Stop rear guard stone noise with truck spray suppression matting?

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Hi Brains trust,

One of the very few things that annoys me about my Defender is the noise stones make hitting the rear guard when travelling on dirt roads.

I was thinking something similar to that matting that trucks have on mud flaps for spray suppression would be great, but stuffed if I know what it is called and/or where to get it in a large enough size for the inner guard.

What I am after is a hard bristled mat, not soft bristled like artificial grass.

Does anyone know what it is called and/or where to get it in a useful size?

Failing that, what are other folks doing to minimise the noise back there? Aside from just turning up the radio... ;)

Thanks in advance...

[spudboy]

What about "Spray On Ute Liner" black stuff? I've seen it at the local crash repairs shop.

Will see if I can find a link to the stuff....

[spudboy]

It might have been this:

SPEEDLINER™ is waterproof and is highly resistant to most chemicals. It is the only product of its type that can be sprayed, rolled and brushed, allowing non slip additives to be easily added. SPEEDLINER™'s thickness can be applied from 1mm to 150 mm whatever the application requires, making it's range of uses unlimited.

Speedliner 1000 (http://www.speedlineraustralia.com.au/index.html/SL1000.html)

[simmo]

Hi FWD, I noticed the same thing but I have my ply wood deck there with some carpet over it that helps, storage space underneath.that makes the car a lot quieter.
The thing that annoyed more than the noise was the mud that collected under there. On the rear cross member, on the frame in front of the wheel on the fuel filer pipe. No wonder defenders have so many corrosion issues on the chassis and rear cross member.

I folded a sheet of 2 mm aluminium the shape of the inside of the wheel arch, in on piece and attached to to the frame in front of the wheel and the at the back where the rear mudflap attaches. The stones hit it and still make noise but it's not the skin you see on the inside so it reduces the noise. If you put a coating of mastic or one of the other products discussed on it will further reduce the noise. When you somewhere muddy the mud fall off the smooth " inner " mugard of aluminum. The cross member and chassis in front of the wheel don't get mud stuck to them. When you go on the beach they don't get salty sand sprayed everywhere.

[Dorian]

HI FWD
I am looking for a long term solution as well.
There is a previous which the guy has used a plastic curved truck liner bent into submission. It's on my list to do. But maybe I'll look at your idea, I think it's got a lot going for it.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/193704-rear-wheel-arch-liner.html
Search for "Spray Suppression Mud Flaps", "Water Suppression Mud Flaps" or " Mud Suppression Flaps" that looks to me like what you are after. Trucking mate of mine gave me the words to search for.

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Thanks for the replies so far!

Assuming I can get my hands on the matting I am after, then the plan was to put it hard up against the top of the inner guard, then curve it down where a normal wheel arch would be, finishing at the rear mud flap.

That would give max articulation / space for tyres above the axles, stop gunk hammering the rear cross member / fuel filler, and provide some forwards protection from when I am spinning wheels in reverse!

Although if I was going to leave a gap to the top of the inner guard, simmos idea of a smooth surface (metal or rubber) does have a lot going for it. I'm lazy so "self cleaning" is a great idea!

The Speedliner stuff sounds interesting - might have to do some more digging on that one but I suspect it will need to be fairly thick (5mm+?) to deaden the impact noise.

[Toxic_Avenger]

Truck trailer supply stores would know what it is / where to get it.
SX trailers for example.
Parts catalogue here:
http://www.sxtrailers.com.au/resources/parts/accessories.pdf

[Babs]

Supercheap Auto, I bought the Septone bitumes tar. Forgot what it's called, either rust proofing or sound proofing. Either way it's made by Septone and you will know it when you see it.

It's applied with a paint brush, I put it on fairly thick and a couple of layers. Haven't heard a rock since.

Heads up, put thinner layers multiple times, allow for drying in between.

Quick and easy application.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Didge]

I've been thinking for quite a while about using some of those heavy duty plastic wheel arches/ mud guards that prime movers use on the rear wheels and on the trailers. Cut it to width and length and screw into place. Tough and hopefully will do the job.

[Blade74]

I pulled out my rubber mat inside the car and did a layer of dynamat then a product called wave bar which is a mass loaded vinyl.
I then put the rubber mat in on top of the two layers and presto no more rock noises, tyre noise or exhaust noises.