RAAMat BXT sound deadening installation pix

[dug]

I finally got around to sound deadening the 2003 Vibe the past couple of weekends and although the stock audio system has improved considerably, I'm still left with a slightly disappointed feeling because I had in mind the car would turn into an S-class after this project. The project was done in 2 phases: tear everything out and do the floorboards first. Then the 2nd phase which requires less of a time commitment blocked off involved doing the doors whenever I found time. Deadening the floorboards didn't do much at all to quiet the car. Granted, I have a CAI, supercharger, a header, and a loud tread pattern on 40series tires but I expected more with all the work involved. All the deadened floorboards really did was provide more mass to the Vibe to make the dot-bots on the hwy sound more like a thud during lane changes than a rubber mallet on my door. Talking to my dad on my bluetooth he said he couldn't tell a difference that the floorboards had been deadened on his end of the phone.Moving on to the next weekend I did the front driver and passenger doors. I noticed a significant improvement in the audio quality of the stock radio (more bass, noticed better highs) and hwy noise has definitely been attenuated. Speeds below 45mph still sound the same as before but bumps in the road are definitely muted now. This leads me to believe that the problem in our cars isn't in the floorboards but sound deadening is best realized in the doors. But with all this work the efforts of my deadening really just bring the car up to an average level of interior quiet. I don't think this car was ever meant to be silent. Most reviews I read before buying the car 4 yrs ago complained of a noisy engine bay so if we could tear away the dash and get behind there I bet that would help a lot.Here is a link to flickr of my project (among other photos). To see them, click the link and proceed forward. The other pix are of a cycling camp I did in the desert and are not really relevant:let me know what you think!http://www.flickr.com/photos/2...tream/

[keithvibe]

Looks great, Do the roof too and add the foam. It will get nice and quiet then.

[dug]

thanks keithvibe, I did manage to lay down and adhere Ensolite to the floorboards from the firewall to the backseat but then ran out. I used 1 yoga mat for the 2 front doors (closed cell foam). Perhaps I'll get some more Ensolite from RAAMaudio and take your suggestion!

[keithvibe]

I noticed a huge difference when i did the foam myself.Down side with my awd and all the sound deadener I'm even slower and i took a hit on my mpg

[audiovibe]

I also noticed the greatest difference by adding the ensolite.Aron

[Sublimewind]

Nice job...There are a few things I can possibly help you with though.. While peel n stick type deadener is a good start and products like Ensolite help... You can really gain a larger benefit from MLV http://www.google.com/search?h...UTF-8Mass Loaded Vinyl, acts as a "blocker" for many frequencies that are offensive.. Sound deadener alone helps lower the resonant frequency the panels sing at, but it doesn't do a heck of a lot for frequencies above and below that lower resonant frequency... MLV does.. and now think "anti-fatigue floor mat" You can also gain more output from your mids in the doors, by sealing up the holes in the door frame.. You can fill the holes with something rigid, like plastic (ABS type) and then deaden over that.. It really helps the mids come to life.. You can also buy liquid deadeners now.. Second Skin "Sludge" and like products can be applied to the outside of the wheel wells, firewall, floor.. ect.. This places the metal between 2 densities of deadener... So, there are a few options for you to try if you like.. Some is more expensive that others, but if you are interested in any of it, there are ways around the expense.. (like the anti-fatigue mats)I've done extensive sound deadening to my Subie and still have some MLV (second skin luxury liner pro) left to apply.. Sorry to ramble on, i'm getting near the end of my install in my Subie... it's all fresh in the mind.. Cheers..!

[vibolista]

What tires are you running on your 03? Some tires can generate a ton of noise that will run through the entire structure of the car on certain road surfaces. I did notice the noise the OEM RS-As made on most of our crappy road surfaces, so when I started to think about buying new wheels I made a decision to try to find a really quiet tire. The choice for 17 inch wheels was easy, but the tires took some time, and a lot of research. It was worth the trouble. The ride ended up significantly quieter. Tires are still pretty new so I don't know if they will wear quietly through their tread life, but so far so good. My vibe is stock, and I don't know how much extra noise your mods have added, if any. So what I'm trying to say is, that as soon as you can, go find a quiet set of tires for your Vibe. I ended up with 225/50 17s made by Kumho. Since you alredy have all that insulation, the tires could bring the noise down another level. You can't isolate every sound, but it will be a lot better.How much time did it take to install the insulation, including the teardown and re-install of the interior? Major project.

[dug]

Thanks for the input guys. I will continue to lay foam under the cargo area, inside the panels and in every crevice. Despite how much time I've already put in the car I would guess I'm only half-finished! Sound deadening is a laborious task! It is an all-or-nothing deal. Unfortunately my tire/wheel situation is rather locked in: I'm running 18s with 225/40s. I would really love to be running 17s instead but my big brake kit upfront will not accommodate anything less than 18" wheels. I would have to either put the stock brakes back on or get a big brake kit that allows 17s. I have looked at quieter tires and will consider the Yokohama dB decibel but am doubtful I can get them in 18s.

[Sublimewind]

MLV would help a lot..

[vibolista]

Can you fit a 225/45 18 in the Vibe wheel well? The Kumho Ecsta Platinum LX is available in that size on Tirerack. Very quiet, but if you compare it to the rest in its class, it comes out rated only 4th out of 18 tires, and third in noise level. I find it super quiet so far. Its a grand touring all season that I use only for summer. The Bridgestone Turanza Serenity comes up the overall best in that category if you discount the snow capability scores. Of course, these tires are not super high performance rubber, but they are nice riding. Very competent tires for every day driving.