Rear Disassembly - 6x9 & Top strut mount access

[DV8]

Tools Needed:
12mm and 14mm wrench
Phillips & Flathead screwdriver


1. Open seat belt cover:
-use flat head screwdriver to open section first


2. 14mm Bolts removed:


3. Center pillar panel removed:


4. Top rear pillar panel removed:


5. Bottom window panel:
- Pull back top of big side panel out, this will allow finger space to pry window panel up and out


6. Remove clips in carpet backing:
-Only top clips need removed to access 6x9's
Tip: for those requiring a phillips screwdriver; twist 1/4 turn then place flathead underneath and pry out.


7. Free Seat belts:
- Pull back carpeting and pry top panel upwards until space is given to free belts


8. Remove top panel and reveal 6x9's
- Unclip 3rd brake light's connector first


At this point, there will be full access to both the 6x9's AND top strut mounts for your suspension work. I'm pretty sure you can remove the strut mount bolts at this point, but if you'd like to completely gut your remaining panels/seats.. a few more steps for ya:

_________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Go ahead and unbolt all seat belts - I believe these were also 14mm.

10. With seats folded down: Remove velcro on bottom of driver's side seat attaching carpeting
- Remove bolt (12mm)
- Remove black styrofoam bumper?? lol


11. Rotate the now loosened bar towards bottom of seat.
-Now lift the Left of the driver's side seat UP, you're trying to free this hooked bar from side of vehicle.


12. Bottom seat removal: could have been done at any point in retrospect..
- Fold passenger seat back up
- There are two Stubborn clips on the front of the bottom seat, pulling up on seat will make their location better known.
- Place hands under seat and close to one of these and pull Hard straight up! Undo opposite side and the seat will freely slide out.


13. Now that thats over.. Fold passenger seat back down, revealing two 12mm bolts:
- They will be held in with loctite, so they also may be stubborn..


Seat is ready to be removed; same as driver side- gotta get that angled bar out:


14. Remove the door sill:
- Note the position of how they would slide out on the door sill piece
- I can't recall how I went about this, but the piece will mostly slide towards the hood.. All but the very front one at least!


15. Remove large rear side panels:
- Top section should be free from Step 5, so you should be able to just pull panel towards front of car to remove. Mine came out fairly easily.

16. Remove carpeting piece:
- make sure all clips are out from front side, then unhook back section of carpet from a ledge in the trunk


17. Gratz You're Done!!


I may have missed a few items, but this is all I can remember from the pictures I had afterwards.
Opening access to the top strut mounts should save an easy $75 if you opt to have suspension work done for you.


Hope this helps!!

[DV8]

Quick overview of re-installation:

1. Lay carpeting for 6x9 area back in.
2. Bolt seat belts back in (14mm)
3. Connnect 3rd brake light and reattach top cover panel
4. Clip the lower carpet back in
5. Attach large bottom panel
- Loop seat belts over top first
- Take note of clip locations and how they each reattach (snap in Or slide in); I rushed and now need a couple replacement clips

Top Section:
6. Bottom window panel - remember to put seat belt in it's correct place
7. Rear top pillar panel
8. Center pillar panel and seat belt re-install (14mm)

Seats: Remember to bring seat belts in Front of seats!! lol
1. Top passenger side first - Tighten 2 bottom (12mm) bolts
2. Driver side seat - Tighten bolt connecting the two
3. Flip up and place belts into their top holders
4. Clip bottom seat back and feed seat belt connections thru

Door Sills:
Tip! - pry the clip furthest to the front out and place directly into corresponding door sill position.
1. Keep firm downward pressure and slide door sill back; remember to "tuck" rubber liner in.
2. That very front clip now just needs to be lined up and pushed down to lock it in.


This last part is the main reason I posted again really.
So frustrating to attempt with that last clip in, trust me! haha

Anyways, Good luck!

[yaddadaimsayin]

great step by step tutorial

[GzNutz]

Wow. Really nice write up!

[DV8]

Thanks fellas! Had some spare time and figured I'd get this out there for anybody else to use.


Plenty of pics so there's none of these sorta replies!



May have a couple more write-ups here shortly..
- TRD spring install help (not many pics)
- Headunit & JBL amp removal
- Auto storage area light up when opened
- Edit: proper Gen 2.5 tail light wiring w/pics! almost forgot.. (yet to do)

unsure due to lack of pictures and.. growing increasingly "foggy" on the later stages of spring install..
who knows tho!

[jong2be]

Wow!
when I changed 3rd braked to LED, I just removed both top rear pillar panel and removed top panel(didn't remove seat belt, bottom window panel)
If I followed your step, it should be easy but I just removed top rear pillar, it was so hard. It took over 1 hour removal & installation in sunny day. It was killing me.

lol

Thankx, DV8!!

[DV8]

Interesting jong2be! I would have thought where the bottom window panel overlaps the big rear one that it'd be extremely tricky to get it out.. seems very possible though.