DIY: Sound Deadening The Hatch
 

First, as a preface, I've never done any sort of sound deadening myself before. I did however get my previous car, an Acura RSX, done by an audio shop. They did the entire thing, from head to toe, and it cost an arm and a leg to have done. This time with the Z I didn't want to add too much weight, or spend that kind of money, so the package Second Skin was offering seemed like a good compromise. I also had planned on doing my doors, but I ran out of time (and possibly material).

In my RSX I had used Elemental Design's eDead v2 + v4. I'm a huge fan of Elemental Design's products, in both home and car audio, and I can definitely say the material that Second Skin is selling is much better quality.

Equipment Used:
40 Second Skin SPL Tiles
2 Sheets Second Skin Luxury Liner Pro
Second Skin Spray Adhesive (For Luxury Liner Pro)
Trim Removal Tools (Amazon.com: Actron CP5011 Panel, Trim and Molding Removal Set: Automotive)
Hand Roller (Already had one)
Foil Tape (Bought at Lowes for around $6)
Wallpaper Shears (Already had, worked PERFECT for all the cutting)
Husky Folding Knife (This thing is badass) (Husky Folding Lock-back Utility Knife (Colors May Vary) - 21113C at The Home Depot)
Rubbing Alcohol
http://www.ericz.net/images/02_1024x768.jpghttp://www.ericz.net/images/04_1024x768.jpg

Before Shot:
http://www.ericz.net/images/01_1024x768.jpg

First things first, follow videos SlikNik put up for removing the hatch panels, found here: http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/1...ll-videos.html
This was pretty easy, although I did wind up breaking one clip (the first one I popped), luckily they seem to put enough clips in various spots, that it didn't matter in the end. Just be careful and take your time.

Once that is done, your trunk will look like this:
http://www.ericz.net/images/08_1024x768.jpg

A big towel comes in handy for climbing in/out of the car so you don't get cut on any sharp edges (and don't possibly scratch your car). Also came in handy to sit on while I was in the trunk. :)
http://www.ericz.net/images/15_934x768.jpg

I went ahead and removed the 4 rubber pads for the spare, since they were pretty thick and didn't seem necessary once I install the sound deadener. I also used the rubbing alcohol to clean all of the the surface areas I'd be working with.

Here is a picture of the stock sound dampening found on the wheel wells, very impressive! :rolleyes:
http://www.ericz.net/images/09_1024x768.jpg

This is after I put down a few tiles:
http://www.ericz.net/images/11_1024x768.jpg
I tried to keep them whole as often as possible, but I found myself having to cut them a lot in order to get them to fit nicely. I did have some overlap however, but I figured I had enough material so it would be okay. Any time there were spots where there was trapped air, I used the knife to slice the material and then squeezed out the air with the hand roller.

Here is another shot after I put down a few more tiles:
http://www.ericz.net/images/19_1024x768.jpg

Driver Side Wheel Well:
http://www.ericz.net/images/20_1024x768.jpg
http://www.ericz.net/images/24_1024x768.jpg

Passenger Side:
http://www.ericz.net/images/25_1024x768.jpg

Entire Trunk finished with the SPL tiles:
http://www.ericz.net/images/23_1024x768.jpg
I used quite a bit of the Foil tape over most of the edges. Especially if any wires were near them, since the edges of the tiles are extremely sharp.

Here is a shot of the area between the cabin and the hatch:
http://www.ericz.net/images/26_1024x768.jpg
Driver Side:
http://www.ericz.net/images/27_1024x768.jpg
Passenger Side:
http://www.ericz.net/images/28_1024x768.jpg

From the Cabin looking to the back of the hatch:
http://www.ericz.net/images/29_1024x768.jpg
For the back of the hatch, I only used tiles on the center part, just because I didn't really think it was necessary to get the corner areas too much, and those spots would be a bit hard to work with, although in hindsight, maybe I should of done them anyway.

