F5/Nepean rd commute from home to Campbelltown and it has definately blunted the noise. I guess it stands to reason that noise won't bounce around as much off foam as it will a hard metal surface (truly, there is no anti-drum compound in those rear quarter panels at all).

What I like about this stuff is it is so light. I figure I added about 250grams to the weight of the car. Bitumised deadener would have been double that.

[kamold]

Hi Brad,
I'd be interested in the leftover material if you still have it once my Octavia arrives next week. Would also be happy to pay you in beer or whatever you fancy for your guidance to do the job now that you have already done it. Experience is invaluable.

[dazag]

I have dynamat left over from a previous job and have used some of it in the rear cargo area and under the rear seats. I need to pull the cargo area side trim off to complete the job.
But the main area i want to use the dynamat is the lower part of the outer door skins. Next time you're at your Octavia, tap the upper door skin and then the lower door skin, you'll notice there doesn't seem to be the same amount of deadening on the lower part of the door. And this is the area that is right next to your wheels and allows a fair bit of road noise in. also your stereo speakers are in the same spot. So I will need to work out hoe to remove the door trim so i can deaden the doors - to reduce road noise and to help the speakers work more effeiciently. Will have the camera out with me when I do it........

[kamold]

Anyone used this stuff?

SuperShield Car Sound Deadening Mat | Vibration Dampening | Acoustic Insulation | Car Audio | Dynamat Alternative

$150 for 3.4m2

Looks like it might be the same as what Brad posted from ebay maybe?

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/705-53470-19255-0/1?campid=5336618722&toolid=10001&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SOUND-DEADENER-MAT-CAR-AUDIO-RESTORER-HOT-ROD-/160584775213?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item256399362d

[brad]

Hi Brad,
I'd be interested in the leftover material if you still have it once my Octavia arrives next week. Would also be happy to pay you in beer or whatever you fancy for your guidance to do the job now that you have already done it. Experience is invaluable.

No worries. Don't mind helping / showing. Two people would make it much quicker.

[kamold]

Am driving it back from Melbourne tomorrow so good chance to see what it sounds like with nothing in the boot.

[kamold]

Drove back from Melbourne yesterday and was actually pretty happy with the overall road noise. I had the boot cover pulled fully out not sure if that made any difference.
When I was on some coarse chip sections however it was definitely noticeable and had to turn the music up.
Will be going down the path of adding some suppression in the boot area after the report from brad.

[gldgti]

I found I had about 5 sqm of the dunlop underlay leftover from ages ago, so I cut it to suit the floor of the boot under the stock carpet on saturday evening.

This week I've noticed driving to work its much quieter in the car. Win!