Sound Deadening Guide for Scion xB
05-29-2007, 01:53 PM
#143
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Posts: 8
Re: Xb Road Noise
I've been using Damplifier on my xB piecemeal.
Did the hatch first -- 2 layers of Damplifier on metal, one layer of Overkill foam behind interior panel. Noticeable improvement, but not as good as I'd hoped. In particular, the exhaust drone was not affected as much as I'd hoped. Still, there was enough improvement that I continued. Based on what I've learned since, I may go back and add an Overkill/Damplifier/Overkill sandwich to the exterior sheetmetal here.
Did the rear quarters and the floor behind the front of the back seat. Two layers of Damplifier on the rear quarters, with some Overkill foam behind the speakers. 1-2 layers of Damplifier on floor from rear up under back seat. 1 layer of Overkill foam under the carpet, not glued down. Somewhat reduced tire/road noise. Slightly reduced exhaust noise.
Did the doors. Damplifier all over the outer sheetmetal, foam behind the speakers. Better, and I like the solid "whump" when they close, no more tin-can sounds. Note that I did NOT replace the vapor barrier with Damplifier like some others have done. There may be more to be gained here, but I don't like the compromised access for repairs that comes with that approach.
Did the engine compartment in two stages. First stage was to remove the noise blanket under the hood, cover the exterior sheet metal with Damplifier (2 layers), then cover the portions of the back side of the noise blanket that extended farthers from the hood (the deepest dimples). Note that the Damplifier barely sticks to this stuff, but gravity holds it in place. The idea was to provide some acoustic mass for this very light noise blanket, sort of like the foam/lead/foam acoustic sandwiches. The improvement here was noticeable.
Second stage on the engine compartment was to cover the entire back side of the noise blanket (except for 1.5" circles where the clips go through) with another layer of Damplifier. Also covered insides of fenders (the portions accessible from inside the engine compartment) and the underside of the tinny crossmember that holds the hood latch. This was by far the biggest win. The engine roar at highway speeds is much more muted now. I'm hearing other noises that I never heard before. =8^)
You ask about "road noise", which is a specific source of noise, but I believe that you really meant "noise when you're going down the road". Based on my experience, I'd have to say:
1. Engine hood (do a good job here)
2. Doors
3. Hatch/trunk lid
4. Rear quarter panels/fender wells
5. Floor
I haven't tried the footwells or the roof yet. Based on my experience with the trunk floor, I'm not expecting wonders from the footwells. However, the front footwells should improve things on noisy or wet roads. As for the roof, I think that most of the improvement there would be noise levels in the rain. Given the level of effort involved, I'm not planning to do the roof.
Did the hatch first -- 2 layers of Damplifier on metal, one layer of Overkill foam behind interior panel. Noticeable improvement, but not as good as I'd hoped. In particular, the exhaust drone was not affected as much as I'd hoped. Still, there was enough improvement that I continued. Based on what I've learned since, I may go back and add an Overkill/Damplifier/Overkill sandwich to the exterior sheetmetal here.
Did the rear quarters and the floor behind the front of the back seat. Two layers of Damplifier on the rear quarters, with some Overkill foam behind the speakers. 1-2 layers of Damplifier on floor from rear up under back seat. 1 layer of Overkill foam under the carpet, not glued down. Somewhat reduced tire/road noise. Slightly reduced exhaust noise.
Did the doors. Damplifier all over the outer sheetmetal, foam behind the speakers. Better, and I like the solid "whump" when they close, no more tin-can sounds. Note that I did NOT replace the vapor barrier with Damplifier like some others have done. There may be more to be gained here, but I don't like the compromised access for repairs that comes with that approach.
Did the engine compartment in two stages. First stage was to remove the noise blanket under the hood, cover the exterior sheet metal with Damplifier (2 layers), then cover the portions of the back side of the noise blanket that extended farthers from the hood (the deepest dimples). Note that the Damplifier barely sticks to this stuff, but gravity holds it in place. The idea was to provide some acoustic mass for this very light noise blanket, sort of like the foam/lead/foam acoustic sandwiches. The improvement here was noticeable.
