Sound deadener

[dorlandm]

Okay last night I installed 3/4" neoprene rubber in my trunk floor and under the backseat. To start I have two layers of FATMAT in the entire trunk. Spare tire well, sides of trunk, back of back seat etc... and that worked pretty well to keep the noise down. It was noticeable but not awesome. The neoprene I simply cut the same pattern as my carpeted pad and slipped it in. The back seat was simpple as well I just used the greenish under pad for the template and put it in.

WELL...WHAT I HUGE DIFFERENCE!!! My search for Lexus like solitude is over!! The back end is simply MUTE! No more thunk over small imperfections in the road. A lot less exhaust noise, I mean truly noticeable.

I got the stuff from www.thefoamfactory.com in MI and used the 80 x 48 sheet $64 plus some shipping. I am going to buy more and try to shut down the front of the car like the back. For the money, I would HIGHLY recommend it. The brown bread, dynamat, fatmat, b-quiet etc... are okay at stopping vibration and do some to stop noise but 3/4" NEOPRENE!!!! Kicked A$$!

Please do this to your car and try not to fall asleep behind the wheel!

Mark

[jayfox911]

This?
http://www.closedcellfoams.com/neoprene.html

[gatiman]

I'm just curious, with all that fresh rubber in the cabin does it reek like Friday night hooker?

[dorlandm]

I like that smell!

NO it does not small one bit. The stuff is like a wet suit material. I spoke to the folks at thefoamfactory and they have been selling this stuff to marine/boat builders for years to use in the engine compartment! Yacht builders started using it to keep the racket down onboard and it seems to work really well. Second day with it and just am in love with it. I wanted to ride in the back seat on the way to work today it was just so quiet!

I am telling you get some of this stuff and try it! It WILL BE the best $60 or so you have ever spent! I just can't say enough good things. I have been contemplating a LS460 for the level of solituted in the cabin but now I do not have to!!! YES!

[dorlandm]

Hello JAYFOX911

Yes that is the stuff. You can do 1/2" or 3/4" i went for 3/4" but they actually suggested 1/2"

GET IT!!!!

[relentless1]

dorlandm: I've been interested in using some type of sound dampening material to quiet the noise in the cabin and this seems like a very cheap alternative to dynomat. How do you plan on doing the front? I never sit in the back seat and 95% of the time its just me in the car so I care more about quieting the front.
Would it be possible for you to show a picture of how you did the trunk? TIA!

[dorlandm]

relentless1:
I did not take pictures and it is beyond my limited scope to post pics on this site
BUT, it was super easy. I just used the carpet and pad as my template. Used a sharpie marker to trace it and then some industrial skiccors or a cerated knife will do to cut it out.

As for the front of the car, that will be a problem. There is no room between the dash and firewall to stuff this stuff and I am not planning to take my dash or interior apart so I am going to use the 1/2" neoprene and cut out templates of my floor mats (all weather "weathertech") and put that under my mats to see if that helps. My thoughts are since that will cover most of the floor board it should help. Let you know Monday. I also will look under the hood to see if I can put some anywhere along the firewall or wheel wells. This stuff is waterproof so as long as it is not in a really hot area it will hold up. It can also be glued to things so I will see if there are any places to attach this stuff.

Hope that helps?

[szh]

Excellent info, thanks!

Z

[antzrus]

Geez, so much work. I just turn down my hearing aids...

[relentless1]

Definately makes sense! Can't wait to hear how you do the front. Please keep us posted!

[dorlandm]

hey antzrus:

I have been reading this forum a long time and you seem to have good input and a good sense of humor!

I don't know if Quiet is important to you but if you ride in some serious high end cars S MB 7 BMW Lexus etc...you get back in ours anf the only difference is the backround noise! So I figure if I can muffle that I have the PERFECT car.

Love the all wheel drive in MI winters!

[antzrus]

hey antzrus:

I have been reading this forum a long time and you seem to have good input and a good sense of humor!

I don't know if Quiet is important to you but if you ride in some serious high end cars S MB 7 BMW Lexus etc...you get back in ours anf the only difference is the backround noise! So I figure if I can muffle that I have the PERFECT car.

Love the all wheel drive in MI winters!

Actually I don't have hearing aids, yet. My wife thinks I need'em. I call it spousal selective hearing...

Your recommendations are really quite good for noise suppression for those who want the Lexus/BMW like decibels. But then you don't want to completely muffle the "sports" part of our "luxury sports sedan."

Yes, the X models rock in our snowy climes-w/excellent all seasons or snows. An inch our two more clearance for the X wouldn't hurt either.

[dorlandm]

okay did the under all weather floor mats with the 1/2" neoprene and I would say it helped! Not a huge a difference as the trunk/backseat but some affect. If I were doing it again, I would use the 1/4" thick for under the floor mats so they do not stick up as much. It does not affect the way the floor mats lay and so far have not had any issues with them moving, shifting or some how rolling up on itself. The firewall is next it was just not a good weekend for me to do it. Bought a Yamaha Warrior!!!! The next toy!!!!

[options28]

Greetings,

Just ordered up the 1/2 inch sheet to do the trunk and rear seat. Doesn't sound that difficult to me Antz, and you're alot younger than I. I will let you know how it goes for me. Thanks Dorland for the goood idea.

