98 Malibu

[Kevin M]

I have been expanding foam all the little areas I could but I think I know what's causing that particular noise though. It is those two metal tensioner bars that run across the underneath of the rear deck. The ones that hold the trunk open when it is all the way up.

My plan was to put a piece of 1/2 inch mdf on the underside of the rear deck and using some self tapping screws and filling the gaps with great stuff but I have no back speakers. Some heavy duty foam wrapped and ziptied around them should stop that noise.

[Lbox88]

I have been expanding foam all the little areas I could but I think I know what's causing that particular noise though. It is those two metal tensioner bars that run across the underneath of the rear deck. The ones that hold the trunk open when it is all the way up.

My plan was to put a piece of 1/2 inch mdf on the underside of the rear deck and using some self tapping screws and filling the gaps with great stuff but I have no back speakers. Some heavy duty foam wrapped and ziptied around them should stop that noise.

My problem isn't really the noise, since the video sounds like shit on my droid x, but just the flex and vibration of the whole rear deck and the pillars right next to it. All that keeps coming to mind is to try and fill them with some kind of foam to keep pressure on it and stop it from banging off of itself.

As far as the tension bars for the trunk though, I think I am going to get some pipe insulation to wrap around the one bar which will hold pressure against the other bar and stop both from rattling.

[Basshead89]

Here's what I did on my Malibu.

That third break light is gone... I took the whole rear deck apart and sound deadened it. The 6x9's have a plastic ring that rattles too... i just laid a piece of carpet down before i put the plastic ring back in. The Grill covers for the speakers still move but they don't make noise anymore...

oh... all the wires that go in\on the rear deck have been wrapped in foam, the sticky stuff you can get at a hobby store.

The tensioner rods i moved to the next notch, tightening them up.. i also wrapped the sections that come close to each other in some vacuum line from an auto parts store. I also tightened down the trunk like and sound deadened that too.

[Kevin M]

Thanks for the tips bro. I will definitely be using those on my malibu as well.

[lem43606]

I have the same car, and had the same flex issues.. that rear deck is one solid trim and has a layer of foam under it. i also live an hr south of you so if you need help hit me up in a pm and ill be glad to give some advice

[Lbox88]

I have the same car, and had the same flex issues.. that rear deck is one solid trim and has a layer of foam under it. i also live an hr south of you so if you need help hit me up in a pm and ill be glad to give some advice

Thanks man, are you from the Three Rivers area then? I have been struggling with what to do because my car has been having some serious mechanical issues and I just moved plus started a new job, so my car got put on the back burner for now. I might be getting a new car within the next year and if so, do I really want to invest that much more time and money into this one. It all depends because my finance is graduating and moving in with me soon and loans payments will start up, so I am waiting to see how it all shakes out.

[lem43606]

I live in st joe, um right off I-94 and if you junk that car i want your gas tank haha

[Lbox88]

So... I've definitely liked these subs while I've had them, but it is time for an upgrade. I WAS thinking of a single 18 or two 15's, but I've ran the numbers a bunch of times and decided that it wouldn't work out the way I want. I'm thinking of either a single 15 facing up with port in any direction, or 2 12's in one box facing forward port forward. Higher power will be a must but will be coming after I choose the subs and build a box for them... or maybe if I sell the subs and amp I have I'll get a new amp at the same time. I wish I could seal the box in but it wouldn't work since my rear seat bolts in. Hmmmm, which direction to go in...

[Kevin M]

All depends on what youre looking for. Is there a specific sub or company you are looking at? I would go for more cone area but that's just me. lol how much of a power upgrade are we talking?

[Lbox88]

Well... I am definitely leaning towards 2 12's in one box after giving myself time to think about it. I am hoping to fall in the 1.5-3k range worth of power handling. I don't want to buy everything at once, I think my old lady would kill me hahaha. I figure I would buy the subs and work on building a box, in the meanwhile using what I already have unless someone buys it off me for their wife's car or something lol. Then try them out on my amp and wait a little bit to get the new amp. As far as brands... I've been looking at T3, DC, RE, AQ, Fi, AA, Soundstream, Sundown... you name it. Basically I am looking for that range of power handling for ~$400. Would kind of like the sub(s) and port facing forward but I only have about 16.5" x30" at the opening to work with, which pretty much knocks out the 15" idea. Kind of figuring on a 1-ohm final load too.