Defender 110 Acoustic Matting

[Gerard_A]

Hi guys,
I'm back with another question. I'm just getting the interior sorted on my 2006 Defender (R380) and was wondering if there were any cheap solutions for acoustic matting?

Unfortunately the matting (and the rubber mats) have developed holes and tears all over, not to mention, non-existent in the middle and back. The solutions from Exmoor trim are a bit pricey and was wondering if anyone has found any decent alternatives?

Cheers

[rar110]

I used this product and it’s very strong, so will last for years. It’s not cheap but worth the investment IMHO.


R380 Mat (http://www.wrightoffroad.com/r380_mat.htm)

I also used vibration damping material.

Stinger Expert Roadkill Vibration Damping Material - Autobarn (https://www.autobarn.com.au/stinger-expert-roadkill-vibration-damping-material)

[Dorian]

Bellis do a range of materials for acoustic insulation solutions

Quick-look - Bellis Australia (https://bellis.com.au/quick-look/)

Unfortunately their web site is poor on info, and because there market is industry types they have trouble translating their products to your application when you call them. But if you can get all the info together I found their products to be pretty cost effective.

For the middle and back you can use their mass loaded vinyls, comes in 1.5 ? x 5 m rolls and is cost effective compared to other products, but it is very basic and you will need to work out how to cut and shut it.
I put marine carpet over mine which hides a lot of sins.

Some good info on general sound proofing is posted in post 17 of this thread
The improbable task of silencing the 4bd1 county (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-isuzu-landy-enthusiasts-section/182520-improbable-task-silencing-4bd1-county-2.html)

Cheers Glen

[jay_guess]

Has anyone experience with Sound Deadener - Car Builders - Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Car heat Shields (http://www.carbuilders.com.au) their products seem reasonable compared to dynamat, Aussie made and they have a heap of detailed videos on Youtube. Looks like a good option?

[VladTepes]

I suspect the products are very similar.

I prefer to support Aussie where possible, and given how much time it takes I am very favourable towards people who make videos for their customers.
Thanks for the link I'll definitely look into this mob. :)

edit: Seems the closest to me is way down the southside of Brissy - Victoria Point
Still no doubt heaps cheaper than if it had to be posted...

[VladTepes]

Nice to see they have a number of Defender specific videos !

[Tombie]

Had great success with this gear

Sound Deadener - Car Builders - Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Car heat Shields (https://www.carbuilders.com.au/)

[Gerard_A]

Thank you so much everybody for your suggestions!
Honestly, after watching the Car builders videos I'm definitely leaning towards them and they're only a half an hour drive away from me.
My only concern is doing the front footwell/transmission area which looks so difficult, especially with no experience in this kind of thing. I can't even begin to imagine how to get around the gear lever area.
Has anyone done this themselves? Any tips?

Everything else from the roof to the rear look fairly straightforward.

Cheers

[AK83]

..... The solutions from Exmoor trim are a bit pricey and was wondering if anyone has found any decent alternatives?

Cheers

How keen are you on DIY solutions that you will need to organise?
If you don't mind buys material and cutting up yourself, you're in Melb(don't say where), and so if close to Blackburn I recommend you go check out Megasorber.
Google them, but as a rouge guide they're just off Middleborough rd, just south of the Doncaster Freeway.
They have a warehouse .. almost store type frontage, and a display of products. I bought direct from them.

I got their Megasorber foam vinyl sound barrier stuff(sorry can't remember exactly which type, but can check if needed) .. about an inch thick.
I used it on my D1(tdi) engine side of the firewall.
I got two large squares of the stuff, one adhesive backed(more expensive) and the other sheet same stuff, non adhesive. I still have the adhesive backed stuff complete, sheet I think is about 1.5m x 1.5m square.
Both sheets cost about $160.
In a word brilliant. Ive used sound proofing before, on my RRC(79, with LT95) mainly on the floor to cut the screaming transfer gears. Worked a little, not as good as I hoped but better than nothing.
This stuff from megsorber tho I think has been a bit better in minimising the tdi yelling and rattling .. more so when cruising along than when accelerating tho.

Megasorber claim the stuff(I got) is totally fireproof, which I tested of course, with one of those cheapo butane gas torches. So far(for my needs), has been impervious to what I wanted it for.
The 1.5m sheet was too much for the D1 firewall, I cut it into large as possible pieces and stuffed it against the firewall where I could, a double layer near the brake master cyl too.
Had left over to cover some of the bell housing, again only where I could, and not interfere with linkages(mines auto). And still a large enough piece(s) remained, didn't know what to do with but eventually decided an engine blanket too.

my original plan was to do firewall with non sticky and do bonnet insulation with the adhesive sheet too .. but have procrastinated on the bonnet sheet(still deciding on the adhesive sheet)

One of the other things I wanted from this material was that on my tdi, one of the heater hoses needs to sit against the tappet cover. I got it like this, and the rubber hose had melted in having sat this way. I immediately insulated it with an old ruibber hose cut up, but that rubber hose also wears and burns, so had to keep eyes on it. So with this megasorber I wanted a totally heat/fire/flame proof bit so set and forget. Did the trick no worries [thumbsupbig]
So their claim of fire/hat proofing is dead on, and as I said of course I had to test it with the torch too.

The piece I sheeting I added over the gearbox/transfer(just small piece) was to help eliminate the heat you'd get at the flood/carpet near your thighs(left driver/right passenger) .. worked good too.

Note, being 25(ish) mm or 1 inch thick, is no good for door application like you'd use for anti drumming/resonance noises.
Can be used for floor applications(eg. under carpet) as it can compress, but it doesn't stay compressed unless it's physically compressed. I'm thinking of using it on the rear floor, around seat under seat and boot space. Will help to cut down tyre droning.
Have done it, but I don't think it'd work well on floor under carpet(eg. at your feet) tho. It's too spongy and would feel wrong.
In that type of application, you'd do it from under car, either with the adhesive backed type of a contact glued application of the non adhesive. Also have plans to do this under floor, especially between muffler under the passenger feet.

Does work, Can't say exactly how much noise it cut, D1 when cruising isn't overly noisy to begin with, but on acceleration it's typical 300Tdi. Definitely noted a large enough difference on that first drive once I hit 80 on the freeway not far from me(Tulla-> Calder). Estimation of about 25% or so at least. Around town when accelerating tho, not as much. I've noticed that it's the drony low frequency sound of the exhaust that bugs me more(than say tdi rattling). Hence why my plan to cover under floor near muffler. I reckon this stuff would easily take the heat of a muffler, and most likely the stones getting hurled at it too for abrasion resistance.

Note this is just the 25mm stuff I got. They have a range of stuff on show at the office(HQ), and my trip there, the woman that saw me was more than happy to spend time to help.

I did check out other products via various online locations(ebay, other sellers, aliexpress, checked videos and writeups on what other folks think of the stuff they had access too and whatever comparisons ...
But I'm too cynical(when it comes to internet) comparisons .. trying to work out the testers form the product placers!
So I prefer to do real business, where possible.

Hope that helps.

[AK83]

correction: the sheets I got are 1.2x1.2m

[rar110]

I also bought sheets of heavy noise insulation from this place.


https://www.soundcontrol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/sound_control_examples_of_acoustic_materials_range .pdf

[VladTepes]

Be very careful when buying interior type sound insulation designed for building interiors.
They are almost always constructed of open-cell foam which is bad in a vehicle, especially a Land Rover Defender where, let's face it, it WILL get wet.

Many old cars have rusted floors/firewalls on account of the sound deadening material they used holding water permanently against those panels.

Unlike prison, when buying foam you want your cell closed [biggrin]

[Nomad9]

Hi There,
I initially got sucked into the "Dynamat" option however I have now used "Car Builders" mat to finish off what I started when I ran out, I couldn't afford that much of the "Dynamat". The car builders one seems to be more or less the same, worked for me. Wouldn't go to the additional expense of Dynamat again.

Cheers Marty

[DiscoMick]

I have used Car Builders very successfully. Get the waterproof 4 WD version. Easy to install. Peel and stick. Cuts easily. Suggest you clean the floor and use rust converter first on rusty spots.

[Mudnut]

I got some butyl (like bitumin) with aluminum backing that came in a roll from the interweb. Came with self adhesive backing. Was able to apply this to the panels that do the drumming. Cut down noise considerably. Whilst the flooring mats were out, I also installed 10 mm foil backed closed cell foam from Clarke Rubber. This I applied to any area where heat was coming through, especially the transmission tunnel, floors, and seat boxes. I also applied under the headliner in the roof. This quieted the vehicle greatly, and cut huge amounts of heat. Has been great, and I make sure that no water sits on the flooring, so does not promote rust. The rubber mats were then put back on top.
I have a link in projects, tutorials on this.

Note: Have just tracked down previous post in projects/tutorials, and the photo's are not there. Was from 2007. Will try and dig them up, and re-post.

Cheers,

Ken

[Gerard_A]

While I have you folks here...
Can anybody tell me what bulbs a 2006 Defender (TD5) uses on the interior? That is, the courtesy lights and the ones on the instrument panel?
The bulb for my fuel meter has somehow gone out and I thought while I was at it, I'd upgrade them all to LEDs.

Cheers,
Gerard

Edit: Nevermind, after much searching I just happened upon this little gem that explains the bulbs and the fitting.
Td5 Gauges – Bulb Information - Land Rover Technical Blog (http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2009/10/td5-gauges-bulb-information/)