torn surround ?

[97avalonxls]

I have an mtx 8000 12". It has a two inch tear on the surround. I am thinking about using the sub for my girlfriend's car. First, will it sound all that bad?
I played it, IB, from a PG ti400 I have and honestly it sounded pretty good. I could hear a little flapping sound, but nothing too bad.
My second question is, can this be fixed by me. I was thinking about sewing it closed with some 4lb test spiderwire and then using silicon caulk? Any ideas. Also, if I did install it, I would want to go sealed,but with the hole in the surround, it would ovbiously not be sealed. would this really screw the sound?
any ideas or even just experience with torn surrounds would be appriciated

[eddiem67]

you can add some rubber silicone if you want to try to save it, because it will keep on tearing.

[97avalonxls]

do you think the steel stitches are needed?

[4Aaron GE]

There are kits that you can buy to replace the surround. You've just got to know where to look. I'd try local surplus stores first.

[Stealth]

just glue the tear using rubber cement of something similar... i doubt the tear will make an audible sound difference since its mostly the cone that moves the air and makes the sound

[97avalonxls]

cool, how about any effect on a sealed enclosure, will it not work/ act like a port if it leaks air?

[Stealth]

it will lose some air but just do the best job you can patching it up and it should be fine, most boxes arent perfectly air tight anyway

[97avalonxls]

btw stealth, that amp of yours is niiiiiiice. very tight

[Stealth]

Thanks, I really like the way the Polk/MOMOs look, they're nice and clean and you can remove the end caps so you can put them side by side to look like a really long amp. My only complain is that I wish they put out more power, but that's only because I'm crazy. Their power is already pretty underrated.

[themainjam]

going on two years with silicone on my surround and it sounds great.....

[tCshamgar]

i've repaired several tears in sub surrounds. Use some flexible silicone and you'll get the best results. If its the part that is glued to the basket (metal frame) then you can use whatever will hold it best. I used some type of appliance glue that worked really well.

With sealed boxes, the hole Will affect the sound. And since its a 'moving' part, Its likely you'll hear it. So glue that baby down and stick some foam inside the box. I've found that the better the seal, the better, and more solid the sound.

[rawdawg]

What kind of surround material is it? I've taken my speakers to a speaker repair shop to fix. They'll do surrounds, cones, etc... Look in your local Yellow Pages for a shop.