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Car Undercoating Sound Deadening

Sound Deadening Undercoating to Fight Road Noise

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: February 8, 2024

Read Time: 5 Minutes

Sound Deadening Undercoating to Fight Road Noise

Author:

Eric Zuck

Last Updated:

February 8, 2024

Read Time:

5 Minutes

Author: Eric Zuck

Updated: Feb. 8, 2024

Read Time: 5 Minutes

We pay our dues and hope for day-to-day improvements like smooth roads, but it always seems the roads WE drive on never get any love, resulting in a noisy, bumpy ride.

This underscores the desire NEED for an aftermarket soundproof undercoating so you can enjoy your music and have coherent conversations once more.

Soundproofing your car is a step-by-step process that starts from the ground up, and we'll teach you how to apply our spray on sound deadener to deaden undercarriage vibrations for a true soundproof undercoating, putting you well on your way to a smoother driving experience.

We pay our dues and hope for day-to-day improvements like smooth roads, but it always seems the roads WE drive on never get any love, resulting in a noisy, bumpy ride.

This underscores the desire NEED for an aftermarket soundproof undercoating so you can enjoy your music and have coherent conversations once more.

Soundproofing your car is a step-by-step process that starts from the ground up, and we'll teach you how to apply our spray on sound deadener to deaden undercarriage vibrations for a true soundproof undercoating, putting you well on your way to a smoother driving experience.

Free USA shipping
Free USA shipping

Popular Car Undercoating Products


What is a Car Undercoating? Why Should I Apply It?

Undercoating is an extra layer of aftermarket protection and insulation you can apply to the undercarriage of your vehicle, which includes parts of the chassis, exhaust, suspension, and wheel wells. Manufacturers may apply undercoating at the factory, but in certain environments it can make sense to re-apply or to upgrade.

Protect the Undercarriage

If you think your vehicle will need extra protection, it's best to apply a protective undercoating as soon as you buy it. Otherwise, you need to clean the undercarriage thoroughly to avoid just covering up the dirt and grime already on there. By protecting the exposed parts of your car from rust as well as dirt, grime, dust, salt, and everything else you’ll find on the road, you can extend the life of your vehicle and prevent maintenance issues down the road.

undercarriage of a car

Deaden Road Noise

Road noise is caused by a combination of your car's structural construction, the tires you're driving on, and the condition of the road. When your vehicle is in motion, structural noise is created as a result of moving parts, vibrations, rattles, and other metal-on-metal sounds. Applying a liquid sound deadening undercoating will combat that vibrational noise as you drive. It's also a great solution to tire noise reduction.

It would seem obvious for car manufacturers to install high-quality undercoating to vehicles off the line, but that’s usually not the case. Instead, it’s left on the consumer to apply deadening and protection to their vehicle’s undercarriage.

Second Skin Case Study: '67 Camaro Spectrum™ Undercoating

 

 

67 Camaro before sound deadening undercoating

Before

"I was shocked at how well it lowered my transmission & exhaust noise. Much easier to talk and drive now."

- LoneWolfCustoms

67 Camaro after sound deadening undercoating

After

Will Undercoating Reduce Noise in My Car?

If you drive on dirt or gravel roads, have performance tires, or drive a hot rod or truck, a sound deadening undercoating will reduce noise in your car. Even If you’re not in one of these situations, if you’re experiencing road noise, an undercoat of sound deadener may be a good solution for you. A sound deadening undercoating will:

At Second Skin Audio, we've formulated an undercoating we call Spectrum™, a liquid deadener that can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray gun. For applying to a vehicle’s undercarriage, a spray gun is the best method to make quick work of the project.

