Altima Door Sound Dampening
March 30, 2006
This is how you get rid of those annoying rattling noises in your car when your music is thumpin' :) It also helps to reduce some road noise.
Before You Start
Go to your local home improvement store and purchase carpet padding. Thats right, you dont need the uber expensive dynamat for $80/sq ft for doors. Get the highest grade carpet underlay, 10mm thick. Youll need about 4' x 6'. Should run you about $15
I got this double sided indoors/outdoors carpet tape for about $5. Youll probably be frustrated with it the first few times you try to tear off the backing, but it gets easier.
Other Tools: Measuring Tape, Scissors, Hobby Knife
Total cost for this project: $20
Time: Allow for about 1 hour per door. Getting the doors back on is the hard part ;)
I got this double sided indoors/outdoors carpet tape for about $5. Youll probably be frustrated with it the first few times you try to tear off the backing, but it gets easier.
Other Tools: Measuring Tape, Scissors, Hobby Knife
Total cost for this project: $20
Time: Allow for about 1 hour per door. Getting the doors back on is the hard part ;)
Taking Apart the Rear Doors
Two screws at this point. One in the door grip and the other in the handle. Just pop off the little plastic caps to get at them.
Theres a little plastic clip just underneath the window switch. Pry open the panel and push in the tab with a screwdriver (but this time its plastic so dont break it).
With the panel out, disconnect the wires for the window switch. Heres the third screw.
Now grab the door panel along the bottom edge, and gently pull on it. You should feel a few pop rivets disengage. Continue doing so all along the edge.
After you pry open the door panel, dont drop it! It is still connected to the frame via the lock cables on the handle as you see below. This is a view from above, looking downwards, between the panel and the frame of the door. Unscrew the four screws holding it in and gently let it rest against the door frame. It may be a little difficult to do with one hand but I managed it.
The bear door frame
The rear plastic door panel.
The rear door panel is far from flat. I figured the best way is to cut up the padding and apply it in sections. This may not have been the best method. Youll see what I mean when we get to the front door.
To get the door panels back on, hook the panel over the top of the frame, line up one end, and then push down. It should sort of snap into place at the top, then push in all pop rivets. Put in the screws, then reconnect the wires (dont forget to push them through the padding) and snap in the switch plate.
Theres a little plastic clip just underneath the window switch. Pry open the panel and push in the tab with a screwdriver (but this time its plastic so dont break it).
With the panel out, disconnect the wires for the window switch. Heres the third screw.
Now grab the door panel along the bottom edge, and gently pull on it. You should feel a few pop rivets disengage. Continue doing so all along the edge.
After you pry open the door panel, dont drop it! It is still connected to the frame via the lock cables on the handle as you see below. This is a view from above, looking downwards, between the panel and the frame of the door. Unscrew the four screws holding it in and gently let it rest against the door frame. It may be a little difficult to do with one hand but I managed it.
The bear door frame
The rear plastic door panel.
The rear door panel is far from flat. I figured the best way is to cut up the padding and apply it in sections. This may not have been the best method. Youll see what I mean when we get to the front door.
To get the door panels back on, hook the panel over the top of the frame, line up one end, and then push down. It should sort of snap into place at the top, then push in all pop rivets. Put in the screws, then reconnect the wires (dont forget to push them through the padding) and snap in the switch plate.
The Front Doors
First pry off this corner piece.
Dont forget to take out the light at the bottom of the door by simply pulling it out. Then disconnect the wire.
The rest of the front door disassembly is the same as with the rear, only more wires to disconnect for the drivers side door.
Nice and flat.
For the front doors, I decided to cut out the door shape in the carpet pad, and then cut out from that, holes for the handle, wires, and foam. A much cleaner job than the rear doors (but the front panels were easier to work with).
Dont forget to take out the light at the bottom of the door by simply pulling it out. Then disconnect the wire.
The rest of the front door disassembly is the same as with the rear, only more wires to disconnect for the drivers side door.
Nice and flat.
For the front doors, I decided to cut out the door shape in the carpet pad, and then cut out from that, holes for the handle, wires, and foam. A much cleaner job than the rear doors (but the front panels were easier to work with).
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