R.Pires

Hi,

I’ve tried search but couldn’t find what I need.
One of my rear speakers is “dying”, it sounds awful, full of noises.
The problem is that my car as the “inside panel” speakers and although the front ones are reachable removing the door panels, the rear ones are inside the panels just at the side of the rear seats, and I can’t see a way to reach them, without dismantling half of the car lol!
Is there a step-by-step instruction of how to remove that rear panel to access the speakers?
TIA for your help.

Regards

Go-carter

Hello!

I have the same problem in my -79(although with almost every speaker, but ESPECIALLY the one's in the back)

Would be delighted to see a DIY or a write-up on how to do it. Perhaps it's mentioned in the work shop manunal?

jpitman2

Ugly stuff as far as I am concerned. My rear quarter panels are leather, and when I recently had all the leather cleaned up and refurbed (scuffs and damage repaired, repainted), I had the upholstery man do the whole R&R of these panels, and also had him fit new speakers while they were out. I think you have to start with removing the rear seat backs, then there are some screws in the corners, some sort of coat hanger stud at the top rear of the door opening. Not sure if the part around the top of the quarter window has screws or clips onto the bodywork.
No help in WSM?
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k

LightStriker

Same problem here... I got shiny new speaker, but haven't really found how to easily remove those.

Chris Hansen

Here's the text from the manual. It's probably a bit easier if you have the manual with the pictures. It's volume 5, chapter 68.

REMOVING AND INSTALLING REAR SIDE TRIM PANEL
1. Disconnect and remove luggage compartment
cover. tool plate, floor mat, spare wheel cover,
edge guard on B pillars, parking brake cable cowr,
emergency seat cushions and backrests.
2. Remove seat belt on side member and seat well at
outside (arrows).
3. Remove escutcheon for seat belt and grab handle
(arrows).
4. Remove screws (arrowsl and pry off trim panel at
top with a suitable tool lcliprl and pull forward
slightly. Pull off radio speaker wires, slide seat belt
through opening and remove trim panel.
5. Install in reverse order.
6. Make sure trim panel engages in proper holders
in area of wheei house.
Printed in Germany VII. 1983 Removing and Installing Rear Side Trim Panel 68.1

LightStriker

Think you could scan the images?

jpNcos

I just did this and did everything up to step 4
After I removed the screws and the rear seat is out of the way I just pulled the bottom front of the panel closest to the front seat. It pulls out about 6-8" or just enough to remove and install the speakers without pulling the whole panel off.
Do this at you own risk but it worked for me. I still need to do the passenger side over the next few evenings if I have time. I will take some pictures when I do it.

Good luck! It's still a major pain in the **** if you ask me just to get to a speaker.

Chris Hansen

Don't have access to a scanner until Monday.

I'm going to give this a shot on the weekend as I finished the doors and they sound much better.

anonymousagain

I helped my son change to new speakers in the Blue Car. The rear panels weren't difficult to take out. Sure it took some time and the rear seats had to come out, but once the panels were out we both looked at each other and said "wow, that looked like it was going to be waaayy more difficult".

~3hrs to swap in new speakers on a sunny Saturday.