Dash Speakers

[etidd]

I need to replace my dash speakers. The local audio store wanted $50 for installation so I figured I would do it myself. I took a peek at the speaker grills and I can't figure out how to get them off. I did find a previous post about this but can't make much sense out of it.

Can anyone list the procedures for dash speaker replacement? Is it really that difficult?

THANKS!

[Dee8go]

I haven't ever looked at the SL's, but if it's like the 126's, there are a pair of tiny screws on the side of the gril closest to you and the other side slips out after you lift the front of the grill.

You need a soldering iron and a little philips head screw driver. It's pretty easy.

[al76slc]

I pulled this off another thread awhile ago. I forgot the source. I hope it helps. (I haven't tried it yet so don't blame me.)
"I am in the process of changing speakers myself based in various threads I searched out on this site.

I have finished the passenger side:
The passenger side speaker cover (grill) is held in place by two small screws at the bottom and two internal clips at the top.
1. Remove the screws
2. Slide the cover off.
[Ah, and there's the rub. The clips are mounted on the inside of the grill and engage a horizontal bar that spans the two top speaker mounting screws. I got the cover off (incorrectly?) by pushing it in and sliding it down. Putting it back on that way was too tedious. Through trial and error I found that by sliding the cover up from an angle from the door side corner and rotating it into place it caught on both clips easily. The grill probably comes off more easily if one pulls it down while rotatating it about about 45 deg to the side. I was not interested in testing my hypothesis in my 90+ degree garage.]
3. remove the four mounting screws.
4. remove and unplug the old speakers.
5. I then cut the wire from the origional speakers and soldered them to the new so I had the origional harness connection intact.

I understand that the drivers side speaker cover is attached the same way. But to get to the two small screws, first remove the knee bolster. Do NOT pull the bolster away to access the screws (DO NOT ASK HOW I KNOW THIS!)
For want of a 10mm socket (only one that's missing --Grrrr) I have not done the driver side speaker, but here is my plan of action:
1. Find or Replace 10mm socket.
2. Remove the two plastic plugs on the bottom near each end of the bolster.
3. Insert a 10mm socket on an extension into each hole and remove the 2 bolts that secure the bolster to the dash.
4. Remove the bolster.
5. Remove and replace cover and speakers per other side.
6. Replace bolster [If the bolster was not tight against the dash before you started removal, adjust the brackets before replacing the bolster].

Two tricks of the trade Reinstalling dash grills # 1 use a long shank flat blade screwdriver or ? and hold the grill in place with the bottom of the grill angled out and from the bottom align the upper grill clips with the tool as you lay down looking up to see what you are doing once both clips are in place then proceede to slide the grill up this will make the whole job easy! Pass side knee bolster #2 don't remove the 10mm nuts all the way, just loosen and slide the bolster out till it comes down(there are two key hole slots) and this will be a lot easier to install.

driver side speaker (to replace it
The easy way to access the screws is to first drop the knee bolster under the steering wheel. There are two small plastic filler plugs that you remove at the bottom and take a long (10') extension with a 10mm socket to reach the two nuts that secure the bolster. Then remove the two screws from the speaker grill and the cover will pry off from the bottom and tilt up and off. There are two very small screws on the bottom of the speaker grill. There are clips on the inside of the grill as well. T
turning the steering wheel, after removing the trim they are 4 screws they hold the speaker

[etidd]

Holy crap... thanks.

The $50 installation is not sounding so bad now.

[al76slc]

Yeah .... but for $50, what do you think they'll do with the leftover parts when they finish?

[al76slc]

BTW, please report back on what you are install, and whether you like it.

What vehicle?

[Roncallo]

This is actually a lot easier than it sounds or looks and chances are an audio shop is going to F@#$ it up.

Removal of Grill
1) remove two tiny screws from the bottom of each speaker grill
2) Pull the bottom of each speaker grill out about 1/4" to 1/2".
3) Slide speaker grills downward.

Replacement of speakers
1) Unscrew 4 screws retaining speakers.
2) There is a disconnect plug about 1 foot up the speaker wire that will allow you to pull the speakers out of the car and work on the bench
3) Unsolder the wires and resolder onto replacement speakers
4) Reconnect and reinstall speakers

Now to reinstall the grills (This is where many including the audio shops F@#$ it all up)

There is a bar going across the speaker that you had to R&R to replace the speaker. Two clips on the grills must be engadged under this bar. Most people bent these outward and end up with a loose fitting and rattling grill. Do not do that. Instead make shure the clips are tight against the grill, bend if required.

Now how do you get the grill on?

1) Find a sheat of something fllimsy and relatively strong. My favorite is a plastic For Sale sign, but Ive also used cardboard, gutter flashing, or 0.020 aircraft aluminum sheat metal, or a pice of galvenised sheet steel from a cheap houshold central air duct etc.

2) Cut the material to a strip about 12" long and just wide enough to fit inside the metal bar going across the speaker.

3) Carefully insert the strip behind the metal bar going across the speaker until it hangs down below the grill opening a few inches.

4) Now engadge the two metal clips on the speaker grill behind the strip.

5) Gently push the speaker grill upward in a way that also pushes up the strip of material up through the metal bar going across the speaker. Push the grill up untill the bottom of the grill is in its correct location.

6) Now carfully pull out the strip of material.

7) Reinstall the two screws.

This is altogether a 20 min job.

John Roncallo

[David Langsam]

Anyone know where to get that bracket that the clip holds onto? My passenger side is missing it. The dealer part system doesn't identify it at all. If someone has it out, maybe it has a part number on it? Thanks for any help. David.

[al76slc]

I put this question up on the audio forum but so far no takers.

Are the Infinity 4" speakers drop-in replacements, and what is the model number? Are the Infinity's relatively small at the back?

The 4" Clarions I'm trying to install have fairly large frames and magnets. Even after cutting away the frame, I'm having clearance problems with the passenger side vent (the magnet won't clear the vent). Haven't tried the driver's side yet.

BTW, what is the space like on the driver's side?

Help! Thanks
Al

[jdhill]

Haven't tried it myself, but there has been more than one post thats says the Rockford Fossgate Punch 132c full range speakers are a bolt in item.