Drivers Footwell Rubber Sound deadening material?

[bmouthboyo]

After some welding to the drivers footwell area I have had to remove some of the mastic type rubber.



What purpose does this serve? Can I remove it all and insulate etc like I plan to on the passenger side? Or is the material available to replace if it is so needed?

Cheers

[a1winchester]

I think if it was me I would strip it all down to the metal, re-prime, and respray to match the rest of the interior bodywork. Just putting carpet or insulation over won't prevent the dreaded iron rot returning. Have a look at the driver's side as well. That might need doing too.
You can get the front carpet sets, which just fit over the floor, and then get loose rubber footwell mats which protect the carpets and make cleaning easier.

You can get the sound insulation panels if you want. That will enable you to be deafened by just the engine noise!

Try somewhere like VW Heritage.

[multisi]

That stuff might look bonded on the cab floor but water can still get under, had a leak from my windscreen, took up carpet and mopped up the water then thought about capillary action and so chipped off that original stuff and yep the water had sucked in underneath.

[bmouthboyo]

I will rip it up I think then. Was it just for sound deadening? What would be a good replacement? Just sound deadening square mats?

[RogerT]

Flashband (DIY stores, self adhesive flashing material for roofs, find it in the appropriate section of your average big shed DIY place) is cheap, quite heavy (damps panel resonance) and is very sticky. Probably cheaper than purpose made sound deadening pads. Covered my van in it... (On the inside only, naturally. But I've just wondered about sticking it on the outside - underneath - and then covering with an underbody spray???)