Front Door Speaker Grill Removal?

[Subix]

Is there a way to do this without breaking anything? I don't see replacements on subaruparts for the doors either. Anyone here ever remove them? Mine are rusted and as part of my refresh this summer I wanted to either get new ones or repaint the ones I have.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by Subix

I don't see replacements on subaruparts for the doors either. Anyone here ever remove them? Mine are rusted and as part of my refresh this summer I wanted to either get new ones or repaint the ones I have.

Are we talking doors or grilles??






61100PA020 ...Door Panel Cp RH...$556.12 [OUT OF STOCK]
61100PA030 ...Door Panel Cp LH...$556.12

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[Subix]

Sorry, I was in fact referring to the speaker grills for the door. As much as I dislike the idea I may just mask off the area around the grill and paint them flat grey.

[Lookin4SVX]

The mesh grill part is like pressure fit, maybe with a dab of goo or something.
I don't remember if I pushed it from the backside to pop it or if I used my eyeglass flathead on it to pry it out from the front.

I did take pics though:



It fits in this little channel:


Here is a shot of one out:


Here is a closeup of the side view:


Just to complete the set here is a shot from the backside of the door panel:
Them rivets must hold in that plastic grill or something else, they have no connection to the mesh grill itself.


I grabbed a whole used door panel off someone just to have a spare speaker grill.
The price was FREE if you come take it, so how could I refuse. :P

[svxcess]

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To refinish my front grilles, just masked around the grille carefully and used the SeatsRestore dye product. A perfect color match,

Use the supplied application tool to spread an even coat and then lightly tap with the tool to get a smooth texture when dry. The "hairs" in the application tool also get the dye into the holes in the grille to hide the rust without clogging the holes in the grille. Can be touched up anytime without problem.


I also used this stuff to recolor the button and surrounding trim piece for the rear seat fold down release, as whey tend to crack and fade over time. Again perfect!

This is the best option for maintaining there factory appearance.


The charcoal gray for the SVX can be found on ebay HERE


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[Subix]

Great info, thanks guys!

[Sean486]

I'll be trying John's seat restore trick, maybe today.

Looking4SVX, can that grill just be popped off with the door panel still in place? From looking at the pictures it doesn't seem like it needs to.

[Blacky]

I never would have thought of the SeatsRestore trick. I'm going to do it also.

[Lookin4SVX]

There should be no reason why you cant take the grill off with the door on.
It is pressure fit from the front.

I'll go take the one off my spare door panel from the front just to make sure.
Update soon*


That seat restorer doesn't clog the cloth filter that sits behind the metal mesh??

[Subix]

So what about the thin grey ring outlining the mesh grill? That comes out as well?

[Lookin4SVX]

Originally Posted by Lookin4SVX

There should be no reason why you cant take the grill off with the door on.
It is pressure fit from the front.

I'll go take the one off my spare door panel from the front just to make sure.
Update soon*

Ok, back from messing with it, on second thought I would recommend taking the door panel off.

There is silicone or glue or something in the bottom right corner the grill channel on this door.
I had to pry from the front while pushing from the back to pop it out.
So it is sorta pressure fit on top the door, they put goo in the channel to hold it in place.



I was able to pop most of the grill out from the front with an eyeglass flathead screwdriver and a paperclip, but when I got to the bottom right corner, it wouldn't budge.
I had to push it from the back to break the goo seal.

Originally Posted by Subix

So what about the thin grey ring outlining the mesh grill? That comes out as well?

No that thin gray ring is the outside edge the grill sits in, the grill sits in that channel in the pick above that has that black goo in it.

You will need to scrape that dried goo out, and replace it with fresh goo, then stick the grill back on.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by Lookin4SVX

That seat restorer doesn't clog the cloth filter that sits behind the metal mesh??

No. Just use one of those small disposable foam brushes to apply a THIN coat across the top of the grille. it will dry quickly and you can apply a second coat if needed.

While still wet, just tap the surface lightly with the foam brush ot the application tool to level the surface and avoid brush marks.

You do not want to saturate the brush so that excess dye flows into the holes on the grille and clogs them. Just enough will go in to coat the outside of the holes in the grille without clogging the fabric.


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[Subix]

Awesome. I'll be taking the entire door panel out again soon. Weeeeee....