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Noise Reduction Options...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Gunjee, Jul 16, 2014.

  1. Gunjee

    Gunjee Junior Member

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    Most of the threads regarding sound proofing the Prius date back to 2012. I'm just refreshing the topic to see if there are any newer options available...

    I recently upgraded my wheels from 15" 195/65/15 to 17" 215/45/17. I have definitely noticed a reduction in the outside noise, but, there is still some areas with noise. I hear whooshing through the driver side door as I'm racing down the highway. I sometimes feel some of that whooshing down by the pedals too. I also notice a rattling sound from the hatchback every time I go over an extremely bumpy road...not sure if that's the plastic spoiler on the hatchback...?

    I don't want to go overboard and sound proof the roof, floors, head lights / tail lights, etc. I'm mainly interested in enjoying the JBL sound system, and losing some of the whooshing sounds. So is Dynamat the solution for this, in all four doors? What about the trunk? I'd appreciate any feedback / suggestions from you guys who have dabbled with sound proofing. Thanks...!
     
  2. burstaneurysm

    burstaneurysm Active Member

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    Any soundproofing you add will help reduce noise. From what I hear, doing the four doors yields very positive results.
    I'm planning on doing my doors in the fall.
     
  3. Gunjee

    Gunjee Junior Member

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    I've been doing some research online, and I see that Thermozite Insulator Padding is a cheaper alternative to Dynamat. I've also read some people's threads that state that they had good results from just padding the cargo area. I might just give this a try - it won't hurt, and I really don't have to take a bunch of panels apart...

    Anyone have feedback on Thermozite...?
    Did you notice an improvement when just padding the cargo area...?
     
  4. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    I don't think the Thermozite Insulator Padding will give you what you want in isolation. It may be a good decoupling device, but will likely do little from a noise-reduction standpoint. The typical full or multipe layers of Dynamat is overkill and you quickly hit a point of diminishing returns.

    Check out Welcome to Sound Deadener Showdown | Sound Deadener Showdown for what I feel seems to be one of the best researched noise reduction methods. Here's a good thread from someone who applied the concept to his Prius: Total Sound Makeover - Sound Deadening, Speakers, Processor, Amp, and Subwoofer | PriusChat
     
  5. Gunjee

    Gunjee Junior Member

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    mrstop, thanks for the links. As much as I'd like to do a total sound makeover, this is simply not practical for me. I guess I'm just going to have to put up with the noise since there's not that much traction with this thread...
     
  6. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Again, this is more than you wanted to do, but I got good results:
    Dynamat 2.0 | PriusChat
    Also, that whooshing noise could be air flowing into the seam between the front edge of the door and the front fender. No one has come up with a good seal for that as yet. My old Caddy had a rubber seal that was attached to the edge of the door and when it closed, it sealed off that gap ending wind noise.
    Oh yes, your hatch noise could be caused by the rain spacers...I'd have thought Toyota would have solved that by now!! I used sticky-backed felt from Michaels to make covers for the spacers and that stopped my hatch noises.
    Spacer felted view 1.jpg
    Spacer felted view 2.jpg
     
  7. Gunjee

    Gunjee Junior Member

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    Phoenixgreg, thanks for the tip on the rain spacers. Funny thing, as I inspected my rain spacers and closed the hatchback, I noticed that the rattling sound came from my license plate frame. Since there are no screws on the bottom half on the license plate, that seems to be rattling on bumpy roads...

    I guess I'm going to have to look at another type of license plate frame. I did notice that the rain spacers still look like metal on metal contact, so I will add the felt tape just to play it safe - any noise reduction helps...!

    Yes, your Dynamat project seems like a lot of work...! What about B-Quiet - I'm also seeing a lot of thread traffic on this stuff...anyone have comments on B-Quiet...?