So once that was done, it was on to installing the Luxury Liner Pro. Before I start, I just want to say, be very mindful of how the panels and the styrofoam parts go back into your car. The Luxury Liner Pro is thick! My basic process was to measure some workable sizes to cut the LLP into. Once I made sure it fit as I expected, I sprayed a decent amount of the adhesive onto the area in the hatch, and on my lawn I sprayed the backside of the LLP. Once it sits for a couple of minutes, take the LLP and press it down firmly to the car for about 5 minutes. I also used some heavy books I had to help, but later I found it was simply easier to press down for a while, then as firmly as possibly secure the edges of the material with the Foil tape.

EDIT: So it turns out I installed the LLP upside-down, so don't do that! :) I'm going to have to take it apart again and redo the LLP.

Here are some shots after I did the floor of the hatch, and then trimmed it some so I could try to get those little push pin clips back on the Styrofoam parts.
http://www.ericz.net/images/30_1024x768.jpg
http://www.ericz.net/images/30_1024x768.jpg
Not very pretty, but hey, it gets the job done. In the end though, I still couldn't fit the push pins back on (without having to actually trim the Styrofoam, but it actually didn't matter, since once the tire is in and the panels are on, the foam is pretty well secure, and the pins didn't even matter. So I really shouldn't of bothered to even trim those pieces.

After I put down some Foil tape:
http://www.ericz.net/images/35_1024x768.jpg
Bonus Shot:
http://www.ericz.net/images/37_1024x768.jpg

Driver side:
http://www.ericz.net/images/39_1024x768.jpg
http://www.ericz.net/images/41_1024x768.jpg
This was before I fully taped up all of the edges, but you can get the idea.
Passenger side:
http://www.ericz.net/images/40_1024x768.jpg
http://www.ericz.net/images/43_1024x768.jpg

Center area:
http://www.ericz.net/images/42_1024x768.jpg
Those two holes are for the bolts that secure my Zenclosure to the car.

Finished:
http://www.ericz.net/images/38_1024x768.jpg

And then after you put back on all the panels, you should end up pretty much where you started:
http://www.ericz.net/images/44_1024x768.jpg
Although you might notice that the carpet is about 1/2 inch higher than it was before I did the install, which is simply because the tire is sitting a tad bit higher than before.

In the end I have about 18 SPL tiles left over and 1 + 1/4 sheets of Luxury Liner Pro. I really didn't go too aggressive at all with using the LLP, mainly because I was a bit worried about everything fitting back together properly. In hindsight, I perhaps could of used a bit more on some parts of the back area of the wheel well, but other than that I don't think I would've used any more. So about 25 SPL tiles would be enough to do the entire Trunk (including those two corners I didn't bother with) with a single layer.

I spent a god-awful amount of time on this project. I think about 4-5 hours on Saturday, 6 hours on Sunday, and then another couple of hours on Wednesday night finishing it all up. I'm definitely glad I did it myself this time, as I saved a lot of money, and had a good time doing it. After doing a decent amount of highway driving the past week, I can definitely say it is much quieter in the cabin, and road noise from the tires was reduced quite a bit. I don't have any dB numbers, but its noticeable. Bass also sounds a bit tighter, and from the outside is quieter.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the guide. Thanks again to Ant @ Second Skin for supplying the material. I'll probably post up some more pics in another thread in a few weeks when I do the doors. Any questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you for your terrific documentation. I'm considering doing this...

Thanks for the help with my install flashburn, and Thanks to ANT at Second Skin as well...I got a layer of damplifier down and will probably do the luxury liner this weekend. :tup:

No problem, glad it helped. I'm probably going to redo the Luxury Liner the end of May, hopefully it isn't too hot outside by then.

how heavy are these sound deadening materials? I think it would be great to install these if their weight is negliable

You can check their website, but I think everything they sent me weighed less than 30lbs, and I didn't even use all the material (yet).