Second stage on the engine compartment was to cover the entire back side of the noise blanket (except for 1.5" circles where the clips go through) with another layer of Damplifier. Also covered insides of fenders (the portions accessible from inside the engine compartment) and the underside of the tinny crossmember that holds the hood latch. This was by far the biggest win. The engine roar at highway speeds is much more muted now. I'm hearing other noises that I never heard before. =8^)
You ask about "road noise", which is a specific source of noise, but I believe that you really meant "noise when you're going down the road". Based on my experience, I'd have to say:
1. Engine hood (do a good job here)
2. Doors
3. Hatch/trunk lid
4. Rear quarter panels/fender wells
5. Floor
I haven't tried the footwells or the roof yet. Based on my experience with the trunk floor, I'm not expecting wonders from the footwells. However, the front footwells should improve things on noisy or wet roads. As for the roof, I think that most of the improvement there would be noise levels in the rain. Given the level of effort involved, I'm not planning to do the roof.
05-29-2007, 02:10 PM
#144
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Posts: 8
Those seeking pics of a nice xB install should go here: http://www.secondskinaudio.com/forum...ead.php?t=1558
Similar to what I did to the interior, except that this guy also uses Spectrum, uses heavier Damplifier, and adds foam to his door panels. This last is something that I plan to go back and add to mine.
Similar to what I did to the interior, except that this guy also uses Spectrum, uses heavier Damplifier, and adds foam to his door panels. This last is something that I plan to go back and add to mine.
08-30-2007, 04:59 AM
#146
Senior Member
KAD
SL Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,197
Originally Posted by rrusk9
Those seeking pics of a nice xB install should go here: http://www.secondskinaudio.com/forum...ead.php?t=1558
Similar to what I did to the interior, except that this guy also uses Spectrum, uses heavier Damplifier, and adds foam to his door panels. This last is something that I plan to go back and add to mine.
Similar to what I did to the interior, except that this guy also uses Spectrum, uses heavier Damplifier, and adds foam to his door panels. This last is something that I plan to go back and add to mine.
06-24-2008, 03:59 PM
#148
Senior Member
Team ScionEyed
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Mobile AL
Posts: 523
Thanks for the thread i was thinking of doing the whole car with the stuff on the bottom but didnt know if it really would work lol. I was also thinking of doing the dyno mat to.
08-01-2008, 05:45 PM
#149
Senior Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 126
Im planning on using Damplifier pro as well as upgrading my front shocks to monroes...hoping my ride will be smoother and less noisy! I have a nice loud system too, so thatd be nice if it sounds greater haha...Im prolly gonna takle this within the month...so maybe Ill post what i notice....my front shocks have over 120,000 miles on them, im hoping this is the reason my ride sux mostly.... 
08-01-2008, 05:45 PM
#150
Senior Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 126
Im planning on using Damplifier pro as well as upgrading my front shocks to monroes...hoping my ride will be smoother and less noisy! I have a nice loud system too, so thatd be nice if it sounds greater haha...Im prolly gonna takle this within the month...so maybe Ill post what i notice....my front shocks have over 120,000 miles on them, im hoping this is the reason my ride sux mostly....
02-16-2009, 05:02 AM
#154
Senior Member
Fail, INC
SL Member
Scinergy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 956
Just did 60 sq ft of Hushmat in my xB. I need another 40 sq ft to complete the interior (remaining: 2 doors, roof, firewall). I gutted everything down to the bare floor. 60 sq ft covered the entire back hatch, the floor (front to back), wheel wells, and two doors. Along with the hushmat, I also added a layer of polyethylene closed cell foam (1/4" thickness) to the two doors, hatch, and floors. I added a layer of foam covering the access hatches to the taillights. You can find that stuff pretty cheap from most hardware stores in the flooring area.
At this time, I still have some highway noise and engine noise. The exhaust noise is completely gone. Sorry I don't have any pics to offer of this as it was done by myself along with a few other mods over a couple days. I didn't have time to stop and take pictures.
At this time, I still have some highway noise and engine noise. The exhaust noise is completely gone. Sorry I don't have any pics to offer of this as it was done by myself along with a few other mods over a couple days. I didn't have time to stop and take pictures.
03-17-2013, 08:10 PM
#156
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 8
Also Looking For Pictures
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