To combat the general background noise in the car interior, AvtoVAZ decided to take a number of drastic measures to modernize sound insulation and eliminate sources of various sounds.
The first thing the designers paid attention to and finally got their hands on was the gearbox of front-wheel-drive VAZs. They improved the manufacturing technology of gearbox parts (gears and shafts). The assembly technology also changed, and requirements for dimensional tolerances became stricter.
As further sound measurements showed, on the modernized gearbox, the noise level decreased (especially during intense acceleration) by about 10-12 dB. Note that a decrease of 6 decibels is perceived as a halving of sound.
But the gearbox is not the only source of noise. Work was carried out to eliminate other "non-functional" noises.
Changes were made to the door trim fasteners, various vibration-damping pads were added to the dashboard panels, parts and elements isolating from each other were added... the designers even seemed to eliminate the rattling of the glove box lid and refined the shelf covering the luggage compartment. Requirements for sound-insulating materials of body panels were also revised.
In addition, AvtoVAZ replaced the rubber seals. Thanks to them alone, the noise level decreased by 2 decibels.
Currently, specialists are studying the possibility of changing the shape of parts such as mirrors, air intakes, and plastic door trims.
We hope that Tolyatti engineers will prove the effectiveness of their methods through practical testing.
