Soundproofing car fender liner: materials, soundproofing options, errors during operation
Content
The second layer on the fender liner (also on the wheel arch, if you have to make noise directly from the metal), you need to apply a soundproof layer, for example, splenitis. There are 6 types of splen insulator according to the sound repellency coefficient. For arches, it is recommended to use the brands StP Splen, Shumoff P4 with waterproof glue, STK Splen, STK Splen F.
The most "noisy" place of the body are wheel arches. Of all the noise that enters the cabin while driving, 50% is the sound of the tread, the sound of gravel hitting the doors and fenders. Comfort in the cabin is ensured by high-quality sound insulation of the car fender liner. Most manufacturers install vibration and noise absorbing plates throughout the interior and part of the exterior surface of the body, achieving silence in the cabin, even at high speed. But not all new cars can offer the driver maximum comfort, and the arches make additional noise in 80% of cases.
Why is soundproofing necessary?
The panels protect the wheel arches from mechanical damage and corrosion. A neat element also performs an aesthetic function, closes the working suspension units, gives the overall look of the car a finished look. Technically, the sound insulation of the fender liner performs the following functions:
- reduces the level of noise penetrating into the cabin;
- provides protection against mechanical destruction (relevant for plastic parts);
- well-chosen material additionally protects the wheel arch from salt and aggressive reagents that provoke corrosion;
- protect metal from chips that appear after the impact of stones flying out from under the wheels on a dirt road.
Varieties of sound insulation
The factory equipment of budget segment models often does not require the installation of a fender liner. The metal of the wheel arch is treated with anticorrosive, sound insulation is provided by soft sheets of vibration-absorbing material that are glued to the metal.
Soundproofing with special material
There are several types of material to make noise on car fenders, each of which has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. There is an option to install fender liner, which many drivers consider an alternative to vibroplastic and foil materials.
Plastic
Plastic fenders are installed as standard soundproofing for budget models, for example, VAZ 2114. The part must be additionally glued with vibroplast to reduce the noise level.
The panels are well suited as wheel arch protection against gravel impacts. Heat-resistant ABS is not subject to corrosion, it is installed on caps and self-tapping screws.
Made from nonwoven fabric
The non-woven fabric part ensures optimal sound insulation of the interior. The needle-punched layer has high strength, does not absorb moisture, dust, dirt, and reliably protects the arch from corrosion. The non-woven element is considered universal, but it also has a drawback.
At a temperature of minus 1 degree stretches, may sag. This leads to the fact that during the movement the wheel will erase the protection, exposing the metal of the arch.
"Liquid" fenders
This is a protective layer that is sprayed from a can into the wheel arch, providing reliable protection against corrosion. The liquid composition penetrates into hidden cavities, forms an elastic elastic film, up to 2 mm thick. It reduces noise in the cabin by 10%, and is widely used as an anti-corrosion coating for metal. For full soundproofing, it is necessary to make noise in the arch additionally, using vibroplast or rubber panels.
Soundproofing fender liner
Liquid protection is good to use simultaneously with plastic elements. Plastic covered with sound-proofing material will provide protection from extraneous sounds, a “liquid” fender liner will not allow corrosion pockets to form under the plastic.
How to make soundproofing with your own hands
You can glue the fender liner for soundproofing the car yourself. The work takes several hours. Simultaneously with the processing of plastic parts, the wheel arch is also soundproofed.
The market offers a wide range of soundproofing materials, among which vibroplast is the most popular. The elastic material is applied to the fender liner as the first layer and provides optimal damping performance, gravel bounces off the surface, impact noise dissipates.
Vibroplast brand "Bimast Bomb" is used as a noise absorber for the entire body. It is based on a bitumen-mastic composition, the top layer of insulation is a foil layer, which reflects the sound wave as efficiently as possible. The sound insulator is produced in layers or rolls, has a sticky layer protected by a substrate. Glue on a clean surface.
The second layer on the fender liner (also on the wheel arch, if you have to make noise directly from the metal), you need to apply a soundproof layer, for example, splenitis. There are 6 types of splen insulator according to the sound repellency coefficient. For arches, it is recommended to use the brands StP Splen, Shumoff P4 with waterproof glue, STK Splen, STK Splen F.
Splenes are glued with the second or third layer after laying the vibrating layer. Always finish the work by applying a layer of liquid rubber or anti-gravity to the sound insulation. Liquid rubber is preferable, because after hardening it creates a millimeter elastic layer, completely protects the fender liner or wheel arch metal from moisture penetration.
Features
Vibroplasts and splenes have an adhesive base, so before work it is necessary to cut out the largest possible parts of the material. Splenes are glued with an overlap, vibropanels - end-to-end. The insulation is released from the adhesive backing, applied to the fender liner and carefully rolled with a hard roller to expel the air trapped between the insulation and the fender liner.
Soundproofing car fender liner
In some cases, the insulation is heated with a building hair dryer, the material becomes more elastic and ensures the tightness of the joint. When skimming the wheel arch, a complex of anti-corrosion protection is carried out, the plastic fender liner is washed and dried.
What will you need?
Let's take a step-by-step look at how to soundproof a car's fender liner using the KIA Ceed hatchback as an example. In the configuration, plastic panels are installed, which are attached to the arch with caps. What is required to rustle 4 parts and arches:
- vibroplast "Gold" - 2 sheets (60x80 cm, 2,3 mm thick);
- insulation "Izolonteip" 3004 (100x150 cm, thickness from 4 mm);
- caps for fasteners (during dismantling, half of the regular clips fail);
- mastic Body-930 - 1 jar;
- anticorrosive liquid "Rast Stop" - 1 b.;
- degreaser, you can alcohol;
- brushes, gloves;
- fender liner removal kit (screwdrivers);
- building rubber spatula or wooden plate (smooth sheets of insulation).
Prepare rags for wiping, choose a well-ventilated room, it is better to work outdoors in calm weather at a temperature of plus 18-22 degrees.
Process step by step
All work is carried out after dismantling the wheel. If there is a lift, the duration of work is reduced. In a garage, you will need to put a jack under each wheel in turn.
Work order:
- Unscrew the caps holding the fender liner in the wheel arch.
- Remove the mudguard, pull out the fender liner, wash.
- Degrease the outer surface of the plastic panel that is in contact with the arch.
- Cut out vibroplast panels, stick on, roll with a roller. It is recommended to seal at least 70% of the outer surface of the fender liner with vibrating material.
- Stick parts of the insulation tape, coat the joints and edges of the sound insulation with Body-930.
- Do not seal the places where the part comes into contact with the body. This will make it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to install the plastic protection into the arch correctly.
- Apply anticorrosive "Body-930" to the metal with a brush. This will enhance the soundproof performance and provide protection against corrosion.
- Spray "Rast Stop" into the hidden cavities in the arch and joints.
Soundproofing fender liner up close
In wheel arches anticorrosive creates a protective layer and dries up in 10-15 minutes. After drying, install fender liner, wheel.
Without lockers
You can make a place noisy without using plastic protection. The procedure is relevant for cars in which plastic protective elements are not normally provided.
Soundproofing is carried out on the metal of the body:
- Dismantle the wheel, wash the arch. Since there is no protection against dirt, wet dust is pressed behind the wheel, which is difficult to wash off without Karcher. The use of brushes is recommended.
- Degrease the surface of the arch with a nitro solvent.
- Apply several coats of liquid sound deadeners (Dinitrol 479, Noxudol AutoPlastone). You can use bituminous mastics. Apply compositions with a brush in 3-4 layers.
- Noxudol 3100 sound insulator is sprayed in 4-5 layers. Before each subsequent application, the previous layer should dry for 5-10 minutes.
With plastic fenders
If the factory does not provide plastic protection in the car, but the body structure allows it to be installed, sound insulation is applied to the outer part of the plastic panel that is in contact with the body. It is important to take into account the size of the fender liner and the width of the vibroplast so that the suspension can work in the maximum range and the wheel does not touch the protection when turning.
You can also rustle the fender liner with rubber inserts. For this, the Comfort insulator is suitable, the material is foam rubber, which is glued to waterproof compounds. Spraying liquid rubber also provides noise protection. This option is chosen if there is not enough free space inside the fender liner to maneuver the wheel.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake when self-insulating a body is the use of dissimilar materials, for example, laying layers of splenitis and body mastic on the arch. The insulation layer will last up to 6 months, then the splenium will begin to peel off, the noise in the cabin will increase gradually. Areas of corrosion appear already after 3 months, since the layer of material is not hermetic.
The second common mistake is gluing the splenite directly onto the fender liner without a vibration absorber. Corrosion in this case will not be - plastic does not rust. But it will be possible to reduce the sound from gravel hit only by 25-30%, which is not enough if the car belongs to the budget class and does not have optimal sound insulation for doors, bottom, and trunk.
Soundproofing car fender liner does not apply to complex work that requires special. tool and skill. It is easy to isolate the interior from extraneous noise on your own. At the service station, such work takes up to 2 hours.
