Pebbles and road debris noises

[FatFree]

Whenever I turn my radio down I can hear bits of road debris clinking away at the chassis of my frs. I've never had a sports car before so this was slightly alarming when I first heard it.

I first noticed this when I decided to try a shortcut on my way to work and I happened to drive down a newly paved road. The sound of little pebbles shooting away at my new car made me want to cry and I pulled over as soon as I could to take a look at the damage. Thankfully there was no damage and I concluded that the pebbles were only hitting underneath the car. But it still scared the shit out of me for a moment!

Anyways, I guess this is just one of those little things that I have to get used to. It doesn't really bother me at all but I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience? I'm just waiting for the 'break-in' period to be over so that I can drown out the road debris sound with the sound of the engine

[mfbmike]

Less sound deadening.

It startled me to some degree at first as well. Your car is fine.

[humfrz]

Not to worry, FatFree ...... it's just the way it is.

Now, the first time you drive down a gravel road, then get back on the highway and gain speed, don't be alarmed it you hear a few sounds that sound like boulders being shot up through the bottom of your car ...... it's just the gravel being released by the tires ....

humfrz

[bkblitzed]

happens to me everyday when my tires start get hot. Sounds like a midget has a handfull of pebbles and keeps throwing them down there xD, especially after a track session

[FatFree]

^^ haha!

Alright, cool. I assumed it wasn't really a problem but your posts make me feel better. I'm getting the chip protect done to the front of my car this Monday so I'll be even less worried after I get that done.

[mav1178]

You're fine. You've clearly never owned a S13 before.

-alex

[N1rve]

If you check the rear wheel liner, it's hard plastic. On other cars, it's usually some sort of cloth. That's why you hear that noise

But for cars who have that cloth insert, usually they say that they hate it because when they drive in snow, the snow collects in there and with the salt used for the snow, it gets stays in that cloth like thing and rusts the car.

[Vracer111]

All the cars I've ever owned had made the gravel sounds....that's what happens when you have tires that pick up gravel and stuff from the road and release it into the wheel wells of a stripped out DA Integra RS, stripped out 4th Gen Camaro, and stock FR-S (though the stock FR-S is much, much quieter...)

[Brndn704]

Originally Posted by mav1178

You're fine. You've clearly never owned a S13 before.

-alex

Oh god.... haha

Road noise is something you'll get used to.

[fistpoint]

Surely you've been in the car during a heavy rain? Just the raindrops sound like hail.

[DrDuquette]

Originally Posted by N1rve

If you check the rear wheel liner, it's hard plastic. On other cars, it's usually some sort of cloth. That's why you hear that noise

But for cars who have that cloth insert, usually they say that they hate it because when they drive in snow, the snow collects in there and with the salt used for the snow, it gets stays in that cloth like thing and rusts the car.

For us without snow, had anybody thought of lining the wells will cloth. What rug/cloth would you use. My Acura TL has black thick cloth.

[DrDuquette]

Are the wells easy to remove? I'll try gluing on some felt to the inside. Any ideas? Lets get this thread going and quite down those rocks.

[FatFree]

Originally Posted by fistpoint

Surely you've been in the car during a heavy rain? Just the raindrops sound like hail.

I've only had the car for a week now and there hasn't been any heavy rain yet.

Yeah, it doesn't snow very often here in Seattle so I might be interested in some sort of cloth lining as well. As long as it doesn't affect drivability at all

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by DrDuquette

For us without snow, had anybody thought of lining the wells will cloth. What rug/cloth would you use. My Acura TL has black thick cloth.

It will weigh the car down. But if you really wanted to do it, all you would need to do is buy some all weather sound deadening material, cut it to fit the wheel well, hold it in some how, and tada!