    I just happened to be passing by a stereo shop today and spoke to one of the guys. He quoted me $80 per door for sound deadening. I didn't get into specifics - but I believe that includes the material. I checked them out on Google, and they got a lot of positive customer reviews. Is this a fair price...?
     
  8. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    I really can't say if $80 per door is fair or not - and it depends on how much material the shop really adds. Once the doors are back in place, you the customer won't know just what they did. I used Dynamat on all of my 4 doors too which make a big difference. Here's a shot of the passenger door exposed:
    Pruis door Dynamat 001.JPG
     
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  9. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I see that you covered the doors basically completely, didn't you aloud an opening for some humidity ventilation ?If not Dynamat name brand, there are other competitive products in the market with similar characteristics and end results.
     
  10. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Humidity isn't too much of concern here, but I believe there is slot all along the top on the inside where humidity could escape. The biggest problem would be access to PDL and PWR window mechanisms, if they should ever fail. Then you or a tech would have to cut away the Dynamat to get at the device. I hope it never happens to me! I will say the sound-deadening is very noticeable and an added bonus is the improved performance of the OEM door speakers.
     
  11. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    What about adding some of the material to the inside surface of the outside sheet metal to dampen that also? It sounds like an oil drum lid everytime I shut one of the doors.
     
  12. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    One of our members shows doing that - I can't locate the post. It would dampen the sheet metal sound by doing that - adding a panel of Dynamat to the inside surface of the outer sheet metal on the door.
     
  13. pmike

    pmike Member

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    Its quieter than our 2012 Civic so I think its fine for price class it is in. I am finding that new tires are quieter and they start getting nosier as they wear.
     
  14. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I have made that on my former 2004 and it really does improve the resonance of the door. I remember applying
    several large square pieces on that sheet metal, mostly in the center.
     
  15. prinut

    prinut Pri Nut

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    What about applying a sheet of cork just like the Dynamat?
    I don't know if there is access to the inside surface of the outside sheet metal, but I believe that could help too. Thoughts from anyone?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I'm not sure why that would be. Our Canadian Touring model comes with 215/45R17, and also has some sort of heavy paper liner in the rear wheel wells. I've a vague recollection that the liners were to counteract the noise increase associated with the 17" rims. I switch to 195/65R15 snow tires every winter, not sure, but they might be marginally quieter.

    You're likely going ahead regardless, but just my 2 cents, sound deadening seems like a lot of disassembly (and potential damage), added weight, to resolve a non problem.
     
  17. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    This is not a problem, most likely a nuisance issue.
    I went similar route on the former 2004 and it is a real difference with similar product.
     
  18. kenniekenken

    kenniekenken Member

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    I did this and the interior noise seems to be now isolated to the front side/engine bay, mostly from the wind. The floor noise is now at a level I'm satisfied. Will follow up on undercoating later.
    What I did here was peel of the carpet, did some selective patching on the tinny areas, applied sound deadener, then rubber matting as a decoupler. On the carpet side I glued another layer of rubber matting to the OEM layer. Take note of the image just above the (right)yellow pin/clip as this is really hollow sounding and very annoying. This was done for both driver and front passenger areas.
     

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    #18 kenniekenken, Apr 6, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2015
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  19. kenniekenken

    kenniekenken Member

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    More noise reduction activities today... Got me some recycled denim insulation from my local hardware store. Also did the rear wheel well liners but wasn't able to snap photos as it started to pour so had to rush to put the trim panels back, lol!
     

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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    We have some sort of paper liners in the rear wheel wells, I think due to OEM 17" rims with Touring package. Is that what you got? There's studs protruding on the wheel well, the paper liner has corresponding holes, and there's plastic nuts with a metal insert that screw down onto the studs, to hold the liner in place. Plus some REALLY hard to remove fasteners (2 I believe) at the back corner, and one at the front corner that captures the wheel spat piece as well. The latter is a hopeless, rusty POS (thanks Toyo), I've replaced it with nylon license plate nuts/bolts.