Dynamatting the doors to improve door feel & road noise

[tx 4runner]

As everyone who has opened/closed the door on a 5th gen knows, these doors seem poorly insulated. They also sound like the little doors on a wrangler when you close them. Is anyone going to take steps to soundproof the doors to get rid of some road noise and improve the feel of the doors? I wouldn't mind spending a day and I'm not sure, maybe $60, to buy the materials.

Has anyone taken off the door panels yet to get a good idea on how difficult this might be?

 

[Jesse1983]

Most Toyota's are very easy to remove the door panel. I've seen a little cover which I'm sure has a screw underneath. Assuming there are no other screws the panel should pop off. I agree the doors sound very cheap. sometimes I shut it and the sound makes me think I broke it.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

It's gonna cost a lot more than $60 to sound proof a vehicle.

 

[tx 4runner]

It's gonna cost a lot more than $60 to sound proof a vehicle.

You think?

If you use some of this FatMat stuff (on the cheap end, but seems to be ok) it looks like it would cost $60 or so for 25' of it.

Again, if this is for decreasing road noise and making the door go "ka-thunk" when you close it, I can't think of a good reason to spend more or bother soundproofing the rest of the car.

Not sure how much of this stuff one needs though to not make the doors sound tinny. Maybe you need a few layers?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

That is square feet. You could use almost all of that up on one door if you did it really well.

You might want to put sound deadening on the floor rather than door. I think that would eliminate more road noise.

Check out Second Skin. They have a variety of products for sound deadening.

 

[SeattleMike]

A proven resolution I have been using in my '85 22R tincan for 25 years: Turn up the stereo, problem solved.

 

[BrianLSU]

Is there a difference in sound dampening between the variants?

I have actually found my doors to be quite solid and quiet, a large departure from my hollow Rubicon doors.

 

[ckon]

I've had all five generations and always hated the sound of the doors. I even tried to soundproof one or two of them.

I've just recently found out what was responsible for most of the tin can sound of at least the recent doors - it's not so much inside the doors (actually mine sound pretty good), but in the outer door handle itself. The gasket against which the door handle mechanism stops when released is made of a kinda hard plastic and provides the familiar "CLANK!" when released. It's either that or metal-to-metal contact inside the outer door handle.

Try it yourself. If we can figure out how to dampen that sound we'll have finished the job Toyota should've done if they were willing to spend another nickel per door. I've tried a few different materials, but haven't found anything I'm totally pleased with yet. Better, but not perfect yet. I may end up removing the door handles and replacing the plastic gaskets with rubber.

Between the sound of the door handles and the sound of the horn, YUCK!!

 

[7harper]

Any other Limited/SR5 owners get the sheet metal on the hood wrinkling/flexing when going fast or into the wind? I'm wondering if some dynamax on the inside of the hood under the insulation would fix that? Something to stiffen it up.:whip2:

 

[TTown]

I think the 5th generation is quieter than the 4th generation when it comes to road noise, however I do agree the door sounds tinny when shut.

I used to work for Lexus and we had a demo piece of the sheet metal used in Lexus vehicles. There were 3 layers sandwiched together that improved the sound deadening. When you would knock on the sample you could hear a clear difference compared to the regular sheet metal. To this day, you will notice Lexus doors sound more solid than Toyota doors.

With that being said, it seems to me the 5th gen doors are more tinny than the 4th generation. My guess would be the design of the door or possibly Toyota changing to a different sheet metal to decrease weight and or cost.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[7harper]

Is there a difference in sound dampening between the variants?

I have actually found my doors to be quite solid and quiet, a large departure from my hollow Rubicon doors.

Mine does sound "tinny" if another door or window is open and I close it. Otherwise mine sounds pretty good too. Same as the last Gen. 4Runner.They have round bars , about an inch in diameter in the doors for side impact protection. In the old days , the sheet metal on the doors was alot thicker and served as the protection.

Girlfriend and I test drove a new GX460 last week and it sounded the same way when another door was open.Maybe a little better.She would'nt buy it!!!I tried though.
Nowhere near that vault door sound of a german sports car for sure.

 

[4ShoreRunner]

Any other Limited/SR5 owners get the sheet metal on the hood wrinkling/flexing when going fast or into the wind? I'm wondering if some dynamax on the inside of the hood under the insulation would fix that? Something to stiffen it up.:whip2:

I've noticed it on my TE...when the hood is really clean you can see the glare bouncing and flexing around

 

[NikitaVelour]

Any other Limited/SR5 owners get the sheet metal on the hood wrinkling/flexing when going fast or into the wind? I'm wondering if some dynamax on the inside of the hood under the insulation would fix that? Something to stiffen it up.:whip2:

Ive noticed the hood on my Trail doing that on the interstate.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

My 3rd Gen is pretty quite.

Sound deadening as in the sheets probably wouldn't work under the hood. The heat would be too much.

Second Skin makes products that you can use all over your car.

 

[FlyNavy]

Yeah the hood flex is weak.

 

[Jtraskell]

Is there a difference in sound dampening between the variants?

I have actually found my doors to be quite solid and quiet, a large departure from my hollow Rubicon doors.

After reading this thread, (and others) I was somewhat surprised about road noise issues. Mine is very quite. My doors do not sound "tinny" even though they seem "lighter" then normal for the size of the door. Then I remembered, when I purchased my SR5, it came with the XY7 Toyo Guard Plus Protection Group option. (From SE Toyota). One of the many things they did was add undercoating and "Sound Seal". I can certainly see the undercoating, but I am really not sure was the sound seal is. I doubt it has anything to do with the doors, but maybe? Bottom line, mine is very quite. Not just my opinion, others who have ridden in the vehicle have also commented how quite it is, for a truck.

Maybe the undercoating combined with the "sound seal" is the key!

 

[bradj]

Is there a difference in sound dampening between the variants?

I have actually found my doors to be quite solid and quiet, a large departure from my hollow Rubicon doors.

I agree. I think my doors feel very solid and close smoothly. I'd rather a nice quiet door close than a loud thunk like a '32 ford. As far as road noise my 4R is very quiet inside.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I too think the runner is very quite, but in the same note wouldnt mind lining the interior (doors, floor, roof) of the car for even more quite down the noise and promote better speaker response. I will be updating my speakers and adding amps and a sub in the near future. Probably do it all at once.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I too think the runner is very quite, but in the same note wouldnt mind lining the interior (doors, floor, roof) of the car for even more quite down the noise and promote better speaker response. I will be updating my speakers and adding amps and a sub in the near future. Probably do it all at once.

Looking forward to seeing you do this.

 

[jgedmond]

Any other Limited/SR5 owners get the sheet metal on the hood wrinkling/flexing when going fast or into the wind? I'm wondering if some dynamax on the inside of the hood under the insulation would fix that? Something to stiffen it up.:whip2:

I notice this effect on my TE at more than 65 - 70 mph. A little flexing just behind and to the left of the scoop. Don't know if it does the same on the right side because the wife has not got to drive it yet! :lookout: