Want to make your VW Quieter? Rattle Trap Extreme Super Stick Sound Deadener, 80 mil Nominal Thickness, 50sq' (33.5' x 18" Roll) is the finest sound deadener we have found! We tried them all, and they were either too expensive, smelled like you just paved the inside of your car, or didn't stick! Until we came across Fat Mat and Rattle Trap! These 2 products are from the same company, but in 40 mil and 80 mil thicknesses respectively. Rattle Trap is 1/3 less than Dynamat, and we feel it works better to boot!
You have to be careful when buying Sound Deadener, a lot of companies Bait/Switch you when selling you "40 mil/80 mil" product, because if you measure it you'll find out it's 30mil/60 mil! Purchasing Rattle Trap will ensure you get what you are paying for, and more importantly, get the results that you expect when spending this much time installing a product like this!
The original version of the product (Fat Mat) is pretty effective, it was discovered if you doubled up the product (put down 2 layers), it worked 3x as well! To avoid having to do it twice, they simply doubled the thickness of the material so you could get the 3x effectiveness in one application, to save you a bunch of work. Rather than stocking both 40 mil and 80 mil versions, and since our old VWs are so loud and noisy as it is, we ONLY carry the 80 mil version!
There is so much to talk about when dealing with noise, car stereos, and even basic conversation. The basic premise is that if you can cut down the background noise, you will hear more of what you are trying to listen to. In other words, reducing background noise is like adding power to your stereo system, without adding the power! The quieter you can make the car, the easier it is on your ears.
We have done our personal VWs here at Aircooled.Net with this product, and can 100% vouch for it's effectivelyness, it's absolutely INCREDIBLE! No more ringing car doors when they close. Carry on a conversation with your fellow passengers without raising your voice. Listen to your stereo on 4 instead of 9, and no more missed cell phone calls because you couldn't hear it!
This stuff is a multi layer construction, and it will stick to virtually ANYTHING! Once the mat is separated from the paper release liner you will immediately notice the super seal, which is a VERY aggressive coating that no other Sound Deadening company has! This stuff is so sticky that you can apply it in cold or warm conditions, without additional heating required to make it stick. It also means you won't have pieces falling off on those hot Summer days, which means you won't have to take your car apart again to fix it!
We do recommend that you clean and degrease all dust and dirt off the panels you are going to adhere the Rattle Trap to, for maximum adhesion. Squeaky clean is good!
Did you know that simply by installing one layer of Rattle Trap in your VW you can stop all rattles and vibrations dead in their tracks? Did you know that Rattle Trap will also stop irritating highway and road noise from entering your VW? Rattle Trap can also be installed on the inside of your firewall to prevent heat and noise transmissions from entering your VW. Loud exhaust drone? Well install one layer of Rattle Trap on your floor and make it go away!
Typical locations are on quarter panels, inside doors, floor pans, even the roof! The key to really making your car quiet is a multi-layer approach.
We have some pictures so you know what's involved, please review and see how it's done.
LAYER 1: Give a panel a "Rap" with a knuckle, and if it vibrates in any way, put a layer of Rattle Trap on it! Go as close to the edges that you can. Work from the center OUT to get rid of the air bubbles with a hard wooden roller to really press it down into the car. The roller is also really good for pressing out air bubbles, and ensuring maximum adhesion!
LAYER 2: In all locations (EXCEPT THE DOORS) put a layer of 2-3" of fiberglass or matting (like a pillow stuffing). Just stuff it in there. This prevents vibrations from traveling through the DEAD AIR in that area, from the outside panel to the inside panel. We do not put anything in the doors, because on a VW the doors are a very moist environment, and stuffing or fiberglass will turn into a big time mess, just use the Rattle Trap on the outer and inner panels ONLY, it will work great!
LAYER 3: Put a 2nd layer of Rattle Trap on the INSIDE LAYER of the door or panel. You do not need to do both the inside body panel AND the door panel, but do one or the other. We do the body if possible, in case you need to replace the door panel you don't have to replace the Rattle Trap too! Even if the Rattle Trap is hanging "Free Air" (in the quarter panel, for example), don't worry about it. Just make sure the Rattle Trap is stuck really well around the edges, near the perimeter of the door panel This additional layer prevents the sound from vibrating the door panel, which results in NOISE inside the cabin of your car. If the panel has no "inside supports" to stick the Rattle Trap to, you can put a layer of Rattle Trap on the door panel itself. Rear panels are an example of this, but in the front there are enough areas on the door to stick the Rattle Trap directly to the door. Make a completely sealed job on the inner panel, overlapping the Rattle Trap. Any hole from inside the door to the door panel is a place where air and vibration will travel out. Be sure to put a plastic sleeve (shrink tubing, etc) over the door release so it doesn't stick when you try to open your door from the inside!
On the Floor, just a layer of Rattle Trap, then a layer of Jute or Heat Shield Padding, then the carpet. On the Front Firewall and Kick Panels, a layer of Rattle Trap then the carpet!
You'll be surprised at how far a 50sq' roll will go, you can do all the VERTICAL panels of your VW Bug or Ghia with 2 layers of Rattle Trap. If you are attacking the floor also, you'll need a little more.
If you have any comments, questions, or installation pictures, feel free to send them in to us for inclusion in this description!