Rear Speakers

[will944]

Does anyone have some directions on how to replace the rear speakers?

My bro bought me some for Xmas and I'm getting sick of looking at them and not listening to them!!

Also, does anyone have an estimate on how much time it will take to do both sides??

Thanks a ton guys!

[SoCal Driver]

The rear speakers at each end of the rear seat?

[will944]

Correct

[SoCal Driver]

You have to pull the quarter windows out as the vinyl is wrapped around the body under them. Pull the metal trim out of the window seal first. Might be some other interior trim that has to come off too. Put the metal trim back in before you reinstall the windows.

If pulling the quarter windows doesn't excite you then pull the panels out a bit to get under them and use a knife to reach under the rubber seal on the inside and cut the vinyl. Do it as close to where it wraps over the body.

[will944]

Thanks SoCal

I think I may invite some friends over and try it out today...60 degrees here today!!

[Porsche944]

If your hands are small enough you can replace the rear speakers without removing the quarter windows.

Doing it this way takes a l ittle more work, but it is possible. I've changed the rear speakers on 2 944s, and I did not remove the windows.

As always, YMMV.

[Sabyre]

I installed mine without removing the windows. Kinda a pain, but it is possible.

[will944]

You guys wanna come out and install my speakers for me???

haha

I will give it a try. I assume you still need to remove the rubber strip around the window inside....right?

[Eric 951]

Will,

I found it easiest to remove the rear windows--really not a pain at all, and you can do both sides the first time in about an hour and a half--tops. Tools--screwdriver, spatula/plastic putty knife/or similar, length of clostheline(long enough to go around the entire window with some excess), and a friend.

Disconnect batt. lead. remove rear interior trim piece fasteners--just look around, you will find all the phillips screws--you DO NOT need to remove the rear seat catch, you will need to pull up the palstic door sill. Once all hardware is removed--sit in back seat and with socks on, push your feet against the rounded rear corner of the window while your friend stands outside ready to catch the glass. Window will start to pop out. Once out lift back panel--remove old speaker, install new--test them out, put panel harware back together, run clothesline length around the innermost groove on the window seal, starting in the rear rounded corner, and ending in the same corner--have enough so there is about an extra 6" sticking out on both ends. Have your friend start pushing the window in from the outside, while you pull the line so the seal resets itself into the window frame. It is easiest to start with the rounded corner--toughest are the sharp corners. Go slow, adjust the vinyl as you go(using the spatula, or whatever--nothing metal as you can easily poke a hole in the vinyl(a tongue depresser or chopstick works well) If anything is out of whack--pop it out and do it again--piece of cake.

[will944]

Interesting approach Eric...I appreciate the input

Of couse I chose to ski this weekend instead of work on my speakers....so hopefully next weekend.

Then again, I'll probably ski bcz I'll be in FL the following weekend at a Ferrari Event in Palm Beach.....Damn damn damn....maybe May...haha

[ike229]

Just installed my rear two speakers.... Eric's method worked flawlessly. Thanks much

[Ninefourfour83]

what size are the rear speakers? 4"x6" like the front or are they bigger?

[ernestedward]

4x6. If you cut the sheet metal you can go larger.

[hpaulb]

What is everyone putting in. I've read the Alpine 460 is good but the Polk sound better? I'mm looking for a replacement set now and want to do it right the first time.

[livewirevoodoo]

i have some Polks (DB460) and they sound great.. for the front speakers they are a bit too deep to mount, I had to make some spacers out of 1/4" foam core. Additionally, the tweeter sits out a little far, so I couldn't use the the stock Porsche speaker grills. I dont have back speakers installed ATM, but as soon as the weather warms I'm gonna kick out the back windows and install some blaupunk 4x6 t-lines that I have, or if its not too hard to fit them in, the 6x9 alpines that I have laying around. Not sure how the alpine 460 sounds. the polks were a solid purchase bearing in mind the above mentioned issues.

[Ninefourfour83]

Livewire,
I have the same problem with the depth of my front 4x6. They hit the bar that is in the inside of the door. Were you able to fit your stock covers back on or no? Where did you put the spacers?

[livewirevoodoo]

Nine44 - nope, couldnt fit the stock speaker grilles on afterwards... looking for some decent aftermarket covers (4x6s seem to be bastard speaker sizes, hard to find much related to them..)

What I did for the spacers was to use foam core (the thick poster-boardy type stuff... $5 for an 11x17" sheet at CVS), traced the speaker outline, cut out two rectangles and then cut out the inside, leaving just a frame maybe a 1/4 of an inch around the sides, just enough to fit behind the speaker frame.. I used some spray rubberized undercoating on the spacers incase of moisture.

I left a little more material around the corners, as this is the area you'll be screwing thru to mount into the door. The way I set it up, the spacer is sandwiched between the door frame and the speaker.

Fit beautifully, but its a tight fit, and after opening and closing the door a few times, the capacitor (?) soldered on the back of the speaker lost connection. A quick resolder and its good as new.

[Ninefourfour83]

Livewire,
Thanks a lot for the tip. I think I like your idea better than any other. The new 4x6 speakers these days arent really meant for a stock cover to be put back on. The stock speakers have a really flat face, the new ones have trim and other things that wont allow the covers to be put back on. I think im going to try your idea though, sounds like it will work.

[hpaulb]

Just went to the store to test a couple. If you by the Alpine that should fit with the spacer that comes with them. Tried them against the Boston Accoustics. The Bostons were far better. Very spacial, and 60$ Can. cheaper. You have to buy the Euro model. Local stare says they have to bring in a case so wait for spring. Not sure if they came with the spacers either.

[bluebullet]

so how do you manage to do the speakers without pulling the windows? Im not about to cut any sealer or anything out of my car. Last thing I need is another leak. I can work pretty well in a tight and confined space, and without looking as well (just going at it by touch).

My front passenger speaker is pretty much done, so Im going to do speakers sometime soon. I also have to rewire the OE fader knob (get rid of it so to speak cuse the kenwood one built in does a much better job, but Im getting static the way its wired now).