How To Replace or Remove Car Speakers

Before you begin, you'll need to determine what size speakers you need. Try to replace the speakers in your car with speakers that are the same size. Speaker shapes are usually circles or ovals, and they are measured by the diameter in inches. Some car audio websites have guides to tell you what size speakers will fit the factory openings in your car. You may want to look at the guide at Crutchfield.

Taking off the panels covering the speaker can be a little tricky, but it gets much easier with a little practice. Here are some tips to help you through the process:

1. Door Mounted Speakers: Removing speakers in the front doors is a little different if you have manual windows because you have to remove the window crank, which is the handle that raises and lowers the window. Try this little trick. Use any old shop rag, t-shirt, or cloth to remove the U-shaped clip that holds the handle on the door. To do this, position the handle at the bottom of its arc. Then place the cloth under the handle and pull up while sawing side to side. The cloth with catch the edge of the U-shaped clip and remove it. The handle will then pull straight off.

   The door panels are usually fastened to the car with a combination of screws and clips. You'll need to remove any screws that hold the panel on. Then use a panel removal tool, a flat-head screwdriver, or any other thin object to pry the panel off. Be careful not to scratch, scrape or dent the car. This requires finesse as well as a little force, because you have to pull the panel from metal clips.
   
   

2. Dash Mounted Speakers: These are usually a little bit easier to replace. Simply remove the grill covering the speakers with a flat-head screwdriver. Then, unscrew the speakers from their mounts.
3. Rear/Trunk Mounted Speakers: Rear mounted speakers are usually mounted on the flat area behind the back seats and above the trunk. Depending on your car, they may be removed from either the top by prying off the grill above, or through the trunk by removed the mounting screws. Examine yours closely to determine which would work best for your car.
4. Install the replacement speakers: New speakers are packed with new foam gaskets as well as a few screws and washers. If you choose speakers that match the dimensions of the factory speakers, your work will be quick and simple. Connect the two wires to the back of the speaker. Then place the gasket on the back of the speaker and place it in the opening. Reuse the factory screws to fasten it to the metal of the car.
5. Other size speakers: If you choose to install replacement speakers that are larger than the original openings, you will have to widen the holes to match the size of the speaker. Then drill pilot holes to mount the speakers. If you are installing speakers that are smaller than the orginal opening, you may be able to find adapters that you can mount to the speakers so that they will fit the existing holes.