Sound insulating layer with integral boot

An acoustical barrier mounted to a fire wall of a motor vehicle, the fire wall separating an engine compartment from a passenger compartment, an opening in the fire wall for receiving a steering column, the acoustical barrier comprising:

• a sound barrier layer of a molded construction and sound dampening characteristics, the sound barrier layer having an inner surface that face the fire wall and an outer surface that faces away from the fire wall, an opening extending through the sound barrier layer between the inner and outer surfaces thereof and in alignment with the opening in the fire wall for receiving the steering column;
• a boot integrally molded with the sound barrier layer, the boot having a convolute portion and a cap portion integrally molded with the convolute portion;
• the convolute portion comprising a continuous outer wall section surrounding the sound barrier layer opening, the continuous outer wall section having an upper end integrally formed with a flexible bight portion, a continuous inner wall having an upper end integrally formed with the bight portion and a lower end integrally formed with the cap portion;
• the cap portion having an opening in alignment with the opening in the sound barrier layer, the cap portion opening being sized to acoustically seal around the steering column for inhibiting the transfer of noise from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment between the steering column and the sound barrier layer.