A lot of noisy gravel getting kicked around

chmod · 02-17-2010, 10:19 AM

Hey, all. Owner of a shiny new Z here.

Having come from a very old sedan I'm probably not used to the noises a real sports car makes, but I hear a lot of rocks and gravel bouncing around when taking certain roads, particularly when I'm first pulling out. I realize this car has much larger tires and is a lot closer to the ground, but I'm just a bit paranoid.

Is this something that's common with sports cars, or am I just imagining things?

Liquid_G · 02-17-2010, 10:27 AM

totally normal. just drive faster and you wont notice it.

awesomez · 02-17-2010, 10:30 AM

It's normal for 370Z but not for all sport cars.

Cyberium · 02-17-2010, 11:04 AM

I know it's a horrible noise... sounds alot worse than it is. Big rear tires + big rear fenders = loud gravel

Chico370Z · 02-17-2010, 11:07 AM

yeah its pretty damn loud in there, especially when it's raining. Nice to hear at times...just crank up the music if you want to drown it out

mjd77 · 02-17-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberium

I know it's a horrible noise... sounds alot worse than it is. Big rear tires + big rear fenders = loud gravel

Not too big a deal but I wish they would have done something to insulate the fenders a little more. 350s are like this too.

chmod · 02-17-2010, 12:01 PM

Ah, that's good to know. Thanks.

It doesn't bother me per se, it just sounded odd and I got a little worried.

resdm50 · 02-17-2010, 12:03 PM

Yeah I was worried about this too at first, it's normal though. My wheelwell liners look like they've been sand blasted, lol.

elmz · 02-17-2010, 12:05 PM

You'll get used to it. Not sure if it's common on sports cars though. The rear wheel well is all metal connected to the frame and there are no plastic covers like you'll find in the front.

antman22 · 02-17-2010, 12:23 PM

i lined my rear wheel wells with nerf. works like a charm :P

370Zsteve · 02-17-2010, 12:26 PM

One of the primary goals of the designers was weight reduction. There is no sound insulation in the wheel wells. There are threads on the forum that detail DIYs on installing sound deadening materials.

Liquid_G · 02-17-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antman22

i lined my rear wheel wells with nerf. works like a charm :P

nerf? like the footballs? pics?

TamZ · 02-17-2010, 12:44 PM

The noise always makes me cringe just a little..bothers me that rocks are marring the underside of my car even when I can't see it. It does sound worse than it probably is..it seems even the smallest pebbles make LOUD noises!

Modshack · 02-17-2010, 01:00 PM

Two words: Sticky Tires

ferrari_rich · 02-17-2010, 01:00 PM

I had heard about this issue before I bought my Z, but, man it is noisy (see "Top Gear" episode on the Nissan 370Z vs BMW Z4 below, Jeremy Clarkson talks about it). It does qiuet down a LITTLE bit, when some of the road crap gets build up on the fender wells, but is due to no noise insulation to save weight as previously mentioned. It is a bit anoying, but I've gotten used to it now.

I've almost gotten to like it a bit, makes me realize that it's a car that was built for speed and handling, NOT quiet luxury. If you want quiet luxury, get a Lexus.

02-17-2010, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
chmod Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: FL Posts: 4 Drives: '10 370Z Sports 6MT Rep Power: 15	A lot of noisy gravel getting kicked around Hey, all. Owner of a shiny new Z here. Having come from a very old sedan I'm probably not used to the noises a real sports car makes, but I hear a lot of rocks and gravel bouncing around when taking certain roads, particularly when I'm first pulling out. I realize this car has much larger tires and is a lot closer to the ground, but I'm just a bit paranoid. Is this something that's common with sports cars, or am I just imagining things?

02-17-2010, 11:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chico370Z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 233 Drives: 09 370Z Touring Rep Power: 16	yeah its pretty damn loud in there, especially when it's raining. Nice to hear at times...just crank up the music if you want to drown it out __________________ 04 Nissan Sentra SpecV: Brembos, Nismo Intake/Exhaust/Short Shifter, Eibach Sportlines, ES MMI - SOLD / / / 09 Nissan 370Z Touring: Invidia Gemini Exhaust, ERZ HFC, GTM 25 Row Cooler, Z1 Tubes, and K&N Drop Ins

02-17-2010, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
chmod Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: FL Posts: 4 Drives: '10 370Z Sports 6MT Rep Power: 15	Ah, that's good to know. Thanks. It doesn't bother me per se, it just sounded odd and I got a little worried. Last edited by chmod; 02-17-2010 at 12:04 PM.

02-17-2010, 12:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 43	One of the primary goals of the designers was weight reduction. There is no sound insulation in the wheel wells. There are threads on the forum that detail DIYs on installing sound deadening materials. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

02-17-2010, 12:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
TamZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Drives: 2011 Mercedes GL 350 Rep Power: 16	The noise always makes me cringe just a little..bothers me that rocks are marring the underside of my car even when I can't see it. It does sound worse than it probably is..it seems even the smallest pebbles make LOUD noises! __________________ Tammy

02-17-2010, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 44	totally normal. just drive faster and you wont notice it.

02-17-2010, 10:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
awesomez Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: VA Posts: 199 Drives: 09 370Z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 16	It's normal for 370Z but not for all sport cars.

02-17-2010, 11:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cyberium Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 379 Drives: 370z Touring \| Sport Rep Power: 16	I know it's a horrible noise... sounds alot worse than it is. Big rear tires + big rear fenders = loud gravel

02-17-2010, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
resdm50 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 80 Drives: 2008 350z Rep Power: 16	Yeah I was worried about this too at first, it's normal though. My wheelwell liners look like they've been sand blasted, lol.

02-17-2010, 12:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
elmz Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 674 Drives: 2014 Porsche Boxster Rep Power: 17	You'll get used to it. Not sure if it's common on sports cars though. The rear wheel well is all metal connected to the frame and there are no plastic covers like you'll find in the front.

02-17-2010, 12:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
antman22 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 597 Drives: 09 PG 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	i lined my rear wheel wells with nerf. works like a charm :P

02-17-2010, 01:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Two words: Sticky Tires __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

02-17-2010, 01:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
ferrari_rich Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: out of here Posts: 79 Drives: Z Rep Power: 16	I had heard about this issue before I bought my Z, but, man it is noisy (see "Top Gear" episode on the Nissan 370Z vs BMW Z4 below, Jeremy Clarkson talks about it). It does qiuet down a LITTLE bit, when some of the road crap gets build up on the fender wells, but is due to no noise insulation to save weight as previously mentioned. It is a bit anoying, but I've gotten used to it now. I've almost gotten to like it a bit, makes me realize that it's a car that was built for speed and handling, NOT quiet luxury. If you want quiet luxury, get a Lexus.

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