Rear Speakers

[liljon's924S]

Just wondering if anybody can tell me how to replace the rear speakers. I read the tech session by paragon products but do you really have to take out the window?



http://www.tech-session.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=107&c=4

[Brando]

Yes. the rear window's rubber seals around the trim of the vinyl that covers your speaker. Those things are pretty tough so don't worry about breaking it. Just remember to remove the outside trim from the window before popping it out from inside... Last time I did mine I wedged a putty knife under the seal from the inside and pressed with my foot... landed right on the lawn

[AA_Ezra]

well if its the same as my 83, nah you dont have to remove the side windows. Just the big platic screw above the latch of the rear seats. The seal around the door and the 2 screws i belive that also help to hold the rear cover on. Just make sure you pull away carfully the material on the door as it was adheared with some kinda glue after that just pull it away very slowly and you should be fine. Or like i did on my 2nd instal of speakers back there i took off all the screws and what not like i said previously and got a small screwdirver set from Sears its about l 3-4 inches long and i pryed the cover off and unscrewed the speakers, replaced them and put it all back together

[legion]

Or you could use the method I used on my 'S':

Just cut a hole in the trim.

[Z-man]

Popping out the window is the say to go. It's easier than you think.

-Z.

[seaboltman]

No you dont have to remove the window, just give the vynal a gentle tug and if you have to cut it, do it somewhere under the weather stripping. Its what i did. Worked well. took me like 15 min to do both speakers.

[scintaar]

Cut the vinyl... get a phillips head screwdriver, prise the rubber strip up a bit and use a utility knife to cut the vinyl close to corners.
To put it back, just need the screwdriver to prise and give the vinyl a little push!
that's how I did mine anyways... I thought it would be easier and it was!

[shikzachaser]

I did mine w/o cutting anything or taking the window out.
(1) remove the sill plate by popping it up. The front comes up first as the back slides under the installed rear side trim. Get a flat tip screwdriver about 3/4" under it. Be careful not to scratch the paint.

(2) Take out the 3 trim screws. There is one at the headliner, one on the front and one on the side down low.

(3) Remove the 2 screws holding the seat latch assembly and take it off.

(4) Remove the large plastic retaining screw that's up high.

(5) Take a flat tip screwdriver and put it under the edge of the window gasket at the bottem corner closest to the B pillar. Pry the rubber up and gently stick another flat tip in to start the trim vinyl coming off. Take the trim vinyl off the bottem and up the rear side of the window. The panel will now be released to allow removing the stock speaker.

In mine I used a shet metal nibbler to enlarge the holes to fit 6X8 aftermarket coaxes.

I also made plywood pieces for the rear to go under the stock wheelwell covers. These were started as a cardboard cutout to use as a template. I then removed the stock top part and installed 6X9 Polk woofers under the plywood. I siliconed the edgaes for an airtight seal. This allows for driver excursion w/o touching the plywood.

I removed the front door panels and installed 2-way plates designed for a 4X6 hole into the stock mounting. Stock grill was then reinstalled.

I removed both seats and placed 250 Watt / channel SONY Amps under each. This required getting 25mm longer seat retaining bolts for the rear of the seat and shimming the seat up the same 25mm. This allows the seats to slide unobstructed.

One amp is used for the rear subs and the other is run full range to the sides and the fronts through the stock fader.

I am using a Blaupunkt New York AM-FM Cassette as I want a stock look.

It actually sounds really good and does not destroy the car. I need the sound system to help abate the noise of the suspension and supercharged / 2.8 stroker motor. I will be running a thread on the car in the next few weeks after the final motor setup is done. I want to include dyno graphs.

Steve
___________________
84 944 w/ major mods
91 C4 Targa
98 M-3 Auto 4 Door
89 Dinan 535
00 Durango

[Robert Adams]

I went through the same question myself. Could Porsche have made it any more complicated? However, once I got into it, removing the window wasn't that difficult. Getting the window back in took a little time, but looked great and sounds even better when all was said and done. Just follow the instructions, they work great. I'll add a few tips however.
I sprayed the rubber with armoral to help it slide out & in easier. I also used an ice scraper (plastic) along the flat edges inside to pry the gasket out & up; worked better than the screw driver or my fingers.
I have an 89 S2, so I don't know if this is the case on earlier cars, but once you have access to the speakers there is a plate you can remove which will allow you to fit a larger speaker. I went to a 6.5" Boston NX 67. The speaker hole is an odd size and there isn't a lot of room to attach the larger speaker; plus because of the protruding center cone on the speaker you need to attach the speaker on inside of the well opening and not to the outside like the original. The speakers didn't exactly fit straight in either; I had to come up with my own attaching brackets and drilled new holes through the car body. Sounds like loads of fun doesn't it!
One Saturday and all was done though, so go for it, you'll be glad you did. All I can say is I would hate to have to pay someone to do this job. It would probably cost more than changing the engine mounts!

[Granite 944]

Agreed! REMOVE the quarter windows! It really isn't that hard. Any other method of doing this is a HACK job waiting to happen.........IMHO. I've gotten a few cars in the past that were done HACK style. Those panels are good for NOTHING, and look like crap. Don't go there. Learn it correctly. Every car is different regarding how well the glue is holding the vinyl is and how much of it is wrapped around the window opening seams. Take your time, and all will be good! Just my .002