This topic SORTOF fits here.....

I suggest everyone pull their trunk carpet (at least the 92-99'*) and check to see if the padding is UNDER or OVER the donut spare. If it'* UNDER, it can act as a sponge for any water that may collect from a leak or condensation in the spare tire well, then wick up to the carpet and rot/mildew.

Jseabert and I just replaced our padding, and put it OVER the spare for this reason. Keep the car smelling/looking good this way.

Well way back when I had water leaking from my moon roof and back window, I checked this, and it was UNDER the spare. Completely soaked. I dried it out and put it back in.

damn it, gotta pull the subs again... no leaks though, or at least none that i know of!!!

Leaks aren't the only issue. Cold wet weather will allow condensation to build up in the spare tire well. That condensation will form under the black plastic cover, then drip back down into the well, soaking the pad.

Very good point Will...
I suspect that was the cause of the mildew on my trunk padding before I had it replaced. Took forever to get the smell out of the car... lol.

Does it sound any better inside, less road noise in the cabin?

I just put some old shirts around the spare tire, mainly so it would not rattle around any from my sub. Then I got some carpet material, and cut out a design exactly the same as the stock gray carpet inside the trunk and stuck it to the bottom of that for more deadening sound. Finally just went with dynomat.

Hard to say, cuz my stock padding was shot like you wouldn't believe. I can tell you it'* ALOT quieter than an empty bare trunk!

The padding we got was pretty thick, and alot more dense. I'm assuming it should be noticeably quieter. I hear alot less road noise, but then again, I just did some suspension work.

Probably. Hard to say. I dunno.

Well, what if you took the padding, and put it on the spare tire cover, and cut a hole out, but so they'd still seal up.

How the hell do you get your spare out?

Take a look at your padding. It'* cut out for the most part around the donut hole (I like that.....donut hole ), but it does have some material left. I believe this was done to keep the spare from rattling and bouncing around. The padding helps sandwich it in when you put the cover over the hole.