After almost ten years of faithful service I've come to really dislike the awful road noise the vRS transmits to the cabin... It's not the tyre whining (especially winter tyres) but the dreadfully loud bangs that are transmitted upon the slightest of road imperfections.

 

Let's put the "change your tyres" aside for now, as it is the same with at least four (4) different tyre manufacturers and two (2) different dimensions!

 

The car is bone stock, only with cupra bushes fitted in the first year of ownership.

 

Has anyone tried to tackle the thumping bump road noise in the vRS?

 

I'm guessing new shock absorbers, softer springs, stock (uprated) bushes, shock bearings... That road is pretty expensive and I'm not fond on experimenting with it. Bear in mind I love the minimally lowered suspension in the vRS (parking in almost impossible places is a breeze, no underbody scratching at all), so any lowering coilovers are again not really an option for me..

 

This road noise is actually the only thing putting me of the car, if it weren't so loud I probably wouldn't think of changing it for the next ten years

 

Any ideas welcome - but first hand experience even more.

 

Best regards!

The best way would be to strip the interior out of the car then to apply ample amounts of sound deadening, paying special attention to the arches, under the rear seat and boot areas.

 

That will make the biggest difference although it will take a bit of effort.

 

Here's an excerpt from the Sound Deadening Shops website - http://www.deadening.co.uk/pages/tips

 

Specific recommendations for Hatch back vehicles

Modern cars are being made lighter using thinner metal to obtain better mpg figures. This results in more vibration and increased road noise within the cabin. Most of this noise enters the vehicle from the rear wheelarches, spare wheel well and boot floor.
In almost all hatchbacks there is only a thin carpet covering untreated metal panels in this boot area. A substantial reduction in road noise can be achieved by simply applying sound deadening to this area.

This simple treatment will dramatically lower road noise in the vehicle allowing easier communication with passengers, better radio performance and less driver fatigue.

We recommend our 2 stage process for a really cost effective solution

Approx quantities required for most hatchbacks
 

1 x Silent Coat Volume pack - £44.99
http://www.deadening.co.uk/products/silent-coat-2mm-mat-volume-pack

2 x Dodo Liner CCF9 - £25.98
http://www.deadening.co.uk/products/dodo-liner-ccf9

 

Total Project cost  - £ 70.98  ( prices correct at 12/11/14)

Replace the Cupra bushes with OEM bushes and enjoy quiet motoring again, I could not stand the noise more than 2 weeks.

DB

This may sound strange but the crashy noises in mine changed for the better when I threw a set of Eibach springs on it. Made it so much better, much less harsh.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The only way to silence the road noise is additional aftermarket soundproofing. To do a proper job the car needs to be gutted and it applied everywhere.

 

This also gives you the ideal opportunity to refit things properly and tightly to ensure that theres no squeaks and rattles from Trim/Wiring etc.

 

Don't forget its a small cheaply built car with a noisy diesel engine, theres only so much you can do in reality, so don't pull your hair out trying to make it like a rolls royce

The best way would be to strip the interior out of the car then to apply ample amounts of sound deadening, paying special attention to the arches, under the rear seat and boot areas.

That will make the biggest difference although it will take a bit of effort.

Here's an excerpt from the Sound Deadening Shops website - http://www.deadening.co.uk/pages/tips

Specific recommendations for Hatch back vehicles

Modern cars are being made lighter using thinner metal to obtain better mpg figures. This results in more vibration and increased road noise within the cabin. Most of this noise enters the vehicle from the rear wheelarches, spare wheel well and boot floor.

In almost all hatchbacks there is only a thin carpet covering untreated metal panels in this boot area. A substantial reduction in road noise can be achieved by simply applying sound deadening to this area.

This simple treatment will dramatically lower road noise in the vehicle allowing easier communication with passengers, better radio performance and less driver fatigue.

