Replacing stock front door speakers
 

I took my driver's door panel off to try and see if I could fix the intermittent door lock failure (I couldn't) and when I did pieces of the speaker fell out onto the ground. I already knew it was bad. It sounds terrible with any bass at all.

I already have two 6.5 Infinity's that I want to replace the stocks with but my question is this: Would it be better to cut a speaker hole in the door panel and mount the replacement on the outside or just remove that crappy stock speaker (who engineered that?) and just drill a couple of holes around the speaker opening and just mount the replacement that way? Does that make sense? Anyone mount a speaker on the outside of the door panel? Pics maybe?
Thanks.

I replaced all of my speakers yesterday. I ordered them from Crutchfield and they threw in free adapters for the speakers. You may want to just pick up some adapters so you do not cut up your car too much. The adapters worked great!

Brian

X 2 Use some adapters, much more elegant than cutting up your door panels.

Don't cut the door panels!!! Buy/fabricate adapters.

Cool. :sun:

I didn't even know that adaptors existed. Adaptors it is then. Thanks guys! :twothumbs:

Amazon has them for $10. :nuts:

I believe the 6.5 infinities can reuse the stock adapters...I have them also and did not add anything for fit

You must have the upgraded audio system. The base system doesnt come with adapters.

Yeah, the base system speakers are integrated into the mounts. Bad design on GM's part. My adapters have been ordered and should be here soon. :smile:

Would suggest a baffle behind the speaker. Will help with bass and help protect from rain/ice on speaker.

You mean you don't need adaptors for the Pioneer system? I bought a pair for the front doors. I haven't taken it apart yet, but wanted to have them on hand if I needed them when I started the project.

No you don't need the adapters to mount the speakers to the door frame. I just replaced mine less than 1 hr ago, and my Kenwood's bolted right up without issue.

I mounted my pioneers on the oem frames after some skillful carving with a grinder and a pair of sidecutters. If only i had known adapters were available.

Does anyone have some photos of the front door speakers with the interior panel off? I started getting a rattle from the speaker and it drives me nuts. I'm no audiophile, but use the radio as background cover as I drive, so I don't want to spend big $$ for new speakers, nor do I enjoy the hassles of pulling panels off only to discover the speakers need more stuff.

I'm almost ready to drop the car off at a shop and have them do the work.

Its more likely the interior rattling. I do have pics, Ill look them up..

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...6/IMG_2717.JPG

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...6/IMG_2725.JPG

https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/fil...6/IMG_2732.JPG

More than likely one or more of your speakers are shot. The stock speakers that come with the base systems don't last very long.

I already had some 6.5" speakers from another vehicle, so the only expense I had were the $10 speaker adaptors. Very easy to do once you know how to remove the door panels.
If you want to go cheap, it looks like you can get a pair of 6.5" speakers and the adaptors from Wal-Mart for less than $30.

Next for me is to replace the rear door speakers. :cool:

Thanks for the photos I hate removing panels as stuff never seems to go back on correctly. The speakers just rattles with the base sounds, so as you say the "sub woofer" may be shot.

I felt the same initially, but with some research here I found that it's not so bad. You just have to know the "what and how" to remove the doors panels properly. Believe me, I'm a detail freak and hate it when stuff doesn't go back the way it was before you start. But I've now had 3 of 4 door panels off, some multiple times. They do go back on fairly easy and look the same as before. When my adapters were delivered, I had both my front speakers completely installed with the doors panels back in place in about 30 minutes.

With that said, you have to be comfortable with doing it yourself. If after finding out how to do it with the right tools and your still not confident, then maybe it's best if you have someone else do it for you.
If your concerned with cost, maybe find a place that will let you bring in your own speakers (don't forget the adapters too!) and have them do the install for you.

:2cents:

Good luck. :cool:

I have the base system, no sub, and I ran the stock speakers hard for over a year on 100w each, no problems.

Both my front door speakers are shot. I looked on crutchfield.com and I am gunna order from them. what speakers ard the best for the money?

I ended up taking the HHR to a stereo shop and had the four door speakers replaced with some Power Base 6.5 inch replacements. I couldn't beat the price $200 installed. It took the "experts" about 1 1/2 hours using some tools that I don't own to get the door panels off. No more speaker rattle!!

It now sounds like my rear door speakers need replacing.

Are the rear speakers the same size (6.5")?
If so, I assume I'll need the same adapters that I bought for the fronts?

Thanks. :cool:

Yeah, I upgraded the fronts first and moved them to the back for a while, fit is the same.

Cool. :cool: Thanks! :thumb:

You can cut the stock mounts up and fit an aftermarket 6.5 in there

I just looked at it.

The question is: can you sell the stock speakers, or is it worth cutting them up and saving $10 for the adapters?

http://s8.postimage.org/vti2huwvp/DSCN1238.jpg

http://s8.postimage.org/rlna93vg5/DSCN1239.jpg

Stock HHR speakers aren't worth much if anything, quite flimsy. When mine were replaced they cut out the old speakers from the "speaker frame" and new speakers screwed in the frames. Evertything went back in place.

For what its worth, i noticed no difference when i left the stock tweet and mid in the passenger side

Both sides powered by a sony xm 4045

Now, if you for some reason car about the rear passengers, you can install 2-ways back there. I would not cut up the car to install the tweeter anywhere.