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Detailed Front Speaker Installation w/ pics

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151K views 92 replies 40 participants last post by  Foryota  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I just pulled out the Infinity Kappa 652.5i speakers out of my previous car and transferred them to my Rav4 and thought I'd include some pictures for those of you who plan on installing front speakers some day. Now, I was able to get a lot of information from RPM on his post: http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15062 so I must give RPM credit on showing me the light, but I thought I'd just include some additional pictures and some additional useless info and comments since my post is primarily just the front door speakers, specifically with my good old Infinity Kappas. Hope this will help those of you considering replacing front door speakers on a 4.3 Base Rav4. Here goes...

As we're all aware, the sound quality on these factory speakers are truly lacking. I just keep telling myself, "it's ok. it's just easier not having to do anything." But seeing how my old Infinity Kappas were wasting away in my previous car, I had to pull them out and do something/anything with it! It wouldnt cost much to swap them so after reviewing RPM's post, the speaker trade looked simple enough and I began the process.

I start popping out the interior door switches with a nylon pry tool. I do a terrible job as I always do even with electrical tape taped all over the pry tool, I end up scratching up and chipping some of the plastics
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There's 2 plugs you need to unplug after pressing each respective clip. 1 is for the door lock and the other is the window switch.
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The arm rest and door release cover come off easily as described in RPM's post. Then you have to remove the side view mirror cover. Pry 1 edge and simply pull off. This clip seemed to be a softer/easier one.
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Then there's the door cover. Just feel your way around to find a couple of the clips with a pry tool and pop those plastic clips out. I didnt think this part was that easy. Make sure your pry tool is cushioned with electrical tape so you dont scratch off any paint searching for those clips (bare metal= rust). Use the pry tool to get 2-3 clips off, then use your hands to pull off the rest in a quick jerking motion. On the door, you'll see some of the clips (white small circles) actually stuck to the door. That wasnt supposed to happen.
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It's ok. Just use the pry tool and pop them out, then slide them back onto the back of the door cover. All is well.
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After removing the door cover, everything is exposed, including the speaker. I used a 11/64 drill bit to drill off the rivets. You might need pliers to hold the rivet so it wont spin with the drill bit.
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The front of the rivets are gone but some plastic inserts hold the back of the rivets in place so just use pliers to pull those off and the back rivets come off easily.
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Here's the culprit. The factory no-brand speaker woofer. Heck, even my previous nissans had factory Clarion or Onkyo speakers. But not Toyota, they're too busy allocating funds into the cup holder inserts or something. Cant complain too much, my previous cars were foam surrounds that ripped easily, Toyota was nice enough to use cloth surrounds on a paper woofer (which will eventually rip too).
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Then on the back you have this cute little magnet. Yeah, that metallic part is the magnet. From the back you can see why you need speaker brackets. Basically, Toyota made their speakers in a triangular frame and that frame is mounted to the door. There's no separating the speaker from the frame unless you want to make it a project to somehow make it fit by ripping out the factory woofer from the frame (needs more time). You cant buy speakers with triangular frames so you'll need a separate speaker adapter bracket.
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My Infinity Kappa 652.5i's make their 2nd debut. If you look at all the Infinity Kappa's in the same series, you'll see that they're all the same except newer model numbers (652.5i, 652.7i,652.9i). They all have VERY similar frequency response and the Plus One CMMD woofer, unipivot tweeter, rubber surrounds and external crossover. So if you have a pair of old Infinity Kappas (or any old but good speakers), bring them back to life. It'll cost nothing and is very green for the planet!
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Ahhh.. here's a real magnet.
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And it fits too! Just need that bracket.
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I pick up a 1/4" thick MDF board from the local Home D and start tracing. I thought I'd double up on it to make it thicker (because the 1/2" board cost $2 more and is harder to cut!)
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I dont really have the right tools so cutting this MDF was a B@#$%.
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#8 ·
Regarding the speaker brackets, I think posting a link will expire for future readers so instead, do a search in ebay for "toyota speaker adapter". You'll see onces for PVC or MDF. I hear MDF is better acoustically (but not significantly). They're $22 shipped from mbtechusa and he ships real fast too.
 
#12 ·
I've done 4 door speaker installs thus far, and one thing i've found with any install of door speakers is that water is going to leak through and expand that MDF really quick. The original door mounts are plastic specifically for that reason.

