How To Stop Truck Doors From Rattling?
How can you stop truck doors from rattling?
Stop truck doors from rattling easily by using sound deadener mats like the Second Skin Damplifier Pro Premium Car Sound Deadening Material. This is the easiest and most permanent manner by which you can stop truck doors from rattling. There are other way to do that and that includes simple things like cleaning the cubby holes and the areas behind the door panels.
Doors rattling seems like an inevitable thing that’s going to happen to any heavy-duty work exposed truck. We’ve listed down ways to stop this from happening. Because it can really be irritating to drive your truck around with all that racket going on.
Steps You Can Take To Deaden The Sound
As mentioned above, there are many ways to stop truck doors from rattling. These tips are also used by professional car mechanics and customizers in order for them to deliver the best outcome for their clients.
These tips don’t just come from professional truck mechanics, they come from other car segments to like Volkswagen Beetles, Vintage Cars and Hot Rods.
Here Are Some Of The Simple Steps You Can Do At Home
Door rattling can be caused by something as simple as loose objects. Before going to your mechanic and paying exorbitant consultation fees only to find out it was just a loose screw trapped inside your panels.
Remove Loose Objects In Your Cubby Holes
Loose objects have a tendency of getting knocked around inside cubby holes. That’s especially true for small metallic objects like nuts and bolts. Against the plastic surface of the cubby hole, that’ll cause little rattles that over time can be pretty annoying.
Use the ThisWorx Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner to reach those hard to reach areas easily.
Don’t Slam Your Doors Shut
Constant door slamming can cause the screws holding your panels to the door to come loose. Cars doors are meant to shut close by simply pushing it into place. Slamming it can also damage the window mechanism and that’s going to lead to a whole new set of problems.
That’ll bring us to the next item on the list.
Check To See If The Door Panels Are Loose
This is a result of constant door slamming or incorrect replacement of the door panel when you fix something behind it. Replace lost screws and secure the door panel back to the door frame as tightly as possible without shearing off the screw heads.
Check To See If There Is Debris Inside The Door Behind The Panel
Sometimes debris can find its way inside the door frame behind the panels. Over time, because of water and oil introduced through the gaps for the windows (yes, it still happens even if your rubber sills are in good condition) these debris clump together into small solid pieces of gunk that harden over time.
This can also happen if you get stuck in the mud. Mud has a way of finding itself into small, hard to reach places. Just use a vacuum cleaner to suck everything out before replacing the door panel.
More Complicated Issues Leading To Truck Doors Rattling
There are some issues that can’t be fixed at home that easily. These need the expert hands of qualified automotive mechanics. Don’t worry, this is one of the most common issues these guys encounter so their level of expertise on these matters is above your expectations.
Beware Of Rust
Old trucks are notoriously prone to corrosion. Rusted parts inside your door frame can break off and add to the debris already in there which could intensify the rattling sounds you hear. To stop truck doors from rattling, you might want to have your entire door replaced or at least have the rusted parts cut out and welded back in with new patches.
Make sure you apply a fresh coat of rust-proofing solution to ward off the early onset of rust and corrosion. Prevent rust with Rust-Oleum 7798502 Semi Gloss Black.
Buy Sound Deadener Panels
There are sound deadener panels that you can buy from your local car shop. These come in different sizes. The best are the meter squared variety as you can cover a lot of space with one panel and just add more as needed by cutting out pieces accordingly.
Try these sound deadening panels to get rid of unwanted rattling and noises:
What Are Sound Deadener Panels?
Sound deadener panels have been in existence since the 1800s and were used primarily to deaden the sound of structures like houses and buildings. It didn’t take long for car manufacturers to identify it as a product that could help solve one of the most common issues in their vehicles.
Sound deadener panels are constructed in this manner: Outer layer, sound deadening layer, and adhesive. This is the most basic construction of these mats.
These are usually used on old car models like Volkswagen Beetles and Jeeps. These two are examples of bare bones car models that focused more on utility than creature comforts. Granted, these two are excellent cars. Their longevity and loyal fan base is proof of that.
But, it isn’t entirely bad if you can improve an already good car right?
So, sound deadener panels were introduced to minimize the rattle these cars produced over time. So far, the concept has worked and you can even find sound deadening materials installed in production cars today.
How To Do A DIY Installation Of Sound Deadening Panels On Your Vehicle
1. Clean The Surface Before Application
Dirt, oil, grease and other muck are going to be present on all car surfaces no matter how pristine you believe you keep it. Use a degreaser and surface preparation fluid to properly clean these surfaces. Use the All American Car Care All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser.
Strip the metal clean if needed and apply rustproofing solution.
Allow drying and clean again until you are confident there is nothing left that could affect the adhesion of your sound deadening material to the metal.
2. Measure Twice, Cut Once
Sound deadening materials don’t come cheap. Don’t waste it. Measure the area that you’re going to apply sound deadening panels to at least twice to ensure you can maximize each panel.
If you can do away with cutting, it’ll be better for you. Cut smaller pieces to accommodate corners and small spaces. Use these Heavy Duty Scissors for clean, precise lines.
3. Place The Sound Deadening Panel And Flatten
One thing you should remember is that once you place the sound deadening panels on to the metal, its adhesive side will be exposed. This will leave a layer if you place it wrongly. Removing it will require you to do step one all over again. So make sure you commit to it once you’ve removed the protective film over the adhesive side.
Place the mats as flatly as possible. Use a roller to further increase adhesion and remove bumps. Have an assistant help you lift the mat and roll as you flatten.
4. Allow Drying
Once completed, allow the sound deadening panels to sit and dry. You can use a hair blower to hasten the drying process. The heat will help the adhesive stick better as long as you point it in the right direction which is over the protective layer.
For great results, use the SEEKONE Heavy Duty Heat Gun.
Related Questions:
Can I Place Foam Instead Of Sound Deadener Mats?
Using foam is a cheaper method to combat unwanted sounds. The only problem is, foam eventually rots. It also doesn’t adhere that well to metal when heat is introduced. Certain adhesives react negatively to foam, melting it in the process. When this happens, rattling could still continue incessantly.
What Other Parts Cause Rattling?
Nuts and bolts, over time, will loosen. When this happens, car parts become loose and the excessive vibrations produced by your engine will cause these parts to knock into each other producing that annoying rattling sound. Check to see if any nuts and bolts are loose and tighten as much as needed.
How Much Will It Cost To Stop My Truck Doors From Rattling?
Costs range from $100 and up depending on the gravity of the situation. A simple fix, including the consultation and professional fees can run you up to that amount. Any intensive fix that requires cutting and welding will range from $500 to $1000. You can also opt to replace your doors instead.
In Conclusion:
If you really want to stop truck doors from rattling, invest in good sound deadening mats or materials. Consulting the professional help of auto mechanics can also help identify other underlying issues that you might have which are causing the rattling sounds.
Rattling can be caused by other mechanical parts and is not only reserved for truck doors. Don’t let the rattling noise go on forever, find it and suppress it as soon as possible.