Bang for buck- noise, ride and more.

[LouisvilleJesse]

Hey mx3ers.
Im a college student who has had a mostly stock, 95 mx3 for a few years. I fell in love with it quickly. I've wanted to work on it for a long time, but I've lacked both time and money. However, this summer, I will hopefully have enough of both to get somewhere.
This is where I am aiming at. I really want to try and make the car all around quieter, but I am unsure of how to really silence the interior. I've seen dampening and insulation methods, but I am doubtful that they will have a whole lot of effect. I want the inside to be super quiet.
Also, I would really like to smoothen the ride. Is this even possible, being the size of the car?

Furthermore, what is the best way to get more bang for buck (in any area of the car)?

Any help would be appreciated.

[SuperK]

welcome, and read this thread:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=75285

you may want to also look over and have your exhaust worked on, any holes will ruin it. stock exhaust is a must, make sure the resonator is still there. The OEM setup is quite quiet.

The stock suspension is the softest ride you'll find.

I would nag some 93 mx-3 seats, they're quite more comfortable.

[Ryan]

Our plastic interior is terribly loud.

A few culprits:

The stock hatch HINGES are what do most of the clunking back there. Mazda now sells an updated version. If its still noisy, re-set the receiver so it holds the hatch in tension against the weather stripping.

The flip up panels in the back may wiggle in their clips. Putting a little bit of tension on it, by putting a foam paddy under it somewhere can help.

The hatch and trunk trims rattles together. Putting a thin strip of foam between them (or a light bead of removable silicone when assembling them) can do wonders.

The spare tire well is not fastened to the floor, line the edge of it where it contacts the floor pan with foam, and/or weight it down (perhaps with a strapped down subwoofer?)

Our doors are a major place for sound to enter. Wound proofing the door is going to be good bang for buck.

One that I found helped a little was spraying the wheel well and wheel well liners with a heavy coat of rockerguard so the stone noises are dulled a bit. You can also fill your rocker panels with expanding foam, but I do not suggest this unless they are in immaculate condition, otherwise the foam can speed up the rusting process.

[DeadMaker]

Our plastic interior is terribly loud.

A few culprits:

The stock hatch HINGES are what do most of the clunking back there. Mazda now sells an updated version.

Do you have any information on this?It is specific for mx3?
Any link?

[Ryan]

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/search.php



go to mazda, ask them for hatch hinges for an MX3.

[DeadMaker]

Thanks man..

[LouisvilleJesse]

Okay. Thank you all.

What about the muffler though? Is the stock muffler my best bet for being quiet? Or is there anything you all recommend?

On a slightly different note though, I've been looking at a few body kits, and all have been going at close to 500 with shipping. Am I looking in the wrong places or is this to be expected?

[SuperK]

definitely stock muffler. I would strongly suggest considering not doing a bodykit. This ismy personal experienc, but 500 dollars is a lot of money to be spending making your car uglier.

[MrMazda92]

The stock hatch HINGES are what do most of the clunking back there. Mazda now sells an updated version. If its still noisy, re-set the receiver so it holds the hatch in tension against the weather stripping.

The flip up panels in the back may wiggle in their clips. Putting a little bit of tension on it, by putting a foam paddy under it somewhere can help.

The spare tire well is not fastened to the floor, line the edge of it where it contacts the floor pan with foam, and/or weight it down (perhaps with a strapped down subwoofer?)

These 3 I can attest to, 100%. Strapping a sub down with ratchet straps(using your rear seat hinges at the bottom) will make a noticeable difference.

In my case, adjusting the latch for the hatch made very little difference. She squeaks a little less, but only marginally... This could be the 20 year old rubber seals though.

I'd like to add that you can remove your scissor jack, jack handle, and spare tire. I'd definitely empty and clean the spare tire well before covering it back up. If you insist on keeping one in there, a foam padding of some sort is a VERY good idea. Make sure it wraps somewhat around the tire, or it will just vibrate out from under it.

[Josh]

If you really want to sound deaden the car I strongly suggest using something like Dynamat. This is a great way to sound deaden the car. You want to put it on the inside of your doors and cover your floor with it. This will make a world of difference. The other thing you can do is have the undercarrage recoated, and that will cut it down more as well.

[Ryan]

You won't find much if any love for kits on here.

ALL cheap body kits will have terrible fit and finish.

Can't avoid it. they're made with cheap materials, in cheap molds. Thats why they're so cheap. Bolt holes won't line up, body seams will be uneven, doors may not close over the skirt lip..... Even if the style of the kit is O.K, the fit will make it look like crap.

But its still your car.

[Daninski]

solorider did a post on sound proofing using material bought from Home Depot I believe. Use the search, he did it about a year ago.

[SuperK]

solorider did a post on sound proofing using material bought from Home Depot I believe. Use the search, he did it about a year ago.

welcome, and read this thread:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=75285

you may want to also look over and have your exhaust worked on, any holes will ruin it. stock exhaust is a must, make sure the resonator is still there. The OEM setup is quite quiet.

The stock suspension is the softest ride you'll find.

I would nag some 93 mx-3 seats, they're quite more comfortable.

[WesleyK]

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/search.php



go to mazda, ask them for hatch hinges for an MX3.

So these hinges are making this awful squealing sound when going over bumps? Do 1997 MX-3s have these faulty hinges too? Will check my spare wheel too, nice one!