I'm trying to do a little research into options for future door speaker installs myself. Do sound shops have standard speaker rings that are made of plastic for this kind of thing?

I've also seen a few people installing door speakers using plastic rings (cut to size).

Any ideas?
 
#15 ·
g00ber said:
I've done 4 door speaker installs thus far, and one thing i've found with any install of door speakers is that water is going to leak through and expand that MDF really quick. The original door mounts are plastic specifically for that reason.

I'm trying to do a little research into options for future door speaker installs myself. Do sound shops have standard speaker rings that are made of plastic for this kind of thing?

I've also seen a few people installing door speakers using plastic rings (cut to size).

Any ideas?
i don't know about pre made adapters, but you can buy sheets of phenolic plastic. it cuts just like wood but won't be affected by water. but.....it's going to cost you close to 10x as much as mdf. you might be able to find a place with cutoffs laying around you can get cheaper.
 
#16 ·
g00ber said:
I'm trying to do a little research into options for future door speaker installs myself. Do sound shops have standard speaker rings that are made of plastic for this kind of thing?
If you buy the speakers from Crutchfield they include wiring and mounting adaptors free...they worked fine for me.
 
G
#17 ·
if you are worried about the water, its possible you could seal the MDF with something to repel the water. maybe a laquer, or acryillic clear coat? not sure what, but theres not going to be THAT much water behind your door that a sealer couldnt handle.
 
G
#18 ·
BigSwede said:
g00ber said:
I'm trying to do a little research into options for future door speaker installs myself. Do sound shops have standard speaker rings that are made of plastic for this kind of thing?
If you buy the speakers from Crutchfield they include wiring and mounting adaptors free...they worked fine for me.
looks like you can order the brackets seperately, mixed reviews though. sounds like making your own out of mdf is still one of the best ways.
 
#22 ·
3dmazter said:
arent you worry'd that rain or other water will fall on the magnet and backside of the speaker sindse you removed with the original speakers also the little plastic roof that protects the speaker from rain and whatter dripping?
GREAT observation 3dmazter, I really never put any thought into that. Looking back at the pics, that explains why the Toyota speakers had that long black housing, possibly to protect any water that drips down from the windows. I can say that up to this date I have yet any problems with the speakers or their sound. Possibly in the long run I can expect some/minimal water damage to the speakers or even to the MDF but I would assume very little water makes it inside the door and hopefully, even less touches the speakers.
 
#24 ·
patsfan said:
g00ber said:
I've done 4 door speaker installs thus far, and one thing i've found with any install of door speakers is that water is going to leak through and expand that MDF really quick. The original door mounts are plastic specifically for that reason.

I'm trying to do a little research into options for future door speaker installs myself. Do sound shops have standard speaker rings that are made of plastic for this kind of thing?

I've also seen a few people installing door speakers using plastic rings (cut to size).

Any ideas?
i don't know about pre made adapters, but you can buy sheets of phenolic plastic. it cuts just like wood but won't be affected by water. but.....it's going to cost you close to 10x as much as mdf. you might be able to find a place with cutoffs laying around you can get cheaper.
Or you could go to Walmart and buy a plastic (hdpe) cutting board :D
 
#25 ·
g00ber said:
I've done 4 door speaker installs thus far, and one thing i've found with any install of door speakers is that water is going to leak through and expand that MDF really quick.
I haven't had any problem with my MDF rings installed 3 years ago.

The original door mounts are plastic specifically for that reason.
Because otherwise Toyota would have made them out of wood??
 
#26 ·
I had been installing aftermarket car speakers for many years. Water does get into the door cavity. During winter, condensation occurs when the vehicle is parked indoor. These will re freeze on exiting the garage. Overtime, the sound from the speaker will tend to sound distorted due to the frozen moisture on the spider or speaker cone/rolled edge. Water also enter the door cavity by way of car washes. A lot of car washes uses high pressure water to hose down the side of car. This water forces it's way in by way of the window seals. The inside do get very wet. Using a piece of thick plastic sheet on the top of the speaker will lessen water damage to the speakers. I also use MDF as speaker spacer and it has work pretty well for installs that last over 8 years.

As for those who need replacement clips, just PM me.