Tips on Installing In-the-Door Car Speaker Brackets
Car speaker brackets by and large are not that difficult to install. The ones for the rear deck of a car may be accessed quite easily through the trunk or the back seat. The dash is a bit trickier but still quit manageable and the door mounted speakers are also not that difficult.
There are a few minor tricks that someone who has never changed door mounted car speaker brackets may wish to know before starting on this project. The tool list is a good place to start with this. Many people own the standard hand tools and a drill necessary for this project, but there are one or two specialty tools that may be needed to complete this properly.
Many people have never had the need for a rivet gun around the house but for installing car speaker brackets, it is a necessity. Once the old rivets have been drilled out, the new ones will need to be put in place and this requires the gun. There are many inexpensive versions available both online and at a local hardware or home improvement store.
The other tool needed for this job is a door trim removal tool. While many people will say that a screwdriver works just as well for removing the door panel, one slip and it is broken clip or worse, a cracked door panel. This tool is basically shaped like a two-pronged flat fork that goes in between the panel and the door while at the same time going around the clip to support it for removal. This is also available at any local auto parts store or online.
Before the panel may be removed to access the car speaker brackets, the arm rest and window crank must be removed. The armrest itself may or may not come off of the door panel, but there will undoubtedly be two screws located underneath that will need to be removed. If the car is an older model, the window crank handle will likely have either an “E” clip or wire spring clip holding on to the gear post and this may be removed with needle nose pliers.
Once all of the external fasteners have been removed and the door panel has been popped loose from its clips, then you can remove it by lifting straight up and then out. Do not pull the bottom out too far before lifting up as this may damage the door panel at the top. The car speaker mounting brackets will be located in the door itself near where the speaker grille is visible on the door panel.
The car speaker bracket then may be drilled out and the new one fitted in place. Be sure that the wiring is clear of the new car speaker mounting bracket and routed properly before re-attaching. Once the new car speaker mounting is in place, the door may be re-assembled by reversing the steps. Be sure when re-attaching the door panel that the clips all go in place with a snap.