11 Simple Steps to Make Your Car Quieter

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Easy-to-follow steps to make your car less noisy

Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: April 14, 2024

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Sprays and Foams

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Insulation

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Q&A

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Things You'll Need

Although making your car entirely soundproof to outside noise is impossible, you can greatly reduce the amount of racket and vibrations by sound-deadening your car. Not only will this create a better ambiance within your car, but it will also allow your audio system to excel without the chatter or resonating panels, or a trembling frame.

Things You Should Know

Use sound-dampening materials to absorb sound waves and diminish vibrations.
Try foams or insulation materials to make your car less noisy.
Insulation generally goes under the carpet, leaving you with a plusher ride.

Steps

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1
Choose damping materials with which you plan to dampen your car with such as mats, foams, sprays, or insulation; it is recommended to use a combination of these products in order to achieve maximum damping. These damping materials absorb sound waves, eliminate resonance, and diminish vibrations.
- Damping mats: These are simple to install damping materials and are used to cover panels in your car to help with sound deadening. They are typically made of either styrene-butadiene rubber or asphaltic panes with adhesive backing and either lower the resonant frequency of the panel or transform the sound vibrations into heat depending on the damping material used in your particular mats.
- Sprays: These come in either professional cans requiring compressors and paint guns for application or easy-to-use aerosol cans. Sprays are used in situations where matting would be too bulky to fit or the weight of the matting would be too heavy such as door panels or kick panels.
- Foams: Foams come in either sheet or spray form. The foam sheets are used just as the damping mats are by laying them over car panels to absorb vibration. Instead of converting the vibrations to heat, as the mats do, the foam sheets disperse the energy throughout the sheet.
- Insulation: This damping material is a thick pane of fibers that absorb sound and is laid underneath the carpet. The most typical type of insulation is jute or micro jute. Although insulation is less effective in regard to sound deadening, it does add thermal insulation to the interior of your car as well as creates a plusher carpet
This will help with the panel's tendency to vibrate causing unwanted noise.

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Place the damping mats between 2 of the door panels that are in close proximity to each other, to help reduce the vibrations within the space between the 2 door panels.^{[1]
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The mats contain metal foil backing in order to increase the mat's heat resistance making them able to be near the heat of the engine. Apply them using a contact adhesion glue found at your local auto shop.^{[2]
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EXPERT TIP

Hovig Manouchekian
Auto Repair & Design Specialist
Hovig Manouchekian is an Auto Repair and Design Specialist and the Manager of Funk Brothers Auto, a family-owned business operated since 1925. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Hovig specializes in the process of auto repair and maintenance. He is also very knowledgeable in common automotive issues and needs including engine repair, battery replacement, and windshield accessory and maintenance. Hovig's knowledge and hard work have contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's List Super Service Award for five consecutive years.

Hovig Manouchekian
Auto Repair & Design Specialist

Reduce engine noise by soundproofing your hood. Consider soundproofing your hood if you're bothered by engine noise. Apply automotive-grade sound-deadening foam or a pre-cut hood liner under your car's hood. These materials absorb vibrations and dampen engine noise for a quieter ride.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Sprays and Foams

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These damping materials expand as they cure, allowing them to push against nearby panels creating a sound-deadening joint that absorbs and disperses the vibrating energy. Sprays and foams can be used around doors and engine spaces, but be sure to check the label of your specific spray or foam to verify.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Insulation

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If installing insulation, be sure to pull the carpeting from the body of the car before proceeding to the next step.^{[4]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Would the described addition of sound deadening materials adversely effect the car's ability to float in the event of accidental immersion in deep water? Are the materials flame resistant?

Community Answer

Is your car a boat car? Your car doesn't have much ability to float, and sound deadening materials aren't really going to change that.

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Question

Why sound proof my car?

Community Answer

Although most cars have some form of sound damping already, lots of road noise can enter the car and raise the "noise floor" making it so that you have to play your music louder to have the same perceived loudness. In addition, many cars have panels that resonate and vibrate and certain frequencies (usually the subwoofer range) and cause the panels to rattle, coloring the sound and ruining the clean tone of the speaker. By adding mass to the panels, the resonant frequency is lowered below hearing level of 20 Hz (which isn't produced by most speakers) and just like that, no more annoying rattles.

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Question

Can I sound deaden my car on my own, or do I need to go to a workshop to do so?

Community Answer

You can do it yourself. You wouldn't need a workshop for everything described here, nor would you benefit from a car lift or anything. However there's always the possibility of damaging plastic panels when taking them off, so, be prepared for that. It's preferable to do these kind of experiments on a cheap car, not on your brand new pride and joy.

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