2016 RX 350 Excessive noise and vibration
#2161
I just installed two dampers on the engine side right in front of the flexible joint. My RX350 is the 2022 model year without the factory damper on the center pipe.
I can say that the vibration transmitted to the cabin has been reduced by more than 50% and is now below my annoyance level.
It feels much more like a "normal" amount of vibration any car would have. The vibration now easily blends with road vibration.
The engine still sounds exactly the same but that doesn't bother me. It sounded like that since new.
I might experiment and add two more dampers on the other side of the flexible joint to see if I can reduce the vibration even further.
j
I can say that the vibration transmitted to the cabin has been reduced by more than 50% and is now below my annoyance level.
It feels much more like a "normal" amount of vibration any car would have. The vibration now easily blends with road vibration.
The engine still sounds exactly the same but that doesn't bother me. It sounded like that since new.
I might experiment and add two more dampers on the other side of the flexible joint to see if I can reduce the vibration even further.
j
Last edited by starcube; 03-29-24 at 12:13 PM.
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jollick (03-29-24)
#2162
I just installed two dampers on the engine side right in front of the flexible joint. My RX350 is the 2022 model year without the factory damper on the center pipe.
I can say that the vibration transmitted to the cabin has been reduced by more than 50% and is now below my annoyance level.
It feels much more like a "normal" amount of vibration any car would have. The vibration now easily blends with road vibration.
The engine still sounds exactly the same but that doesn't bother me. It sounded like that since new.
I might experiment and add two more dampers on the other side of the flexible joint to see if I can reduce the vibration even further.
j
I can say that the vibration transmitted to the cabin has been reduced by more than 50% and is now below my annoyance level.
It feels much more like a "normal" amount of vibration any car would have. The vibration now easily blends with road vibration.
The engine still sounds exactly the same but that doesn't bother me. It sounded like that since new.
I might experiment and add two more dampers on the other side of the flexible joint to see if I can reduce the vibration even further.
j
#2163
#2164
Experiment how? According to the thread, the spot in front of the flexible joint on the engine side gives the best results. Attaching the dampers on the center pipe itself gives diminishing returns the further you go from the flexible joint.
Last edited by starcube; 03-29-24 at 03:22 PM.
#2165
I am curious of the effect of one damper vs. two. I figured two would require twice as much energy to transmit vibration as one, so I installed two. But then again every car is different.
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bamalam (03-29-24)
#2166
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jollick (03-29-24)
#2167
Do you think it's worth checking the torque specs on flexible joint bolts? It's a near guarantee the dealership didn't torque them to spec; they just put them on with an impact to save time. I bet is they are way too tight. Whether that makes a difference or not is anyone's guess.
Last edited by starcube; 03-29-24 at 06:46 PM.
#2168
FYI the droning TSB that replaces the center pipe with one that has a damper now applies to 2016-2022 model years of the RX350.
See: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...35210-9999.pdf
The instructions for reinstalling the exhaust are interesting... they even make you check the distance between the flanges of the flexible joint after installation.
See: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...35210-9999.pdf
The instructions for reinstalling the exhaust are interesting... they even make you check the distance between the flanges of the flexible joint after installation.
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jollick (03-30-24)
#2169
FYI the droning TSB that replaces the center pipe with one that has a damper now applies to 2016-2022 model years of the RX350.
See: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...35210-9999.pdf
The instructions for reinstalling the exhaust are interesting... they even make you check the distance between the flanges of the flexible joint after installation.
See: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...35210-9999.pdf
The instructions for reinstalling the exhaust are interesting... they even make you check the distance between the flanges of the flexible joint after installation.
#2170
Since the TSB now finally covers my 2022 RX350, I might get it done next time I'm in for an oil change. I'll try to add two more dampers and see what that does.
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autotech13 (03-30-24)
#2171
Put on two more dampers in the spot from the TSB.
The vibration became worse, especially around 1450RPM and 1850RPM, so I took them off.
I'm going to drive around with two for a bit and then maybe test with just one.
The vibration became worse, especially around 1450RPM and 1850RPM, so I took them off.
I'm going to drive around with two for a bit and then maybe test with just one.
Last edited by starcube; 03-30-24 at 02:46 PM.
#2173
#2175
Won't be for a while. I'm kind of tired of constantly going under the car and doing test drives. How about someone else does this for the community?
I removed one damper this morning and did a test drive with just one installed facing the passenger side on the engine side of the flexible joint.
This seems to have reduced the vibration transmitted to the cabin the most. I still get some drone when I floor it around 1750-2000RPM, but now at least the car is not annoying me anymore.
Two dampers gave a similar result to one, but caused a very loud resonance at around 950-1000RPM.
I removed one damper this morning and did a test drive with just one installed facing the passenger side on the engine side of the flexible joint.
This seems to have reduced the vibration transmitted to the cabin the most. I still get some drone when I floor it around 1750-2000RPM, but now at least the car is not annoying me anymore.
Two dampers gave a similar result to one, but caused a very loud resonance at around 950-1000RPM.