Who has Dynamatted their car doors? Does it make a noticeable difference?

[MichaelD]

I'll be starting my install in my truck after the holidays (or as soon as my front components and amp kit get shipped to me) and I want to do it up right. I'll be taking the door panels off anyway, b/c I have to run speaker wires for the front components, and was thinking about Dynamatting the doors. I already own a heat gun, so thats' a non-issue.

I'd like some feedback. I know Dynamat "works." But "how well" and "is it worth the $60 for the 2-door kit.

BTW, I already know some folks use roofing paper from Home Depot, but I won't. Thanks!

 

[Mucman]

I don't know how well of a difference it did my SQ but it made my ride a lot quieter! I have a '94 GMC Sonoma and I did what you said. I took off my door panels and put in some fake Lordco sound deadening material and I removed the stock speakers for some MB Quarts . The doors felt heavier and closed with more of a thud and now the only road noise I hear is in the rear portion of the cab.

 

[Grinchy]

For those thin doors on the trooper it seems dynamat would really help quiet down the road noise. Thin doors + 4 wheel tires is a sure db problem. You might consider it on the rear doors and cargo bay doors too just for db reduction.

try www.partsexpress.com for some deadening material, I got some vinyl based stuff there for $1.50 a sq ft a few weeks ago on clearance. Put it in strips on noisy trunk parts and it worked great.

I was up until 0300 putting in my components this morning. it sounds soooo much better . Did you find those low profile mid-woofers you were looking for?

I'm about to spring for a new head unit with sub level control. Damn convertible - too low with the top down, too loud with it up, and my head unit only has a tone control, which whacks or enhances the whole bass range.

Sounds like you're putting in major time on this truck - it's gonna be sweeeet.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I had Dynamat installed when I replaced the stock speakers in my Ford Contour (Don't own it anymore. I have a Honda again. Please, I made a mistake...I won't buy a Ford again, I swear. I strayed from the light and I paid the price. Have mercy.) and couldn't really tell the difference. It may have added a little more weight to the door, but acoustically the difference was fairly negligible.

 

[Nefrodite]

darn, i want to deaden my damned loud civic guess you gotta do more then just the doors.

 

[Spoooon]

I dynamatted the doors of my car and also sprayed dampening material on the door panels. The doors are a lot heavier now and the car is a bit quieter. I also sprayed the floor of my car with the same material. I think it makes a difference. Besides, dynamat isn't that expensive when you compare the cost to the rest of the system.

 

[MichaelD]

Nice replies. Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer.

Grinchy,


<< Those thin doors.... >>

You are prolly thinking about the older Troopers that were essentially tin cans. The later models are considerably more solid. Honestly, the doors on my 2001 close w/an audible "thud." They feel fairly solid, but more damping can only HELP.

I CAN hear the tires on the highway...not obnoxiously loud, but audible. I have two 12" square sheets of V-Bloc (I think that's what its called...just Dynamat w/a diff name) that someone gave me a few years ago. They have been stored indoors and look brand new. I was thinking of putting them around the panel where the midbass mounts in the door. Speaking of "thin midbass drivers," I purchased the Infinity 605cs 6.5" separates. They are one of the very few 6.5" sets that'll mount in my two-inch max depth location. I'll be feeding them 130watts RMS (seriously...but I'll keep the gains on the amp lowwwwwwwwww), so power will be NO prob.

I would love to do the whole damn truck w/Dynamat...but I really don't have $400 to purchase that much. Besides, I really don't have the facilites to remove the entire interior (i.e. my own garage). I'll be doing this install mostly outdoors and really don't want to have all four of my seats and the carpet/sound liner on the dirty asphalt of my parking lot. I'll prolly just do both front doors.

And you're right; I am taking MAJOR time planning all this out to do it correctly. I'll have 5 days to do the whole install (2nd week of Jan 02...I took some vacation days) so I need to get it all planned out NOW.

Nefrodite
The right way to do it is to remove the ENTIRE interior. Seats, door panels, carpet, factory sound mat, everything. Clean the metal with rubbing alcohol to ensure a good bond. Use a heat gun and a small wallpaper-roller to ensure good contact adhesion. Oh yeah, that much Dynamat is about $400-$500:Q Out of my reach right now. I just spend $$$$$$$$ on the headunit/changer/amp kit/front and rear speakers/sub as well as all the materials to properly build the sub enclosure...and I still need more stuff. It's a good thing I absolutely loathe stock systems, else I couldn't justify spending this much money.

Spoooon
Yep; compared to how much $$$ I've spent already, another $400 doesn't seem that outrageous...prob is I don't have it.

 

[Spoooon]

You might look at some alternatives to Dynamat brand stuff. I bought this other stuff that's exactly the same as dynamat, but cost about 1/4 as much. Also, you can use something called breadboard or brownbread or something. I can't remember exactly what it's called, but it's cheaper than dynamat. It's a little harder to install though. I would check at car audio forums like Elite Car Audio and ask around.

 

[luckyducky]

Like spooon mentioned...there are definately some much cheaper alternatives to Dynamat. There is guy on Elite Car Audiocalled ramaudio that sells some very good stuff called Raammat. He just finished having a sale on the raammat....but email him and see if he can work out anything for you.

 

[MichaelD]

Hey Spooon,

That's an awesome site! I never even knew it existed. Thanks very much. You'da man!

 

[aircooled]

On my old beetle, I had to do the doors, the front quarter panels, ther rear, and the floor. It was spendy, but damn what a difference! Bad example though, since the noise level of an old beetle is much higher than your car, but my point is, you really need to do more than just the doors to make a real difference in sound quality. You will notice the doors will just "feel" better though ;-)

 

[Spoooon]

<< Raammat. >>


That's the stuff I used in my car. I put that on the floor of the trunk and the cabin. THen I sprayed some dampening stuff on top of that.