Soundproofing Wind Noise

Warren Thompson · Oct 23, 2009

LanNinja said: ↑

Good idea but the weather stips look horrible. Looks kind of ghetto.
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If that is your opinion. Done right, with black stripping, you can not see it with doors closed. The rope blends nicely.

Two choices... 1) Ghetto
2) Quieter ride

Let the buyer beware

geolink · Oct 23, 2009

Warren Thompson[OP] said: ↑

If that is your opinion. Done right, with black stripping, you can not see it with doors closed. The rope blends nicely.

Two choices... 1) Ghetto
2) Quieter ride

Let the buyer beware
Click to expand...

X2
pros and cons... trade-offs...
As a desert dweller I like the concept for both dust and sound control.
I have left over seals from my cap install and plan to experiment with some of the door applications.

Keep up the good work!

Agent475 · Oct 23, 2009

LanNinja said: ↑

Good idea but the weather stips look horrible. Looks kind of ghetto.
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I wouldn't say it nessicarily looks "ghetto"... It was the only color they had available to him

SpaceMonkey · Oct 23, 2009

Sorry about using that term. I think it would look good in black. I do applaud the creativity.

Agent475 · Oct 23, 2009

LanNinja said: ↑

Sorry about using that term. I think it would look good in black. I do applaud the creativity.
Click to expand...

No worries... I use that term sometimes too.

Warren Thompson · Oct 23, 2009

Gentlemen...! To do the mod or not is your decision. Weather you see improvement (decrease) in wind noise has got to be your opinion. To me, there was a great decrease in audiable wind noise at highway speed as a result of sealing out bug dust encountered in my field work.

Whether it is "ghetto" or sloppy, whatever... Take it or leave it. This is my contribution to TW, limited as it may be.

carmellocafe · Oct 23, 2009

I'm impressed with this--Think it's a pretty good idea. Simple fact is that the more airtight you make those doors, the quieter it'll be. BTW, I saw the same kind of weatherstripping at Wal Mart ( back in the paint section) for less than $3.00!

Warren Thompson · Oct 23, 2009

Yes, it is CHEAP. The major investment is your time. Seal out the wind and you get a much better ride!!

geolink · Oct 29, 2009

Hi Warren and all.
FYI More discussions going on here.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/54343-wind-noise-side-view-mirrors-conclusions.html

Warren Thompson · Oct 29, 2009

geolink said: ↑

Hi Warren and all.
FYI More discussions going on here.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/54343-wind-noise-side-view-mirrors-conclusions.html
Click to expand...

Geolink, thanks for the "link" (no pun intended...). I did read that and used it to inspired me to do the weatherstripping on my taco. Thanks for bringing it up again.

From one geo to another...Rock on!!

Agent475 · Oct 30, 2009

I might do this tomorrow or Sunday. I got sucked into a bathroom remodeling project this past weekend... Not cool!

gologit · Jan 7, 2010

Warren Thompson[OP] initial post: ↑

I have done this mod on several F-150s and recently did it to my 06 DC Tacoma. I use my Taco to do geologic field work in NE Nevada where summers are very dusty. I needed a way to seal out the dust from getting in the door hinges and latches behind the external rubber door molding. I used simple weatherstrip available for any hardware store. With the weatherstrip, I effectively sealed out the dust, but when I got on the highway I became alarmed. I was hearing sounds I had never heard before... like the engine, drive train, my radio to name a few. Sealing out dust also effectively sealed out wind noise on the highway. I am amazed even after a week since doing mod this just how quiet my cab is driving at highway speeds!!!

Our Tacomas are made very well, with good fit and finish to the body parts. However, the Tacoma is still a production vehicle. Any bit of TLC the owner puts into their Tacoma will only make it better.

This mod seals off air gaps in the door and prevents air from swirling in them. Your doors will close easily with not much additional push (well, mine close nicely!!).

Needed for this mod is the following;

30 ft. of 1/4 X1/2 in. weatherstrip, adhesive on one side
15 ft. of 3/4 X 7/16 in weatherstrip, adhesive on one side
15 ft. of 1/4 in diameter caulk prep foam rope (I could only find it in 100' rolls)
Optional 00 steel wool for surface prep
Adhesive glue

This mod is very simple. It calls for applying the weatherstrip on the door jam and doors so that when the doors are closed, all wind gaps are sealed off. The key to longevity of weatherstrip is cleaning the surface where the strip will be applied to. I used window cleaner and followed up with roughing up the surface with 00 steel wool. The steel wool increases the surface area for the weatherstrip adhesive.

Step One:

As seen in the photo, blue arrows point to 1/4 X1/2 in. weatherstrip mounted on the door jam, rear drivers side. The strip is mounted in the recess where the flange of the door seats into. Both the threshold and rear of the door frame on all doors need this stripping.

Step two:

Same 1/4 X1/2 in. weatherstrip is applied to the door flange which fits in to the doorjam recess. This should be applied so with the door closed, it is flush with the like stripping on the doorjam, forming a good seal. The blue arrow shows this stripping only on the rear of the door. All four doors need to be dressed in this manner. The base of the door is dressed with the 3/4 X 7/16 in weatherstrip, shown by the red arrow in the following photos.

Step Three:

Using the thicker 3/4 X 7/16 in weatherstrip, dress the center pillars on each side where both doors join together. This seals out the gap in the pillar from swirling air at highway speeds. The blue arrow in the following photo shows location. I put a small piece top rear as well.

Step Four:

Using the 1/4 foam rope and adhesive, fill in the gap on the rubber molding around the windshield. This gap is enough to make air swirl and cause noise at faster speeds. The blue arrow in the following photo shows where I placed the rope. I used adhesive on the ends only to keep it from coming out. Adhesive is always optional, but necessary.

Step 5:

I used the 1/4 foam rope to also fill in the gap along the external door molding where it seats with with the door frame. I used adhesive glue in the molding. This gap may also cause swirling of the air. I found sealing the gap with the rope will not effect the tightness of the seal, but simply seals the gap from wind, like the windshield.

That is it! You will have left over stripping. I used it on the front of the door jams, along the top of the doors. Be creative. Your doors should now be sealed and still close with the quality Tacoma "thud" we have grown to admire.
Click to expand...

Great post. This will be next week-end's project.

tbone11212 · Apr 1, 2012

subbed great project

mk7 · May 8, 2012

awesome, I need to this.

ItalynStylion · May 8, 2012

How has this held up over the years? I recall you doing it initially but I'm interested to see how it's held up against the elements/time.

Nunavut · May 8, 2012

Awesome. I'm doing this today.

Endurozw · May 8, 2012

ItalynStylion said: ↑

How has this held up over the years? I recall you doing it initially but I'm interested to see how it's held up against the elements/time.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to know this too, easy fix to a dramatic amount of interstate noise. I usually have to bump my volume up about 3 notches once I hit the interstate.

ItalynStylion · May 8, 2012

Likewise. I've got more than enough audio firepower in the truck to drown out anything but I also like to protect my ears.

ManMan · May 8, 2012

I had actually contemplated this same thing over the years. Kudos for having done it, I'll have to try it out!

Crom · Sep 20, 2015

Did anyone follow the OP's writeup? I'm thinking of giving this a try.

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Soundproofing Wind Noise

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