Important: The following is a text only archive!
For full features; Go to Sorry, trying again, posting in hopefully the right place?
My apologies if I posted this incorrectly the first time.
Broken Nervous System requires magic-carpet quality ride. Yes, it’s true,
I’d much prefer to float through the air, than drive in a car. I had a
brain injury a few years ago and a part of my brain, (the reticular
activating system —don’t worry, this REALLY is a post about a car issue),
doesn’t work very well anymore. This part of the brain screens out incoming
stimuli, so my brain receives/process about 1000% more sound, noise, light,
vibration, rattles, smell, temperature sensitivity, etc...than a normal
brain. This makes driving quite draining for me. 4 hours in a car and I’m
fried. 6 hours and I’m dysfunctional for 2-3 days. It’s quite a handicap,
actually.
So, I REALLY need some advice on how I can make my car have a quieter,
softer ride, with less road vibration noise. Buying a new (or used) Lexus,
(or any other new/high-dollar car is not an option at this point) and I
really love my wonderful 96 Buick Park Avenue, with just under 88K miles,
and is like new in most ways. It would be considered a very nice, quiet,
ride by most people with normally working brains and nervous systems...but
it’s hard on me. I already do all sorts of Holistic Health type things to
soothe out my brain to help me cope ..but IS there something I can do about
different tires, or shocks, or air shocks...or suspensions? I don’t know
about any of that stuff. Any way that I can turn my car into more of a
magic carpet, other than taking some LSD?
Thanks a bunch :)
Katrina
katrinasunshine
I don't know if there's a whole lot you can do that will make much of a
difference. A high dollar luxury car might be the only thing that would do
it. Do you have health insurance? If this is truly a medical problem, you
just might might be able to get an insurance company to offset the cost for
you if you can show that it's something you actually need.
jedimario
unfortunately, you are often better off getting a newer car made to be
quiet than making your car quiet. Aside from a new suspension, there is not
much you can do to make a ride smoother, and even so, there is only so much
a suspension system can do. Different tires can be quieter and smoother,
and some are advertised as such, but the problem is that most of the noise
and vibration will come from poor road conditions, and good tires cost over
$100 each. The best way to eliminate noise is sound deadener, which is hard
to add to a car. Another big source of noise is wind and engine noise,
especially at high speed. the only way to reduce this is a car designed
with good aerodynamics, a quiet engine, and sound deadener. Depending on
where noise is coming from, something like a heavy blanket on the floor and
behind/over the back seat might help. An extra cushion on the seat might
help with vibrations and bumps. Earplugs might help with the noise. Baby
shade things, or stick on window tint over the windows to block sunlight.
Also look for things like leaves in the windshield wipers and grille, loose
side moldings/mud flaps/emblems etc. as they can add considerable noise.
Cliffnote version: I have no clue.:oops:
dvdrose18
Very creative suggestions :) Thank you to both of you!
katrinasunshine
Good suggestions indeed...I was actually thinking along the same lines as
DVD before I read the other posts. I would stick with those suggestions.
JPolito830
Well everyone has good ideas already. Lexus like you said has high dollar
glass which even the newer toyotas have helps a lot. Make sure there's no
exhaust leaks, and even a quietflow muffler would help. As far as tires go,
it's hard in NH because most good M+S tires have a lot of rolling
resistance and are loud. I've found Goodyear to be the best middle dollar
tire as far as sound and ride comfort. I changed over from my old tires to
brand new Goodyear Eagle HR GTs and they are the quietest tire I've ever
had(My first goodyears).
Now sounded Deadeners are kind of pricey if you want the professional
stuff, but as a redneck I have cheap ways that almost work as good. Under
all my trim panels I used doublewall cardboard covered with duct tape. And
most empty holes like trunk bracings I filled with Sprayfoam insulation,
which helps a lot with vibration. I know it's not to right way to do
things, but my POS cars didn't need high dollar sound deadener.
DBain
