Soundproofing my 90!

[YOLO110]

Having driven my 90 for a few thousand km, I thought it was time to make it a more pleasant environment to live with, especially with reducing the road noise! After much reading on here and other forums, I decided on a strategy, fitting Dynamat Extreme, then a mass loaded vinyl, then a quality carpet with sound deadening properties as well!

The whole lot has been work in progress for several months... I went through a phase of wanting to leave the rear seats out and just install a rear cargo drawer leaving me with a lovely flat floor! But having driven around without seats for a couple of months, the practicality of that waned and I decided to proceed with the rear seats installed!

So, first job was to remove the rear seats (heavy!) and all the associated hardware! Dynamat installed, very sticky stuff so you have one go to get it in the right place! I made templates for the forward end of the wheel wells and over the fuel filler cap. Being summer, it was lovely and sticky from the get-go, but a good hard roller ensures a nice finish!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/709.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/fxmneb93v/full/)

It took 2 full packs to do the entire area, minimal wastage.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/710.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/upe3dg14f/full/)

Once the dynamite was down, it was much quieter! I was very surprised how such a thin layer worked so well, stopping the panel vibrations and resonance makes a big difference!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/711.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/yvw1g0qxd/full/)

Then came the mass loaded vinyl. Lots to choose from, but I finally settled on a product made by Pyroteknc in Sydney called Wavebar Quadzero. I chose the 4KG/meter version... It's only about 2mm thick and quite flexible. It offers a big jump up in sound absorption from the 2kg stuff, but is nearly as effective but is not as thick as the 8kg/meter version which was 5mm.

I use my carpet sections to mark up then cut out templates for the Quadzero. Easy to cut using a craft knife. I then used SikaFlex contact adhesive to secure this in place over the top of the DynaMat. I did this outdoors with all the windows open and a respirator mask on as this glue stinks! Again, the contact adhesive is VERY sticky so definitely a once only chance of getting it in the right place and alignment from the get-go! As a 'one man job', this was challenging as it's heavy too! One side done!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/712.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/fjdp204zd/full/)

All done!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/713.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/na4d4x7sj/full/)

The combined thickness was now the Dynamat plus the Quadzero! Too think to re-install the seat frames to line up with the holes, so I cut around these and peeled off the Quadzero leaving just the Dynamat. This was perfect.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/714.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h93vhi3sp/full/)

Next came the carpet install! I had decided to use the great product made by LRI in the UK. Apparently it is Jaguar carpet, it's certainly a nice quality. In view of the fact that I may want to remove the carpet for cleaning or access, I decided not to use contact adhesive, but rather industrial strength double sided tape to fasten it in place. Some careful measuring up using 4 lengths. Despite the self stick of the tape, it was till not enough too really stay secured to the back of the carpet, so I once again used contact adhesive to secure the tape to the carpet face.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/715.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/h04jrol45/full/)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/716.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/w3vb9iwv9/full/)

Both sides now installed. Some very minor trimming required but otherwise a perfect fitting carpet from LRI. The only pieces not included for some reason were the wheel arch faces and the fuel filler neck. I bought a small piece of black automotive quality carpet and using the same templates I had used for the dynamat, I cut out pieces to suit and contact adhesive these in place.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/717.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/kg7bpdior/full/)

The floor piece is thicker and comes with a sound deadening material backing. Once again, this fitted perfectly with no trimming required. Very impressive from LRI, thanks!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/718.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/cfebt6mz7/full/)

Finally, got the seats back in, heavier to re-install by myself! I finished off the job by replacing and installing the rear door 'kick strip' with lovely brushed Stainless Steel versions from Brendan at 4X4 Overland in the UK. Spot on fit and looks very smart!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/02/719.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/ysslgeuu5/full/)

Really pleased with the whole job! Not only is the Defender MUCH quieter now (my other half even commented on it!) but it looks really great too! Plans now to do the front in the same way!

Cheers, Pete :D

[AlecW]

Well done, looks like a great job! Need to do the same down the track

[GypsySamuraiAnt]

Nek level Pete, awesome job mate!

[defender_i_hardly_know_er]

It's raining, you're on a highway doing 100km/h; do you still have to talk over the car to your passenger or can you talk normally?

[YOLO110]

It's raining, you're on a highway doing 100km/h; do you still have to talk over the car to your passenger or can you talk normally?

Never been out in the rain! :D

Seriously, I don't have to now turn the radio volume down when I slow down after listening to it at 100kph. It has made a great difference... and with the front to do in the same way I think it will be even quieter!

A lot of work, but worth it and enjoyable to do too :D

[mattp]

I imagine I'll end up doing the same once I've got the 110, that's very useful to know which mass-loaded vinyl and carpet you went with as it's hard to narrow down the options. My only concern is if any water leaks in from the seams will it sit under the Dynamat and cause rust, but I'm not sure if this is a real issue or not.

[Aguy]

You did a great job there, looks factory!
:)

[YOLO110]

I imagine I'll end up doing the same once I've got the 110, that's very useful to know which mass-loaded vinyl and carpet you went with as it's hard to narrow down the options. My only concern is if any water leaks in from the seams will it sit under the Dynamat and cause rust, but I'm not sure if this is a real issue or not.

