Changing Rear Speakers in a Saloon

[alcrawford]

Read various threads on swapping rear speakers in a saloon and noticed several people had experienced problems in getting two of the four screws out (hidden by the shelf, so resorting to taking the shelf out altogether!!!). I remeber having the same when doing mine about five years ago so when I came to change them in my latest cav I thought I'd take some pics and post a simple How2, once I had remembered what it was I did!

I have used JBL GTO602's which are not only pretty good speakers but also the mounting holes match exactly with the existing holes in the shelf!

Took about 30 mins total for both sides (and I was taking photographs!!)

Tools etc. required...

Flat blade screwdriver, philips screwdriver, philips bit from a power screwdriver, pair of pliers, crimping tool, wire cutters, suitable connections for new speakers and some self tapping screws.

1, Remove the speaker grille - I found lifting the corner nearest the seat belt first the easiest way. Prising up gently with a flat blade screwdriver until you can get your fingers in helps a bit. This will give you a clear view of the speaker...

2, Remove the two front securing screws...

http://www.alcrawford.org.uk/speaker%20swap%20003

3, Lift the parcel shelf up enough to get a philips bit from a power screwdriver into the head of the screw. The parcel shelf pushing down actually holds this in place rather well...

http://www.alcrawford.org.uk/speaker%20swap%20006

4, Using a pair of pliers undo the screw until loose enough to remove by hand...

http://www.alcrawford.org.uk/speaker%20swap%20007

5, Repeat for the other screw...

6, Then lift speaker clear (remembering to disconnect the wiring!) and bin it! (unless you really want to go back to speakers made from blotting paper!)...

7, Slot in the new speaker sat in the 'grille trim ring' supplied with the speakers...

8, Screw down the new speaker. For some strange reason it is possible to do this with a normal screwdriver without having to use the 'bit' method mentioned earier. I think you can get away with a bit of an angle on the screw until it is part way down. I also had to use some longer screws than the originals (some basic self tappers)...

http://www.alcrawford.org.uk/speaker%20swap%20012

9, Refit the grille. Only with close inspection can you tell that there are non-standard speakers under the grilles (great for 'stealth' installs). Obviously they sound ten times better!...

http://www.alcrawford.org.uk/speaker%20swap%20013

Re-connect the wiring to the new speakers replacing the plugs with spade terminals. The positive wire is labelled on the original connector so easy to know which colour wire is which and therefore get them the right way round. I found this easier from underneath as there isn't a great deal of excess in the loom to do it from above!

Hope this is of some help to someone, it might save you a bit of time and some blue language!!!

[Dest]

There is an even easier way than that ;)
Make 2 50mm or so cuts into the shelf so you end up with a "slot" above where the screws are.
Then due the meterial of the shelf, you can seperate the top layer and bend it back, cut out the thick part underneath and then simply use a short screw driver.
When you come to put it all back together, move the top layer back over the slot and put the grill back in and you will never know any different!

[MoonAndStar]

I take the shelf off and do it that way :D

[Adamcavgsi]

man what a fecken job that was to put sum speakers in my rear shelf... taking out the side plastic trim pissed me off :lmao: still gotta wack the plastic thngs that are on the rear of the shelf as they keep popping out with the base :grrr :rolleyes:

[foam]

hi .. yeah i found it a pain to get those screws out.Why the hell do they do that? ....
Anyhow i fitted a couple of 250wtt 10,s on the back shelf !! & a pair of sound lab tweeters each side .. & with no amp (straight out of the Bluespot Daytona MP53 it dont sound too bad! Another thing is that its bog standard too. No cutting required .. but a little bit of phapping about making some baffle plates to mount the 10,s on.
Ill try & get some pics to show how i did it. I originally made up this mounting plate for our old 416 gsi .. & i used a pair of 8ins 150wtt in place of the 7ins 25wtt ones that came with the car .. & wot a improvement! ..
One word of warning .. when u use some timber to pack out & mount your new speakers .. the job has to be AIRTIGHT. I used MDF & sandwiched it using plenty of PVA glue to seal the 3 baffles per speaker.
the baffles have to be cut pretty exact.Also theres a row of holes along the underside of the rear shelf that needs to be sealed too. I used packing tape & some correx.

Ill try & get a link to some details if anyones interested.

photos here >>> http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/foam_delta/album?.dir=7f4f

[kingofthekerb]

I just removed my c pillars and the shelf itself when i put mine in.

It only took me about 45 mins as i was going for it

[Dippy]

Took all the plastics off and removed the self.

[Atlantean]

What is the max depth clearance for the rear speakers in a saloon?

Read it on here before but fecked if I can find it now.

[Dest]

If they fit in the holes the depth is as deep as the boot!

[Envoy CDX]

Anyone have any ideas how easy this will be to do in a hatchback?

[CavHopper]

Very easy mate, they are next to the quarterlight windows, either side of the parcel shelf. The just screw in from underneath. IIRC they are smaller on the hatch though, 5 inch I think(not definate)

[Dippy]

Very easy mate, they are next to the quarterlight windows, either side of the parcel shelf. The just screw in from underneath. IIRC they are smaller on the hatch though, 5 inch I think(not definate)
Yeah they are smaller, N/S is piss easy, O/S you have to stick your hand through the hatch for the first aid box compartment.

[Envoy CDX]

thanks - will look at it this weekend (I know its christmas :P ) Had this Sony's for over a year now... Need to get them fitted :P

Thanks again.

[djgritt]

i mounted my aftermarket rear spekers from underneath and used some self tappers from underneath (iside boot) too.

easy, and also less hassle if it comes to swapping them again.
no mounting issues either..

[Envoy CDX]

think I'll crimp spades onto the speaker wire too..

[Leon_gsi]

what size are the rear speakers in a saloon? after changin mine

[GSi-R]

what size are the rear speakers in a saloon? after changin mine

6.5"

Micky

[Leon_gsi]

nice 1 matey, i got told they was 5.7 but wanted 2 check b4 i went and bought a set

[Atlantean]

nice 1 matey, i got told they was 5.7 but wanted 2 check b4 i went and bought a set6.5 both front and rear in a Cav saloon :Cool2:

[Leon_gsi]

nice1 chief

[Tng21]

so does anyone know for definate what size the rear speakers are in a hatch. Just pic'd meself up a red top sri for 150 notes and went through mot part from a handbrake cable. Got spare cash for rears now so need to know what they are for def

[Envoy CDX]

theres a sticky somewhere.

[Envoy CDX]

http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59940

here you go :)

[shrink]

6.5 both front and rear in a Cav saloon :Cool2:


so does that mean that cav saloons not only look better.. they sound better too ;)