Date:         Sat, 6 Feb 2010 21:25:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Ed McLean <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed McLean <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Buzzing luggage rack on westy need advice

Although this is not directly related to the "buzzing" luggage rack problem
I think it is a good time to share some information with the group.

I have been working for quite a while to reduce the noise inside my '86
Westfalia by adding sound adsorbing pads to inside of every accessible
panel.  The Westfalia luggage rack seems to cause a significant amount of
wind noise and, since it is bolted to the drum-head like roof of the front
seating area, I felt like any vibration from the luggage rack was being
transmitted, and maybe amplified, into the passenger compartment.  I needed
to replace the luggage rack gasket so I took the opportunity to cover the
underside of the luggage rack with my favorite sound adsorbing pad,
Damplifier.  The result was a significant reduction in noise so I removed
the headliner and fiberglass insulation just below the luggage rack, covered
the inside of the passenger compartment roof with Damplifier, and refitted
the original headliner and insulation.  The results:  A big reduction in
wind noise.  This is a relatively easy task, and since these are the panels
that are closest to our ears, an small improvement in sound reduction here
may make more difference than a greater reduction in a more distant panel.
I highly recommend this modification.

I prefer Damplifier pads because they are made of butyl rubber rather than
asphalt and do not fall off when subjected to the stresses of time and heat.
 I once used B-Quiet Original pads on the panels below the side windows and
it slid down and made an aweful mess.  I've had similar poor results with
the Peel-n-Stick type products.

Damplifier has a similar construction to and the same mass as Dynamat
Extreme but it cost about half as much.

I thought someone might be interested in this.
Ed