'IF' water leaks!

Yes... I get where you are coming from... So I don't think I would have done this job in the UK! But in Oz, my theory is that IF mine leaks, which I have no evidence to date that it does, that any water would quickly evaporate! Besides, the panels are all Aluminium and so won't 'rust'.

I prefer the new level of quietness, rather than the 'worry' over something that may or may not happen. :)

[Pickles2]

Top job Pete, you have done a ripper job.
Well done, Martin.

[barkingmad]

Nice job... looks almost "County" spec with carpet in the back :P I have got seats out at the moment and couple of packs of dynamat extreme that arrived last week so am about to embark on the same job.

I was planning on doing extreme in the back and doors, with extreme followed by dynaliner over the transmission tunnel and roof to reduce heat. Did you do any sound measuring with the different layers of insulation beyond the rudimentary stereo volume at 100km? Specifically do you think the gains of the mass loaded vinyl worth the effort/cost/weight over the dynamat extreme and carpet alone?

[Meccles]

Great job! Am rebuilding 2 Door RRC and also have some dynamat for same reason. And, reading all car stereo forums, the Mass Loaded Vinyl is way to go...had never heard of it before! Re rust, the ad's for the dynamat reckon that due to it's construction this shouldn't be a problem. The older sound deadening was as water remained absorbed in it, the newer stuff that doesn't theoretically happen.

[gcla]

I put Dynamat and Dynaliner in just the real loadspace and the footwells and overthe tranny tunnel and then put the LR rubber mats in over the top.Incredible difference it has made. I also put Heatshielding under the tranny tunnel from below using Heatshield and also used wrapping around the exhaust to cool everything down . This has made a significant change to the heat soak the floor picks up.Worth very cent and time an effort to get this done the Car really feels so much more solid to drive. will be doing teh same to my series 2 a shortly to see if i get the same results on the older car!

[Wheatos]

Appreciate the efforts Pete to share in great detail. :thumbsup:

After notching up nearly 4000km over the Christmas holidays, the wife and I did a list of improvements. Sound proofing was one. We have a 7 seater 110, and the novelty of sitting in the rear seat for the kids very quickly disappeared when they realised they were completely missing out on a meaningful discussion because they couldn't hear a thing. It's bad enough talking to someone next to you, let alone 2 rows back!

Though my main priority is fixing the water ingress through the drivers and front passengers door. On the highway, in rain, it doesn't take too long for the drip /spray onto the outer foot. (Insert umbrella emoji).

My only question in doing all this sound proofing properly, is what is the additonal weight? It would add up, and over a long trip, it all makes a difference. That said, our beasts aren't perfect, so there will always be trade offs.

[noyakfat]

I just had my 110 in for a service. I mentioned the recent heavy rain in Canberra had resulted in lots of dripping on my right foot when i turned right (body roll to left) and the fact that my front passenger foot well gained a small puddle into the deep dish floor mat.

The reply, "I checked with the service team. They said it's a common thing with Defenders."

No **** Sherlock! I didn't worry about pushing the issue this time. I did have a niggling thought about any water ingress that may be ending up on more sensitive things (vehicle wise) than my or my wife's feet.

[YOLO110]

Thanks guys!

There was a noticeable difference with just the Dynamat installed before I added the Quadzero MLV. But even more so when I added that and the carpet. I cannot comment on just either/or as I put the carpet straight down!

As far as weight is concerned, its really not that much! The QuadZero mass loaded vinyl I used was 4kg/sq meter. So about 20kg all up? Doing the whole car would add about 40kg, hardly noticeable I think...

I won't use the Quadzero in the drivers footwells as I want that area left 'clean' to cater for the inevitable water leaks! But DynaMat certainly will go there.

Very happy! :>)

[DieselDan]

Nice job!

The option that I went for from Pyrotek is their "Kenworth Matting" product.
It's not listed on their website, but I rang their Victoria branch in Dandenong, explaining what I was after and it was what they offered me.
It is essentially the 4kg/m2 mass loaded vinyl with a 10mm PU 'foam' type material underneath. The vinyl top layer is also patterned to look similar to the stuff already in the Defender, so it doesn't need an additional carpet on top and as the name suggests is what they provide for Kenworth trucks!
The advantage of this is that the vinyl heavy layer is spaced off the existing floor pan by the 10mm of the (waterproof) PU layer. This is more effective in reducing the transmission loss of the floor panel than applying the heavy layer direct to the floor itself (I've waffled on about this in another thread somewhere so I'll see if I can find it...).

It works well for normal road noise (tarmac) but I haven't gone down the dynamat layer underneath yet so I still get a fair bit of panel vibration/resonance over corrugations etc.

Before I did any insulation work, I also parked in the garage and with the brightest LED light I could get I switched this on inside the cabin. I then laid underneath with a tube of sikaflex sealant sealing up everywhere I could see light shining through...!!

[YOLO110]

Nice one!

Look forward to hearing your feedback too! :>)