We recommend our 2 stage process for a really cost effective solution

Approx quantities required for most hatchbacks

1 x Silent Coat Volume pack - £44.99

http://www.deadening.co.uk/products/silent-coat-2mm-mat-volume-pack

2 x Dodo Liner CCF9 - £25.98

http://www.deadening.co.uk/products/dodo-liner-ccf9

Total Project cost - £ 70.98 ( prices correct at 12/11/14)

Interesting read that theezenutz.

I would agree with the above and with Lofty, the most effective reduction in road noise is going to be covering every bare and available panel with sound proof/dampening cladding. Quite a lot of work though to achieve a good level of improvement. Although the Fabia does come apart and go back together quite well.

JRJG

I even noticed the windows are a lot thicker in newer cars to reduce the wind noise.

turn the stereo up

All of the above mentioned will help - although as someone has said, in reality Skoda have not invested much in NVH as it is very costly to research and implement (i know this as i work for a very large OEM). Full sound deadening in the right areas will help but will also add a lot of weight if you go crazy with it!, so bare this in mind. 

Sound deadening would be the best and most cost effective option. Other than that I don't really know what to suggest. It's a 12+ year old car in design so it's not going to be as refined as modern offerings. I don't find it that bad but it's can be quite harsh over certain surfaces. 

Interesting read that theezenutz.

I would agree with the above and with Lofty, the most effective reduction in road noise is going to be covering every bare and available panel with sound proof/dampening cladding. Quite a lot of work though to achieve a good level of improvement. Although the Fabia does come apart and go back together quite well.

JRJG

Yeah it's a nice bit of information the guy that owns the Sound Deadening Shop also runs the Talk Audio Forum so he has quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to noise reduction.

 

In my own car I have used the 2mm Silent Coat dampening mat around the rear arches boot and under the rear bench, it's made a massive difference to the metal panels. It's not designed to block the noise but rather stop the panels from vibrating, it has changed the noise from a ting when you tap them, to more of a clonk that you would associate from knocking a table. It's very good stuff.

 

I also brought a small roll of MLV from Ebay I think. which I cut to the size of the boot and under the seat then just placed it under the hatch in the boot and on top of the carpet under the rear seat.

 

I couldn't be bothered to strip the interior out but it has defiantly made a difference to the road noise, much less of a droning sound now, but most importantly for me, it's made my sound system sound really nice. Win, Win.

 

I've also heard of people using Cloud 9 carpet underlay to good effect as well but the Silent coat stuff is very good quality.

 

Oh and with the dampening mat you don't have to have 100% coverage about 25% should suffice, it's the other stuff that needs total coverage or as close as you can get to it, because that's what will actually block the sound from coming in, the mat is just used to reduce panel resonance.

Here's another good source of information if anybody's interested. http://www.sounddeadenershowdown.com/home

I shall be watching this thread with interest, I do a lot of long distance motorway driving and would agree that the road noise is tiresome. The engine itself is pretty relaxed and quiet when cruising.

Edited 16 March, 201511 yr by Dazza95

An old thread

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/24456-noisekiller-review/

 

I found Rainsport 2s very good on reducing thumps but bloody awful for supplying turn-in and accurate steering info. Also reduced the apparent impact of speed bumps. (Though I was paranoid about going too fast and breaking the sidewall - bulges etc). Never did break them though.

 

J.

Strip the interior and paint the metal parts with epoxy mastic. It provides a barrier for sound and corrosion. Or I guess you could use dynamat or similar sound deadening material.

Rainsports are pretty good for reducing road noise. Did 5k in them in a previous car and was very impressed.

So no one tried silencing the vRS by softening it or some other mechanical alterations, only one bushes replacement recommendation? I remember the 1.4 MPi with 14" tyres as soft, silent and comfy...

 

For one, I was surprised that even with my high profile winter tyres (195/55R15) and having deflated the tyres to 2.0 bar front, 1.8 bar rear - the car is almost the same, still rough and loud (this was only temporary, as handling is awful with underinflated tyres).

better shocks and springs will improve the road noise and thumping noise you hear when you drive over bad roads

 

genuine Sach shock absorbers off a 9N3 model and then Eibach springs sorted my polo and it is lovely and quiet and drives perfect now