Spectrum is a high heat, water based viscoelastic polymer that when sprayed, results in a thick coating that is soft enough to deaden noise but hard enough to stand up to wear and tear, making it the best undercoating for cars. Check out this table comparing Spectrum to typical rubberized undercoating:

Spectrum Undercoating Rubberized Undercoating

Rust & Corrosion Protection

Effective Vibration Damping

Grime, Salt, & Dirt Protection

Durable Impact Protection

Effective Thermal Insulation

Easy to Spray On

How to Apply Sound Deadening Undercoating

Steps to sound deadening car undercoating

Applying sound deadening undercoating to your car doesn't have to be difficult. If you can lift your vehicle, you can do this:

    1.  Prepare the Undercarriage
    2.  Apply Spectrum™ Liquid Sound Deadener to Undercarriage
    3.  Install Heat Protection (recommended) 

Step 1: Prepare the Application Surface

One of the goals with undercoating is to protect your car from dirt and rust, and the best way to start your project is by by cleaning the undercarriage. Wash away as much dirt and grime as possible (we recommend cleaning with denatured alcohol) and remember to wipe the entire surface dry. Moisture is the enemy, you don’t want to apply your undercoating with moisture trapped between it and the car.

If you see rust, you’ll need to scrub it away with a wire brush. If you want to use a primer to the areas affected by rust, we recommend POR-15. Let the primer cure for about a day.

Step 2: APPLY Spectrum™ Undercoating

You’ll need about 3 gallons of Spectrum™ for your average sized vehicle (60 sq ft). Some larger vehicles may require another gallon. Check out the bundle & save Spectrum™ Spray on Deadener Kit! When using Spectrum™ liquid sound deadener, use the short straw when working upside down.

Apply Spectrum to the entire underbody of the vehicle and make sure to stay at least 2 inches clear of any heat source. Most exhaust systems hang at least 2 inches from the vehicle, but if that’s not the case with you, make sure you spray around the exhaust. For an exterior application, we recommend three 1mm coats of Spectrum™ for a total thickness of 3mm. Don't forget to sound deaden the wheel wells!

Spectrum will bond for the life of the vehicle. If you want to add a rubberized undercoating on top of your deader to protect from heavy impacts, wait a week to allow Spectrum time to cure.

PROFESSIONAL TIPS

Wait about 24-48 hours (depending on temperature and humidity) for Spectrum™ to dry before driving the vehicle. Temperature must be above 50°F for the entire cure period after applying Spectrum™. If you don't have a temperature controlled space, check that forecast!

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Saabkyle04 Undercoating his Chevy S10 with Spectrum™

Step 3: Install Extra Heat Protection (Optional)

Spectrum™ is a good thermal insulator in its own right, so it will be a big help with (or even solve) your heat issues too. If you are dealing with a lot of heat, you may want to consider FireWall, our ceramic thermal coating. Apply either on top of Spectrum for extra thermal protection or if heat is your only concern, apply it directly to the metal. Anything sending heat into the cabin (muffler, exhaust, catalytic converter, etc) will no longer be an issue after this heat resistant treatment.

What Are You Waiting For? Get That Undercoating Done!

If you're looking to get everything you need to spray Spectrum as an undercoating on your vehicle all at once, this is your lucky day! We've bundled together all the essentials into Spectrum Spray Kits. All you have to do is decide how much deadener you want to spray on.

  • Spectrum Spray on Deadener is applied in 2 layers on the undercoating of your vehicle to a total thickness of 2-3mm. Not only will this provide superior sound deadening, it'll also protect your vehicle from rust.
  • Continue applying Spectrum to your car's wheel wells and interior metal focusing on the doors, floor, and top side of the wheel wells to put an end to any metal that can vibrate.
  • Spray kits include a wide nozzle spray gun, bottle, trim tape, and plastic masking.
  • Free Shipping and Made in the USA
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Let Us Know if We Can Help With Your Undercoating Project

Now that you’ve got the basics of what to look for in an undercoating, where to install it, and how to install it, you’re ready to go. As we mentioned before, if your primary goal is noise reduction, undercoating is just one piece of the car soundproofing puzzle.

Give us a call if you want to learn more about how to turn your car into a soundproof bubble of comfort!

Have questions about your project?

Call us at 1.800.679.8511