Complex Sound Deadening

Having bought a car, the owner expects the comfort driving in the city, outside the city, and in any weather. However, most cars get out of the dealer’s with one substantial shortcoming – lack of good complex sound deadening. Can you drive without it? Sure, you can!

But having no high-grade sound deadening, you will get more tired and annoyed by the exterior noises or interior squeaks and not enjoy your favorite tracks.

Sound deadening can be full (complex) and partial. Experience has proven that complex sound deadening brings better effect. To cut the unnecessary costs, you can sound-deaden your car by yourself and using cost-efficient but functional materials—just like Kilmat.

IMPORTANT! For sound deadening, use only automotive sound deadening materials! They are designed with due respect to constant vibration, temperature differences, and high humidity.

Kilmat is great within the temperature range from -49 F to 212 F; this material is non-absorbing, optimally thick, and completely safe. Kilmat-powered sound deadening will also enhance the heat insulation of your car. You will feel cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Kilmat helps to achieve the following:

• lower engine buzzing
• lower road, transport, wheel, suspension noise
• no squeaks from plastic elements
• interior heat insulation
• better acoustics sound quality
• softer and smoother door closing/opening

In this article we will talk about the key stages of the DIY complex car sound deadening. Beside Kilmat, you will need some auxiliary tools, namely: plastic clip remover, gloves, degreaser, cloth, roller, marker, and ruler.

Stage 1. Dismantling body

You should better follow the instruction for your model. You can easily find it on the web. Dismantle the body completely, down to the metal tier. Carefully remove door, floor, roof, trunk coverings, all plastic panels and clips, all seats and floor coatings. While dismantling, pay special attention to fasteners that you may accidentally break or lose. Remove them carefully and stack separately to keep them safe until the procedure end. Having finished the dismantling, you will have the bare interior.

Stage 2. Preparing body for material application

First, vacuum-clean the interior from dirt, dust, and garbage. Then, moistening the cloth with a degreasing liquid, wipe all the metal surfaces. When degreasing, put more focus on manufacturing holes in doors and trunk recesses. Those are hard-to-reach places that require thorough processing. Degrease as much of the body area as you can. After that, get to applying the sound-deadening material.

Stage 3. Applying Kilmat

This stage is the most difficult and time-consuming. Don’t rush it: the only way to reach the desired result is to be careful and follow the instruction.

Remove the protective layer from the material sheet and apply the sheet to the metal surface, sticky side down. Press and smooth out the sheet, and then roll it down with a roller—to remove air bubbles from the mastic.  Elaborately roll down every sheet: the better Kilmat-to-surface adhesion, the better the result.

IMPORTANT! Use gloves when working with the foil-coated material—to save your hands from cutting and smudging.

DOORS

They go first as the bulk of noises come through this part of the body. Moreover, doors carry the sound system. Door is a large metal area without any stiffeners. This means doors are great resonators. Instantly improving the acoustic comfort inside, fine door processing yields tangible results. By the way, if manufacturing holes in doors are large enough and allow good room to reach all the internal parts of the doors, there is no need to dismantle the speakers.

Measure and cut out pieces matching the dimensions of the interior side of each door. You can use the ready-made carton templates. Now remove the protective layer from a Kilmat sheet and apply the sheet to the interior surface. Level it and roll down.  Process the entire interior door surface the same way. You can cover the exterior surface with the vibration-damping material. Such a double layer would improve the sound-deadening effect. Repeat these operations for other doors.

FLOOR

Another highest-priority area for Kilmat application. It neighbors such noise and vibration sources as wheel arches and suspension elements. This causes applying quite a dense layer. After dismantling the interior and degreasing the entire floor surface, we recommend to start applying the material from the front part of the floor. Remove the protective layer from the material sheet and put it as high under the dashboard as you can. First level it with your hand and then roll it down firmly. Apply sheets toe-to-toe without large gaps in between— this way you will not only form a thick sound deadening layer but also protect the body against corrosion.

After finishing with the floor surface, focus on wheel arches. Wheel arches require particular care as they are the areas where most wheel, suspension, and road noises come through. This is why we recommend to cover the entire surface of wheel arches without any gaps or openings. Two layers would be the best option. For that, degrease the first vibration-damping layer and apply the Kilmat sheet on it as the second layer.

ROOF

Roof produces lots of vibration and noise when driving at a high speed or in rainy weather. Having sound-deadened the roof, you will significantly reduce the buzz inside. After dismantling the roof, put it down so it doesn’t meddle. You don’t have to remove it completely. Degrease the ceiling and start applying Kilmat sheets to areas between the strengthening elements. Do not cover strengthening elements. Those operations will be easy thanks to compact size of material sheets. We recommend processing the roof from the center to the edges. It will be easy to assemble the panels back because of the optimal material thickness.

TRUNK

Trunk sound deadening is good for any car as it significantly reduces the noise from rear wheel arches.  The principle is the same: go from the center to the edges, moving to left and right recesses. When working with them, put the material sheet as deeply as you can. Do not forget to roll down every sheet. Rear wheel arches should be covered with two layers of Kilmat. Dress the trunk lid the same way as the doors.

Stage 4. Assembly and result evaluation

Following the same instruction, assemble the car. Start with the ceiling, then move to side panels. Place the interior coverings back. Then doors and then the trunk. Return the gearbox and floor covering.

Here you are: the interior is back.

As a conclusion we should note that complex sound deadening is the best possible option. Most drivers doubt whether they need complete sound deadening. We bet, just a short trip in a sound-deadened car will remove all doubts.

Have great trips!