This past weekend, I completed the first phase of my soundproofing project - the hatch/luggage area.

I used a sound deadener (Brown Bread) and a sound barrier (L-Comp) from B-Quiet

The first step was to remove ALL panels from the hatch area. I got the car stipped down to bare metal throughout the luggage area. I then applied the Brown Bread to all metal surfaces to eliminate vibration and to provide some soundproofing. In many areas, I put down multiple layers, as the sound deadening affect is triple with 2 layers of BB (per B-Quiet).

I then replaced the stock sound proofing material that was glued to the back of the luggage side finisher pieces with a layer of L-Comp. The L-Comp was glued onto the finisher pieces using 3M spray adhesive. A photo of the stock sound proofing 'felt' is shown as well as the finisher panels with the L-Comp attached.

After re-assembling all of the trim pieces, I used the luggage floor carpet as the template to cut multiple pieces of the L-Comp material that I taped together using duct tape (the L-Comp panels are too small for one piece to cover the entire area).

The L-Comp was then laid down under the carpet - completing the project.

Total time of work approx 14 hours.

Results -----
- significant reduction of road noise!!!
- also, the additional weight (approximately 40 pounds) seems to have improved the overall ride quality (less porpoising)

Recommendations -----
- only apply one layer of BB to the strut brace as it will make replacing the trim pieces easier,
- buy a bunch of spare clips before starting the work as you will likely break some when removing the panels,
- buy a clip removal tool - it makes disassembly much easier.

The next phase of the soundproofing project will be to apply the BB and (if there is room) L-Comp to the doors.

 

Brown Bread -

 

L-Comp:

 

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the factory soundproofing

 

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Good job! You're a patient man. I may look into it if I get the time...

Mike

 

the rest of the pictures are too big to post - but you get the idea

 

Looks great. Hows it sound? Do you have a subwoofer that you were trying to quiet down? Also, any chance anyone has or can provide instructions for taking the trunk pannels apart like that? I was thinking of Dynamatting my trunk but I'm a little intimidated to take everything apart.

 

Nice write-up and photos!

 

Sopranos:

It sounds great!

I did this work with the objective of overall noise reduction - not to quiet a sub-woofer.

One of the freeways that I travel daily (I-5 in SoCal just south of Irvine) has been ridged to improve wet-weather traction. The resulting road noise was bothersome to me. Hence - this project.

It is obvious that the noise reduction is significant, because now the greatest noise comes from the doors - no surprise.

My overall project plan is to soundproof:
1) hatch / luggage area (done)
2) doors (next weekend)
3) hood (will use Hliner product from B-Quiet as it also protects the paint on the hood from thermal damage - see photo)
4) luggage floor finisher (the cross piece that contains the glove boxes)

I will then evaluate overall improvement.

If necessary (I should probably say desired rather than necessary) I will then:
- remove the seats, console, dash and do from the firewall through to the luggage floor finisher using a combo of the BB and L-Comp under the carpet
- apply BB and L-Comp under the headliner

Another benefit of this work is that the music quality is MUCH better. I used to listen to CDs with volume at about 12 to 14 (Bose) when at highway speeds, but now my volume is set in the 8 to 10 range.

H-Liner from B-Quiet: