Sound Deadening Guide: A Simple Car Upgrade Worth Your Investment

Is soundproofing your car worth it? Is it necessary? And how to do it right? Cars tend to create noise. Especially older ones. These sounds can be distracting and irritating. You can’t enjoy a car ride in a vehicle that’s noisy. So yes, soundproofing your car is worth it and necessary. It is also simple and easy to do.

What is Sound Deadening?

car sound deadening

Sound deadening is the process of reducing unnecessary sounds. But it can also refer to the materials used for making that happen. People often do sound deadening to their cars to reduce noise even though cars already are soundproofed to some level.

Car manufacturers do auto floor insulation to cars during the production process. But that’s often not enough and for that reason, car owners do sound deadening on their own too to reduce the sound level. The more the better. Why is this important? Well, if you’re someone that’s not a fan of random noises and rattling or someone that gets annoyed when the audio system doesn’t sound as it is supposed to, then you’re the perfect candidate for doing sound deadening.

Although some people don’t mind the noisy rides others find these noises to be incredibly annoying and the reason headaches appear. Truth be told, you can’t expect the car ride to be dead silent. That’s impossible. Even the car floor insulation can’t provide you with that kind of silence. But the point is for the sounds to be more bearable and less disturbing and distracting.

It is very easy and simple to do this once you decide it’s something you want to do or something you need to do in order to continue riding your car. Vehicle floor insulation is usually done with the help of special mats.

Sound Deadeners for Cars

car sound deadening
source: whichcar.com.au

There are a lot of different types of car deadeners. Some are more effective than others, but also more expensive. Then again, keep in mind that this is a long term investment. You’ll use the sound deadeners for years to come so it’s worth spending a bit more money to get quality and functionality.

Sound deadening mats block vibrations and sounds. They are usually made out of multiple layers. For once you have rubber mats. Butyl rubber is one of the layers that does a great job at absorbing sounds while the final layer is made out of aluminium. Rubber deadeners are considered to be the best out of them all because they don’t get damaged easily, won’t become brittle over time, don’t smell and most importantly, don’t require a special approach when it comes to installation. You don’t need heat, glue or anything similar to install the deadeners. You just place them where you think you need them most and that’s it. Rubber deadeners are also waterproof and very easy to clean which is another plus.

You can place the rubber sound deadeners under your regular mats, inside your trunk, on the roof, on the doors, firewalls and in all the cavities. They are either black or silver but you can make it work.

Another good option is the auto floor sound deadener made out of foam. This one is also multilayered and has a sticky backing that ensures it stays in place once you’re finished with the installation. Foam liners are ideal for you if you’re looking for something that will soundproof the car but also provide thermal insulation. Because, why not have it all? They represent a thermal barrier and prevent heat transfer.

Same as the rubber deadeners, foam liners go under your existing carpets and everywhere else you think suitable. They are lightweight and you can cut them with scissors to your wanted size. Compared to rubber deadeners, foam ones are cheaper.

If you need something extremely effective, go for the deadeners with a vinyl layer. These are also known as heavy-duty deadeners that block sounds 100% and are primarily meant for firewalls, cargo areas and van floors. People get these types of deadeners to block sounds coming from powerful engines and exhaust drones.  

And last but not least is the car floor mat that has black leather on top and a cell foam layer in between. This auto floor sound deadener is meant to be used as a final layer, not under existing carpets.

The best thing about all of these layers is that you can use them together. You don’t have to stick with one deadener only. You can layer them up and make your car as quiet as possible. You can add and remove layers according to your needs and enjoy quiet and peaceful rides for a change.  

The Benefits of Using Sound Deadeners

car sound deadening
source: westerminsterspeed.com

The biggest benefit from sound deadening your car is the fact that you’ll no longer have to deal with annoying sounds that never seem to go away and keep getting worse. You’ll finally have the peace and quiet you were after. You’ll also be able to use your audio system as a normal human being without hearing additional sounds interfering with your favourite song. The difference is especially noticeable if you have a premium sound system in your car. Car karaoke will never be the same for you after the deadening.

And finally, you’ll be able to have a normal conversation while riding your car. You can forget all about shouting to the other person and repeating a sentence 100 times because the other person can’t comprehend what it is that you’re saying because of all the sounds.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your car soundproof. You can go for cheaper versions of deadening mats because they serve their purpose too. You won’t feel much of a difference. And the best thing is, car deadener mats last long and are prone to deterioration meaning that your investment is worth it.

Sound deadening your car can be your own small DIY project that will cost you very little time and money but provide you with a long term solution to the random car sounds. After all, why lose nerves over something that is easily repairable?