Stan

[dorlandm]

I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR YOUR REACTION!!! It is that good. Use a sharpie to outline the trunk mat and a good pair of skiccors or a cerated knife, utility knife will rip it not cut it.

Mark

[options28]

OK Mark, the foam arrived today and I installed it as you instructed . It was an easy fix and after test driving, I too am impressed with the quiet it brings to the cabin. In my opinion well worth the $60 investment(includes shipping) for the 1/2 inch sheet.
In the trunk I just cut the foam to match my cargo mat as it is well contoured to the floor, layed the foam on the trunk floor and the cargo mat on top of the foam. When I removed the rear seat the green felt pad was moved to the rear of the seat and thus not insulating as it should.
Used the pad as a template and then layed it back on top of the foam after it was cut to fit.
It was all easy and really does make a difference, I was skeptical but it does work.

Stan

[FNAWSM]

did you guys go with the "regular" or the "high quality"?

[options28]

Regular(it's less $)

[WirelessAndy]

Does the 80" x 48" sheet have enough to cover both trunk AND under the rear seat?

[FNAWSM]

Regular(it's less $)

yeah, but its density value was a 5.5 versus a 9 for the "high quality". I wonder how much of a difference there is between the two. Options28, knowing what you know now and the results after install, would you do it again or no? remember, honesty is the best policy

[antzrus]

Greetings,

Just ordered up the 1/2 inch sheet to do the trunk and rear seat. Doesn't sound that difficult to me Antz, and you're alot younger than I. I will let you know how it goes for me. Thanks Dorland for the goood idea.

Stan

OK, it's relatively easy and cheap. But let's not get carried away. You've got an M, not a luxo cruiser Lexus/MB...

[dorlandm]

OH ANTZRUS!! Please, we are Lexus "Wanbees"

Glad it worked for you as well!! I did the under floor mats this weekend and it is "quieter" but not as dramatic as the trunk/back seat. There is just no easy way to get to the firewall where I think it would really help. I will try to find some spaces under the hood towards the firewall this weekend and report back!

Now two weeks into the trunk/back seats I can STILL Tell it made a difference since I went on some different roads then the normal back and forth to work.

Still say it is a great way to spend $60.

I went to the "TOY STORE" a local dealer that sells all high end bikes, boats, sports cars etc... and showed him the neoprene! He was puzzled and then a light bulb went off! "Hey they use that same stuff under the cowl of this Checkmate boat over here!" Sure enough it was exactly the same material. Not the high density (it feels much more rigid) but the same stuff we used. I have a feeling there might be some neoprene in the next Mercedes Benz convertible going out of his place since he looked right over at the 600SL on his lot like "That needs this treatment!"

Glad it worked! PASS THE WORD!!

Mark

[dorlandm]

Does the 80" x 48" sheet have enough to cover both trunk AND under the rear seat?

Hello:

Yes it does. there is plenty!! Good luck and with your exhaust it will really make a difference!!

[WirelessAndy]

Just ordered some of the high quality stuff with the higher density. $78.99 total.

[dorlandm]

You WILL NOT be sorry!!!

I will also take the smaller remaining pieces and put them over the wheel well in the trunk since when I did one layer of FATMAT it helped and then I did a second layer a few week later and it was again a nice decrease in noise! So to my ears that is a very vulnerable area. Infiniti tried to put some vibration/noise canceling materials into the car but it seems like an after thought. Not to brag up Lexus too much but they achieve quiet by sandwiching metal/poly/metal and super thick glass. So with the neoprene we are trying to create a similar thing but the glass is what it is. Too that point with all that I have done, the windows now seem to be where I notice road noise coming from.

Still working on dead silent but each step seems to help.

Good luck!!

[relentless1]

Im convinced!

FYI: Free shipping on orders over $75!

Just placed an order for:
NE-HQ-0-5F 1/2" Neoprene Foam (HQ) - Full Sheet 80x48 1 $55.99 $55.99
NE-HQ-0-25H 1/4" Neoprene Foam (HQ) - Half Sheet 80x24 1 $20.99 $20.99

Shipping: Free Shipping: $0.00
Sales Tax: $0.00
Total: $76.98

[dorlandm]

WINNING!!!!!

[paigoomein]

anyone have instructions/steps on how to remove the rear seat for installation?

OK Mark, the foam arrived today and I installed it as you instructed . It was an easy fix and after test driving, I too am impressed with the quiet it brings to the cabin. In my opinion well worth the $60 investment(includes shipping) for the 1/2 inch sheet.
In the trunk I just cut the foam to match my cargo mat as it is well contoured to the floor, layed the foam on the trunk floor and the cargo mat on top of the foam. When I removed the rear seat the green felt pad was moved to the rear of the seat and thus not insulating as it should.
Used the pad as a template and then layed it back on top of the foam after it was cut to fit.
It was all easy and really does make a difference, I was skeptical but it does work.

Stan

[relentless1]

anyone have instructions/steps on how to remove the rear seat for installation?

Taken from: pa15-infi-t516192.html

"There's two pull tab/rings. Sit in the back seat and put your hand between your legs where the seat meets the carpet is about where they are. DO NOT PULL ON THEM TOO HARD!!! They are not designed very well. I grabbed the ring with one hand and the seat bottom with the other and jiggled them both until the seat came loose."

[MasterFoo]

Great thread and idea, thanks for sharing!