C6 Coupe REAR Speaker Swap "How To" w/pics
 

Support the hatch, even if you do it one side at a time, just one shock can't hold it up. The rope doesn't need to be tight, it just needs to keep the hatch from falling.

Attachment 48158834

Pull up the rubber boot at the bottom of one of the shocks. Unplug the rear defogger. Pry out the retaining clip far enough to grab it with a pair of pliers, then pull it out. Push up on the hatch to release the tension on the shock and it will easily slide right off of the mount. Repeat on the other side.

Attachment 48158835

Pull out the four push pins at the top edge of the speaker trim plates (two on each side). Mine really didn't want to come out. I used a small screwdriver to pry them out enough to slide a pair of dikes (diagonal wire cutter) under and pull (do NOT squeeze the handle, just pull).

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...llPushPins.jpg

A pic of the little bastard that you're dealing with.

Attachment 48158836

To pull off the trim panel, reach under the front lower corner and pull straight out about 1". You should feel one of the friction clips release. Slide your hand up near the top front corner and pull it out until that clip releases.

Now there's one pin left in the rear upper corner. It's a pin similar to the four little buggers that you already removed, only it's a lot bigger and much more stubborn. You SHOULD be able to rotate the trim panel off of the last pin without pulling out the pin if you tilt the front lower edge up and down while guiding the upper edge out from under the roof panel. The pin isn't rigidly attached to the trim piece. If that doesn't work you'll need to pull the pin out while it's attached to the trim piece. Good luck!

Once the trim piece is removed you can pull the pin out with pliers and slide it back on to the trim piece. Here's a pic of the back of the trim piece. The silver clips are on either side of the seat belt hole, and the white pin is next to the speaker grill.

Attachment 48158837

Pull out your old speaker, mount the new one. It helps if you have a magnetized adapter gizmo for your nut driver to help prevent dropping the screws.

I was surprised to find the cabin pressure relief vent behind the passenger side speaker.

Attachment 48158838

Do whatever you need to with the wires. Connect them to your new speaker if you're reusing them, or tape them to the existing wire loom to prevent any rattles.

Attachment 48158839

Put everything back on in the reverse order. Don't forget to push the defogger plug through the hole in the trim piece before you get it snugged back down. I found it was easiest to slide the trip piece under the roof panel, then get the top clip into position, line up the rear pin but don't push it in, insert the lower front clip (look up from below to see where the hole is), then use your palm to pound everything into place.

:flag:

Great write-up, thanks! :cheers:

:cheers:

:iagree::cheers:

instead of dikes and screwdrivers, invest in a panel popper....much easier and safer


http://www.secondskinaudio.com/tdc/_...ts/med_302.jpg

where do you buy one of these panel poppers

Have you tried your local NAPPA store or even an AutoZone?

Worst case, you can find them online at Summit Racing.com

Was just thinking the other day about my panel popper and how great of an investment it's been for me. It will pay for itself many times over in saved time and aggravation over the years - well worth the $.:yesnod:

:lurk:

thanks for the write up. I'll be referencing this post in a few weeks. :thumbs:

Are those suckers reusable to a 100% fit (nice and tight), or is it better to order new ones prior to doing the job? Do anybody know the p/n? That clip above looks pretty beat up, and reusing them usually leads to a not tight panel fit. Comments welcome. Just ordered the rear speakers for my '12 CE. The front speakers are supposed to be better for '12, but we'll see. Thanks gang.

For 1 or 2 removals it should be fine to reuse. You should be able to find some at a local auto parts store for about 1/10 the price of what GM charges.

Also just FYI, since I originally posted this thread I've purchased a set of Trim Removal Tools, they do make it much easier :thumbs:

Did you ever get a P/N for those pushpins? I've not been happy w/ the auto store versions and just want to get the OEM. Thanks in advance.

I'd like to get this PN too. Two of mine broke off.

coming from a gt500 with the shaker 1000 system, I was real surprised with how decent the corvette's system was.

I was even more surprised when I messed with the settings and put all the sound go the rear how the sound was so weak. the fronts carry all the base and im hoping to find a set of non components to replace the rears with, more or less of a small sub type seeing how the sound from the fronts are more than sufficient for the size of the car.

The C6 rears aren't even in stereo, they're just low-volume mono fill to accent the fronts. All of the bass comes from the powered "subs" in the doors.

The signal coming out of the HU is full spectrum and full volume on the rears, it's the Bose amp that does the 'conditioning'.

With the Bose system, that is correct. The rears have individual wires that run forward to the Bose amp, and are bridged in parallel just before the plug that goes into the amplifier.

On the Non-Bose system, the rear speakers are wired in stereo. Either way, they are just rear fill more than anything. In alot of the aftermarket installs we have done, Dave has either eliminated the rear speakers altogether, or just run them off very low power, either from the aftermarket radio or from a low powered aftermarket amp, just to provide rear fill for those who want it.

A good 2 or 3 way component system, along with our C6 sub enclosure that Dave designed when he was running MadVette Motorsports, is a great setup that all of our customers love much more than the OEM stereo. :)

A good 2 or 3 way component system, along with our C6 sub enclosure that Dave designed when he was running MadVette Motorsports, is a great setup that all of our customers love much more than the OEM stereo. :)[/QUOTE]

I cannot seem to find any replacement speakers (especially the subs) for the non Bose application. Can I ask what speakers you would recommend for repleacement? I was hoping to just have a small amp and keep the stock head unit and put in quality speakers, no enlclosures or anything like that. I appreciate your input.

Even in non-bose the best upgrade is a 6.5" component set in the doors on adapter plates (easily made from 1/4" MDF for $6).

Best way to get signal for amp is with THIS

Get a cheap 2-channel amp and the fronts are done.

However, the bass will be seriously lacking without a sub. If you get/make a sub box and add a real sub in the back it sounds soooo much better. Instead of 2-channel amp go with a bridgeable 4-channel to use 1&2 for fronts and bridge 3&4 to sub.

Rears can be eliminated or keep oem HU and speakers functional.

:cheers:

Actually, we have installed the Dynaudio Esotec 362 system; 3-way components (9.5" Midbass, 1" tweeter, and a 3.5" midrange w/ crossovers) many times, the midbass can play 40 MHz no problem... most people are more than happy with that, and a separate sub is not needed. Still looks factory. ;)

:cheers: