I'm in the process of updating the twenty five year-old speakers that were installed in my first stereo upgrade. The rear speakers and sub-woofer installations have been straight forward installations however, I have been unable to find any information regarding the removal of the front kick panels to replace the front speakers. I can tell you it hasn't been due to lack of trying but so far have come up empty. I do not want to screw-up a kick panel or speaker grill in the process by forging ahead with little idea of how to accomplish this. The original upgrade was done professionally while I was on deployment so I did not see how it was done the first time. Any tips, tutorials, or photos of the procedure would be greatly appreciated.

 

On the left and right sides, only two screws hold the kick panel to the body. However, on the left side, you will have to remove the dead pedal on GS and up trim levels. Its secured to the body with 2 10mm bolts. They are a 6x1.0 thread pitch.

I like to remove the scuff plates to make ingress and egress easier for the trim panels. Three screws secure each scuff plate to the body. Removing them instead of just loosening them really makes a difference in my opinion. It allows the kick panels to slide toward the center of the car very slightly and straight out without snagging the speaker.

The left side is a little tight due to the hood release and the right side can be tight on install because of the wiring harness that rests against it.

 

Got it! Thanks for the help!

 

You're welcome and happy to help!

 

Let us know how it sounds. I've tried aftermarket speakers in my FB, but nothing so far sounds as balanced and pleasing as the OEM speakers.

 

I have Infinity speakers all around in my 85 and they have a great sound. I kept the original speaker sizes and locations. Very happy with how it sounds!

 

back in the day my friend and i found some Pioneers that worked well in the front, the stock rear speakers actually are tough to beat though

 

I had Infinity speakers installed twenty-five years ago along with an 8" JBL sub-woofer and Alpine amplifier. I was satisfied with it and to be honest I usually just listen to the rotary engine hum when I drive it. However, last year I decided to upgrade the Bose system in my 2000 Acura RL which had decent sound but had a "problematic" CD-changer in the trunk and had only basic base, treble, and fade adjustments. Had a Pioneer AVH-2400-NEX head-unit, Alpine self-powered 150 Watt sub-woofer and back-up camera installed as my Christmas gift to me but kept the original Bose speakers. The left rear deck speaker was starting to go so I decided to upgrade the six speakers this year and replaced them with Kicker replacement speakers, man what a difference, like night and day. Which of course got me to thinking about speakers in my RX-7. I went to Crutchfield.com and used the app they have where you can listen to different speakers online like you can in a listening room in a store and using my Sennheiser 280-Pro picked Rockford Fosgate replacement speakers front/rear and a Kicker 8" sub-woofer and am very satisfied with the sound. To improve the sound to the next level would mean cutting up the door cards for speakers and mounting tweeters somewhere else and I do not want to take that route. My Christmas present this year will a Pioneer AVH-3500NEX head-unit.

New Rear 6.5 Speaker

New 8" Kicker Sub-woofer

New Front Speaker

Alpine amplifier

 

Your car looks *clean*!

If you seal around the speakers in the kick, they'll sound a wee bit better.

 

Rodger that Toruki, thanks!