I think my box weighed 30 pounds even.

Thanks for the writeup - I'm waiting for all of my stereo equipment before I tear down the Z. I still alot to purchase: the amp, the 3Sixty.2, the wiring and the speakers, but I've got the sub, the stealth enclosure from wickedcas, and the damplifier. Thanks again!
Kevin

Another option?
 

Thanks for the great write up. I just got my damplifier and LLP this week. I was going to take a different approach to the LLP though. I was thinking of just laying the LLP over the area covered by the carpeting in a trimmed sheet, offering sound dampening over the entire area. Does the LLP need to go immediately on top of the damplifier or will it covering this area like a blanket work as well? Seems a little easier, but not sure if it will be more effective. Would also put some pieces in other areas as well.

I'm not really sure, but I'm guessing it will work better directly applied to either a metal surface or the damplifier (that is also applied directly to a metal surface). You can ask Ant though, he would know.

Equipment Used:
40 Second Skin SPL Tiles
2 Sheets Second Skin Luxury Liner Pro
Second Skin Spray Adhesive (For Luxury Liner Pro)
Trim Removal Tools (Amazon.com: Actron CP5011 Panel, Trim and Molding Removal Set: Automotive)
Hand Roller (Already had one)
Foil Tape (Bought at Lowes for around $6)
Wallpaper Shears (Already had, worked PERFECT for all the cutting)
Husky Folding Knife (This thing is badass) (Husky Folding Lock-back Utility Knife (Colors May Vary) - 21113C at The Home Depot)
Rubbing Alcohol

Just as a rough estimate, how much would it cost to buy all of this stuff? Also, I'm not sure which product "Second Skin SPL Tiles" is referring to. At the Second Skin site, I don't see that exact thing listed. Is it the same thing as Damplifier Pro?

I don't think they sell the SPL Tiles anymore. I think Damplifier Pro is pretty much the same thing but bigger tiles. I think you could buy everything you need for under $200.

Do you know how much weight the sound deadening insulation added to the car?

Look a few posts up.

Nice write up. Do you still think it was worth all of the work you put into it? I'm considering doing this in the trunk and the doors to reduce road noise

Yep, totally worth it, and not really that much work compared to the amount of use I get out of the car.

Did you finish your doors?

Is it a "night and day" difference in road noise reduction?

Nope, haven't done the doors yet. I probably will once it cools off.

Where are you...Orlando area?

Yeah, I work in Orlando, commute from Deltona.

I have to echo flashburn, totally worth it. I did my Z after reading this write up. I didn't order enough damplifier in my first order and only got about half the hatch done, and in my second order I got the damplifier pro, which I think made a difference over the regular damplifier. My car sounds 100% better and is now tolerable. Not perfect, but much much better. I did not do doors, and don't think I will at this point.

Did you use the luxury liner pro on top of the damplifier?

It definitely helps with the road noise but watch out if you're using Luxury Liner Pro as it's very thick. The back panels don't quite fit right anymore and it's hard to line up those plastic tabs back in the holes. Also I have the bose system and I couldn't get the sub to screw back into place because the LLP was too thick. It doesn't rattle around or anything but I figure I need to secure it better eventually.

I got mine to a decent fit but I'll need to go back and really look at how things fit and maybe redo where I placed the LLP. I would recommend at most 2 sheets of LLP for the hatch, but probably 1 would do the job without bulking everything up.

Yep, I mention it in the guide I believe, to be careful with where you are putting LLP. Some of those panels are extremely snug as it is, so in some spots you can't add any LLP. From what I've seen myself and read, the doors are an even bigger problem. I probably won't do LLP in the doors, just SPL Tiles.

With thid mod, the car will be extremely better when it is time for you to replace those stock tires (Bridgestone RE050A) with the Continental ExtremeContact DW. The Continental tires are much quieter, last twice as long, and have a very high performance rating.

