Hello Everyone,
I have been on this forum for a very long time gathering up other people’s advice and ideas without once myself contributing to the forum. So today I hope I can teach you guys something or give you some ideas.
Today’s walkthrough is going to be about taking the door panel off and how to install speakers that are to big for the door. A website such as Crutchfield.com will tell you if a speaker will fit in your door or not. Well, the reason why they tell you that is they measure the stock speaker against the aftermarket speaker. If the aftermarket speaker is deeper then the stock speaker then they will clearly say it will not fit. There is a way around this. Of course the speaker has to be 6.5”, but the depth is up to you.
Door Panel Removal
My Car Information:
2008 Lancer ES
4 Speaker Sound System
Tools Needed:
Door Panel Remover (Recommended)
Phillips head screw driver
Patience
I will explain this as best as I can.
Step 1:
Open one of the four doors on your vehicle
Step 2:
Locate the door handle. Inside the door handle will be a little cover the size of your finger nail. You might need light to be able to see it. With something thin pry it open. I used a thumb tack to remove it. Once the cover is removed place in safe place.
Step 3:
Now that the cover is now off you will see a screw. Unscrew that screw and again place in a safe place.
Step 4:
Using your door panel remover start from the left side of the door and pry the panel connectors. Take your time and don’t rush. Once you have gone all the way around you may think you can just take it off, your wrong. These things are on tight.
Step 5:
Once you pry it to the point you can stick your fingers inside it start to carefully rip it off. Don’t pull to hard or you may break the power window switch wire apart.
Step 6:
Once you have the door panel in your hand and just settling no longer connected to the door stick your fingers behind it and remove the power window wire from the door panel.
Step 7:
The only thing holding the door panel to the door is the door handle. Now look behind the door panel and you will notice a screw by the door handle. Unscrew that and place it somewhere safe.
Step 8:
Take the door handle off and now set the door panel on the ground. Take a deep breath the hard part is now done.
Aftermarket Speaker Installation
Okay, now for the main point. When you go to Crutchfield.com or other audio websites that tell you a speaker doesn’t fit don’t be discouraged. There is a way around it and I will tell you.
The reason why an audio place such as Crutchfield.com will say the speaker will not fit is because they measure the stock speaker to the aftermarket speaker. If the depth of the aftermarket exceeds the stock then they will say it won’t fit. Here is how to get it to work.
Here is what the inside of the door panel looks like when it is taken off.
Look where the speaker would usually meet up with flush. It is the circle on the door panel.
The circular plastic piece sticks out to far and is unable to house the aftermarket speaker so we need to modify. Using a knife or box cutter cut the circle to the base of the door panel. It will give you another inch or two for mounting depth.
This is what I am explaining you need to cut. If you don’t understand ask me and I will make a video.
Once you cut the circle plastic thing that sticks out mount your speakers to the door and put the door panel back on. There should now be no problem placing bigger speakers then recommended in your door panel.
I hope this has helped anyone out there trying to do this and I am sorry if this is a little blurry. I will make a view upon request if necessary.
Good Luck EvolutionM community and 08 Lancer owners.
Door Panel Removal/Aftermarket Speaker Mounting
