I purchased a 2002 GS430 with L-Tuned exhaust and I think the sound is starting to drive me crazy! Has anyone ever used any of the sound dampening products on the market to alleviate this problem (ie Dynamat)? It's the low RPM sound that is really annoying. Otherwise, it sounds great!

 

do a search on "drone" and you'll get a lot reading.

i hear dynamat may work but you have to put it in your trunk and back seats.

just crank up the stero and enjoy.

 

I will trade you the stock for your l tuned!!

Just an idea...LOL

 

bitkahuna did this and I think he was pleased with the result. He used a product called Brown Bread. Here is the link where he talked abou tit:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-2nd-gen-1998-2005/58455-sound-deadening-trunk-and-back-seat.html

You can PM him to ask for more info if you still have questions after reading the thread.

 

Is the Drone like the rumble of a 300hp V8? Or some other noise that is not indicative of a V8. I want add mufflers to bring out the sound but if drone on like say sounding like a Acura TL w/ Comptech Muffler. (that what I had on my TL). I willl pass on that particular mod.

 

hmm... thats weird. My L-tuned exhaust was very quiet and i didnt have any drone...

 

It looks like I will be insulating! Thanks for the help.

 

Cool. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Adding sound insulation does reduce the droning somewhat, but does not really get rid of it completely.

What seems to work better is to do two more mods - the Precision Industries 2800 RPM high stall speed torque converter coupled with the 3.76 gear torsen differential with LSD. This keeps the engine generally above the 1900 - 2100 rpm engine speed range in which this droning occurs.

 

Hameed is right as usual. Expanding on his points...

The L-Tuned exhaust seems to have a very loud resonant spot at around 1900 rpms if I recall right. The stock torque converter is 1800 so on part throttle the exhaust is as loud as it can be!

The sound dampening material will help some, but probably not enough by itself.

The upgraded torque converter however will help a LOT to reduce noise by making the part throttle rpms around say 2700 rpms outside the dreaded L-Tuned 'drone zone'.

I don't think the 3.76 diff will do much for the exhaust sound except make the car faster at the same rpms!

 

Hey I had to throw that in there so that he could do a performance mod at the same time.

One other modification I intend to do, to completely get rid of this droning is to remove the resonators. Hopefully will be doing that soon. The GS400 will then have the deep bass rumble sound I have always wanted!!!!

 

You won't be troubled by drone, but your exhaust will be UNBELIEVABLY LOUD at ALL rpms!

 

When I take them off, I will make sure they can easily go back on (ie I won't be cutting them or anything like that), just in case I cannot live with the loudness.

From posts that other CL members have posted regarding the removal of the resonators, it is not obnoxiously loud. Nice deep rumble.

 

I would suggest trying a different exhaust system too...
I had NO droning with my RMM exhaust, and I have none at all with my Carson Tuned which has different resonators in addition to the different mufflers and tips. Both sound great and are not too loud at cruising speeds either. Of course, I do have the mods that Hameed and Bit mentioned so that does help too I'm sure. Regardless, I think a different exhaust would be the best bet, along with some insulation if it's still too loud.