I need QUICK speaker removal help!!!

[iScott]

I'm stuck.
How the hell do I get the speakers out? The things holding them in aren't even screws. They're rivits. What can I do? I already have the door panel and stuff off. And the Bentley manual is offering NO help on this one.

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by UFC_Champ_Scott

I'm stuck.
How the hell do I get the speakers out? The things holding them in aren't even screws. They're rivits. What can I do? I already have the door panel and stuff off. And the Bentley manual is offering NO help on this one.

drill 'em out.

just make sure you have your windows up when you drill them out, or else you'll hit the windows and scratch them up.

[jdesigns]

You have to drill the rivets out.

[manoverboard987]

in my car, the rears were just held in with philips screws though, so look forward to that.

[iScott]

Ok, how do I put 'em back in? Can I put some actual screws in there?

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by UFC_Champ_Scott

Ok, how do I put 'em back in? Can I put some actual screws in there?

my speakers came with screws and little metal clip-looking-things to fit around the sheet metal.

the clips dont wrap around our sheet metal like they should, but i taped them in place behind the holes, then screwed the speaker in.

the point of the clips is that the hole in them is small enough for the screw to hold tight to.

if your speakers didnt come with them, i'm sure you could find them in an auto parts store, though i've never looked.

[manoverboard987]

of course, if you had some screws that were big enough to fit in the speaker's notches and fit in the holes without falling out, you could use those.

the problem i had is that the holes weren't small (and weren't exactly round) after i got thru drilling out the rivets.

[manoverboard987]

or - quick thought - you could drill new smaller holes in the sheet metal to fit whatever screws you do have.

[iScott]

Holy ****. That was a disaster.

I tried drilling those rivits with a power drill and a regular ole' drill bit. But it didn't do a damn thing except make a hole in the rivit. So, seeing as that speaker didn't work, I just kinda started hacking away and finall got it to come off. I'll just put in my own screws later once I get new front speakers.

That rivit thing is the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen or dealt with. What's wrong with regular old screws?! Damn.

Also, when I buy new speakers, will it have that adapter thing that goes around the speaker so it'll look like the factory one?

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by UFC_Champ_Scott

Holy ****. That was a disaster.

I tried drilling those rivits with a power drill and a regular ole' drill bit. But it didn't do a damn thing except make a hole in the rivit. So, seeing as that speaker didn't work, I just kinda started hacking away and finall got it to come off. I'll just put in my own screws later once I get new front speakers.

That rivit thing is the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen or dealt with. What's wrong with regular old screws?! Damn.

Also, when I buy new speakers, will it have that adapter thing that goes around the speaker so it'll look like the factory one?

the rivets are cheaper and easier. the speakers are attached before the whole black sheet metal is attached to the rest of the car.

your speakers will not have the brackets. mine didnt and the speakers themselves are attached right to the sheet metal. it's a bad thing, since the plastic helps to insulate the sound and send it towards the cabin. the bass from my speakers (of which there is a bunch) is most all distributed right to the metal panel, and it's not as loud as if there were adapters.

oh and you might wanna change that first line before the mods see it and you get a shake of the finger. i think theres a rule against changing bad words so that they pass but they still mean the same thing. might i suggest "schnikies" or "snap".

[iScott]

I'll just install them right on the metal. But I'll use some DynaMat or something. And I'm installing a sub and amp so there won't be much bass in the door speakers anyways.

How can I attach the aftermarket speakers with the VW connection? I hope there's an adapter I can buy or something because that factory speaker harness that I took out is messed up now.

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by UFC_Champ_Scott

I just install them right on the metal. But I'll use some DynaMat or something. And Im' installing a sub and amp so there won't be much bass in the door speakers anyways.

How can I attach the aftermarket speakers with the VW connection?

i was gonna spring for some DynaMat too, but i also plan to install and amp and sub so i figured i wouldnt miss that bass much.

to attach them to the existing wires, i snipped off the black plastic connector, which left me with 2 leads. i stripped them back and soldered the leads (which came with the speakers, and look like 2 unshielded wires on one end and 2 crimp connectors that attach to the speaker itself) to them. my dad suggested i use some heat shrink wire wrapping to make sure it's watertight just in case.

so i guess then the step-by-step would be...
1. snip off black plastic connector.
2. strip back 2 existing wires
3. slide heat shrink wrap up the wires (cuz u can't slide it on after you've soldered)
4. solder the leads to the wires.
5. slide the heatshrink wrap over your connection.
6. wave a lit match over the wrap and watch it seal like a champ.
7. connect the leads to the speaker. (mine were all crimp connectors, but i bent one and it's being held on with duct tape)
8. have fun screwing the speaker into the metal.

essentially, i followed the crutchfield master sheet instructions. (marvins_dad has them posted here.) although they say that the black plastic connector has 4 wires coming from it, my 98 only had 2, so that just simplified the job a good bit more.

if you come across any more problems, post away. i just installed mine over christmas break so it's still relatively all fresh in my mind.

[iScott]

Very cool, my friend. Thanks a million. I was pretty bummed that I had to rip that stuff out. But it's gonna work out great.

[manoverboard987]

now all we need is someone who wants to buy our 2 sets of 98 OEM speakers

[iScott]

Only one of mine is good anyways. That's why I decided to do it tonight. I don't even have a replacement yet. I may get some Alpine's tomorrow.

[Tiger1963]

Can someone tell me which of the wires in the rear is positive and which is negative - have blue and brown/blue and am guessing the two color wire is negative. Can anyone confirm before I blow my new speakers?

[iScott]

Originally Posted by Tiger1963

Can someone tell me which of the wires in the rear is positive and which is negative - have blue and brown/blue and am guessing the two color wire is negative. Can anyone confirm before I blow my new speakers?

No idea. I rewired my speakers. Since the new speakers don't use that stock connection harness.