I have an 89 cherokee, that has so much noise coming into the cabin that any longer drive on the freeway to get to a trail causes you to be absolutely deaf by the time you get there, and by the time you get home, your ears are bleeding.

I have replaced the exhaust system, which helped, and I have very mild A/T tires, so I don't have bad tire roar. I'm not expecting lexus like quiet, but making it just driving to the trail head doesn't feel like I've been beat up from the noise.

Does anybody have any tips that they've done to quite down the cabin?

 

Ear plugs, pump up the volume on the speakers, there is a padding that insulates noise and sort of ambient temp and acoustics but mainly external noises (the ambient temp and acoustics is just what I've ears from people who use it). You put the padding under the carpet and upholstery on the floor doors and roof if you want to do a full job but that's about $120 ish but I don't remember. But I have an 89 also and I feel you man. I don't have a headliner too so that doesn't help

 

yeah, its just after a good 4-6 hours with 2 of that being the "getting there and back on the freeway" I tend to have a splitting headache. I also go with my kids, and they hate it too. They didn't come from the factory this loud did they? I cannot believe they did. and its keeping me from doing longer trips in it too.

 

Door seals, dynomat, drive slower. Lol

 

TMS Mass Loaded Vinyl 4' X 10' 40 Square Feet 1 Lb MLV Acoustic Barrier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JHE1P6..._RFMQwbHPSDP0F

Put that stuff on top of some dynomat type product and you'll have a big change. The dynomat lowers resonant frequencies and the mass loaded vinyl acts as a sound barrier.

There are tons of threads on reducing noise out there.

 

Does not compute...


What are the correct door seals, any idea? I'm sure they do need to be replaced.

 

The factory added barriers and insulation to later model XJ to combat road noise.
Such as, behind door panels there is an acoustic barrier (just like CR-Snow posted a link to). Additional jute insulation was added under carpet in specific locations and on firewall. I cannot remember the remaining details.

As mentioned, if door seals are not fully seating than a lot of noise will leak through.

 

1. Dynamat anywhere big
2. Tires. Get quieter tires
3. Doors. Anything you can do to upgrade the doors, but be careful of your windows, you dont want them stuck shut

 

I used some cheap-o foil insulation in my friend's Acura Integra and it made a pretty substantial difference in road noise. It cut down a lot of heat from the firewall as well.

Dynamat or similar would have been better, but it was unfortunately out of his price range.


I think alot of that was sealing up holes in the door frame, and along the firewall. In the XJ, focus on the doors, transmission tunnel, floor boards, and roof. Get the best stuff you can afford and throw it in on a Saturday (or just do one panel at a time - the stuff is cut, peel, and stick so very easy to apply).

 

Everything you need to know about doing sound deadening RIGHT can be learned at:

sounddeadenershowdown.com

 

I took a good look at my door seals and they are pretty shot, so I think that, and chasing down the worst rattles in the dash might be where I start.

 

Look in to adding more sound deaden,to the floor the roof and even inside the doors if you can.

 

It's a never ending battle with squeaks and noises. I gutted my 2dr many times. I have peel & seal everywhere , yoga mats all behind my interior panels filling the air space , new Carpet & door seals, insulated roof behind headliner . Most of the noise I hear is engine noise now. You will never get it super quiet but you can get it tolerable .

 

Undercoating can help a little and will protect you from rust.

 

Yeah, no I have set my expectation correctly, Not looking for lexus level quiet, just something that doesn't leave me with a ringing headache and bleeding ears. if i have to drive >an hour before I hit the trail, I'm done before I even start.