So how much of the damplifier pro is needed for the hatch? I'm thinking I'll do this mod soon.

I am thinking of doing my hatch and I was trying to figure that out too. I found an old link to the SPL tiles, and appears that they are 6" x 10". The pics in the DIY (tiles next to spray can and scissors) seem to support that. DIY says about 25 of the SPL tiles are enough. That's works out to 10.4 sq ft. The second skin site has a 10 sq ft pack for $34.... getting time to do the install is the real problem for me.

Yeah, I think the 10 sq ft pack should be good for the trunk area.

Actually, I think I used two packs of Damplifier (acutally one of Damplifier and one of Damplifier pro). Used all of it and probably could have used a couple more sheets. I think each pack was 10 ft.

Wow, did you do multiple layers or something? My calculations were for a single layer, as I didn't want to add too much weight to my car.

No, I did a single layer. I ordered 10sq ft of damplifier, and one sheet of luxury liner first. The damplifier only really covered the center section below the spare and some of the strut towers. Didn't make enough of a difference so I added the 13sq ft package of damplifier pro (if I had to do it over again I would have used all damplifier pro). I used that on the wheel wells, the rest of the strut towers, the riser between the spare and the small front compartment, inside of the fenders around to the tail lights. Only place I really didn't cover was below the hatch opening in the back. I don't think the weight was more than 20lbs and it made a difference on the sound levels. Not perfect, but not willing to invest more in it as I think its diminishing returns at this point. Also, with the back quiter, I can now hear more noise from the passenger door (though with passengers in the seat you don't hear it). I am unsure if I am going to do the doors.

Not that much weight IMHO, but much more comfortable with the noise.

Well, I dunno, you can see from the pictures how much area I covered with about 22 SPL tiles.

I want to do this to my rear hatch, how thick is this stuff 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" or 1" ??

It depends on which material you are talking about. You can get measurements at Sound Deadening Materials for Noise Reduction from Second Skin

All I can tell you is that I used all of it, did not double layer anywhere, and covered everything I could except the very back of the hatch without any left over. Glad you started this thread, because it helped me get the car to a better place sound-wise.

I did it with some cheapy material from China. It really kills some of the sounds, and it has a great improvement on the BOSE subwoofer!

After the installation, most of the noise come from the floor and tires, which I have no idea what to do about it. +_+

/\ you can spray undercoating to the wheel wells and interior trunk area, this would so much lighter than adding sound deadening material like dynamat.

great diy, im will be doing my trunk and doors soon

I already replied to your thread about it, but I'll copy/paste my response here:

Well, I pretty much already voiced my opinion on this, but I've always felt that Dynomat is overpriced and pretty much the same as the rest of the sound deadening materials. Although I really haven't compared prices between them and others recently, so perhaps their prices have come more in line with other companies.

Second Skin definitely seemed like pretty high quality material, at least compared to Elemental Design's. I like ED's products a lot, but Second Skin's quality of deadening material seems way better.

Hi All - This is my first post here, but I used to be active on My350Z.com. I'm hoping to bring this thread back from the dead, as I'm about halfway into trying to quiet down my '03 Z.

Flashburn, do you still have the pictures from your original post? If so, I would be interested in seeing how your install progressed.

So far, I covered approximately 75% of the hatch with B-Quiet Ultimate. I also fit 2 sheets of Second Skin Luxury Liner Pro (LLP) in the hatch, which covers 90% of the surface area. I also worked in some B-Quiet and LLP in the cubby behind the drivers seat.

The car is still very loud, but haven't had a chance to secure all of the material properly or reinstall my interior. Unfortunately, I also managed to bang up the wiring of my 4-channel amp during the install, so I can't comment on improvement to audio quality yet.

Next steps: Work on the door panels and the floor (if I have enough material) and reinstall the interior. I'm considering ordering the Second Skin Spectrum to spray in the wheel wells and hatch, but I'm hoping that I wont need to do that.