AUTOFOAM

Frequently asked questions about AUTOFOAM.....

1) How does AUTOFOAM enhance Handling?

"The chassis, or the base upon which a car is built, is generally a component of the vehicle that is not visible to the driver, but is something that can be easily felt, experienced and contibutes to a vehicles overall driving behaviour and characteristics. The rule of thumb is that the more rigid the chassis, the more superior the handling characteristics" - Lotus Cars UK

"A strong chassis is one that offers good torsional rigidity as well as transverse and lateral rigidity. This promotes  better cross- weight transfer translating into how  Agile & Precise the car handles.  For road cars, Foam treatment is one of the more practical & effective solutions." 

"A rigid chassis allows the Suspension to react quickly in emergency situations, providing the driver with exceptional vehicle control....Active Safety" - Lotus Cars UK

"In any high performance car, it is impossible to make the chassis too stiff. One of the most cost effective methods to stiffen a chassis without adding weight is foam treatment." - US SAE (Society of Engineers) paper

"Chassis stiffness is a critical element in suspension tuning. A flexing chassis does not allow the suspension to keep the tyres in contact in the road & is less responsive." - Sports Compact Car ( USA)
 

2) How does AUTOFOAM improve Ride Comfort & N.V.H (Noise, Vibration & Harshness)?

"By sealing off the hollow sections of the car's body, noise & vibration will be  blocked  from resonating into the car's cabin." 

"The stiffer the chassis, the higher its natural frequency, making the energy imparted to it by bumps less likely to excite the body's structure. The car is also less susceptible to creaks & groans"

"A stiffer non-flexing chassis will transfer more force into the suspension where it can be dissipated by the springs & shocks instead of transferring the force into the occupants."

"A stiffer chassis enables the use of stiffer springs & shocks without hurting the ride" - US SAE paper

3) How much time to AUTOFOAM a car?

Typically 3 to 4 hours for a Sports package which covers the Side Sills, A & B pillars. Additional  1 to 2  hours for the Ultimate package, the above and the full undercarriage chassis. So budget 5 hours for the full works. We like for you to witness your cars transformation and we have a lot of other "poison" to tempt you while you wait with air-cond waiting room, Wi-Fi, coffee etc.

4) Do you need to remove a lot of trimmings / fittings  for the treatment process and would it create any additional noise?

No. We only remove the plastic Side-sill plates, A & B pillar  trimmings & sometimes the rear seats, thats all. With our standard SOP & methodology , we have perfected the process into a Science assuring consistent  results. AUTOFOAM will actually help reduce Trimming squeak as the trims are now embedded into the foam, making the fit even tighter.

5) How can I be sure that the whole panel is fully treated?

That's is exactly why we do not recomend DIY and we do not appoint dealers yet. With our propietory methodology, utilising both European & Japanese techniques, we can assure you that.......we will show you during the process, we cannot be telling the whole world our secrets.

6) My car is brand new.  Would AUTOFOAM affect its warranty?

NO! As the treatment process does not require any drilling, cutting of the body structure.

7) How long would AUTOFOAM last or would it shrink over time?

AUTOFOAM is a high density Structural Closed-celled catalytic curing foam that would last the life of your car. We offer a 5 years warranty with free annual inspection.

8) Would AUTOFOAM affect any wires in the chassis & hamper repair works in the future?

No. There are no wires embedded in the chassis. If there were, even the car manfacturer would not be able to access it. The only area where there would be wires, is the B pillar.  We normally treat the Molex connectors first and we use our semi-rigid formula here so it can be removed in the unlikely event of future repair works.

9) Can AUTOFOAM help in Safety?

"A rigid chassis allows the suspension to react quickly in emergency situations, providing the driver with exceptional vehicle control .... Active Safety" - Lotus Cars UK

10) After AUTOFOAM, do we still need other Chassis reinforcements like Strut Bars?

Yes. For drivers who wants absolute feel, why not? Chassis bars give localised stiffening i.e. specific areas. AUTOFOAM treats the longitudinal as well as transverse sides of the car. AUTOFOAM acts more like an invisible roll-cage as well as offering Soundproofing, Ride comfort and Composure. Do AUTOFOAM first, wait 3 days for the full effect. If you still need further reinforcements, add the bars.  Afterall,  it is impossible to make a chassis too stiff.

11) Would a stiffer chassis make my ride harsher?

On the contrary. A stiffer chassis treated with AUTOFOAM would improve your ride quality two fold as well making your car more composed and relaxed. Do not confuse "chassis stiffness" with "suspension stiffness". Chassis must be stiff whereas suspension must be pliant to get that Magic Carpet Ride / Handling .

12) In the event of an accident, how would AUTOFOAM affect the repair works? 

AUTOFOAM treats the structure of the car. We Do NOT treat panels like Doors, Fenders, etc.where it can be "beaten" back. In the event when the car structure is damaged, the Manufacturers recommendation is to always replace the structural components.

 13) Can AUTOFOAM be used in Door panels, Fenders, Roof panels?

 NO. AUTOFOAM because of its high density structural qualities can only be applied to chassis structures. (Unless you want windows that are permanently up or popping roof panels ......... )

 14) Can AUTOFOAM trap water in the car structure?

No. AUTOFOAM is Non-hydroscopic (does not absorb water) & Fire-retardent. Furthermore, we do not treat panels that are water catchment areas. In cars with sunroofs, we will make allowance for water run-off or avoid doing them altogether.

15) Can AUTOFOAM be applied to all cars?

Yes, AUTOFOAM can further enhance your car in every aspect,........Handling, Comfort, Soundproofing. Foam treatment is nothing new. Prestigious marques use foam treatment to improve the feel of their "Luxury" models over their "cheaper" siblings, e.g Lexus / Toyota. (Note:- the latest Camry has quite a few foam treated parts).

Foam treatment done at the factory / assembly line is done on a spot basis i.e. isolated spots, essentially for N.V.H.  They cannot do AUTOFOAM's full Enhancement method, as the application and curing time is too long  (min. 3 hrs) - it is not viable for a car manufacturer ..... not to mention the obvious financial cost.  The only cars we cannot treat are space frame chassis cars like the McLaren. They dont need us anyway, hahaha.

16) What is difference between  AUTOFOAM & Industrial / House-hold Foam and can I DIY?

Foam treatment is a ONE time application that is an irreversible process.

"Do Not - I repeat - Do Not attempt to use cheap, hardware-store canned foam. This is not the same thing, and if injected into your chassis may form a gummy mess that won't dry." - US SAE paper

AUTOFOAM is a professional grade structural foam that has superior mechanical properties and catalytic curing so it will cure and dry even in enclosed space.

17) How much weight would AUTOFOAM add to my car?

At most, a  complete treatment  for a huge SUV would add no more than 4 kg. Typically for a family saloon, like a Toyota Camry, it would weigh 2 kg. It is afterall foam. About the most ultra-lightweight soundproofing solution.

Note: Some reviews are extracted from technical papers and articles listed above.