Hello,

There are a lot of different posts about doing this, but it took a while for me to collect all the information I was looking for so I thought I'd try and simplify the process for the next person who wants to tackle this.

I just finished replacing my factory JBL Subwoofer with the Pioneer shallow mount, TS-SW2002D2 8". the amp was not replaced. I bought the sub on Amazon for under $100 here; https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-TS-SW2...llow+subwoofer

First off there's a great post from "dannyg" explaining how to access the subwoofer here; How to: access and remove the subwoofer

I also found a fantastic install video for this particular speaker, that shows how to test your ohm rating as well as the speaker polarity etc here; YouTube

I suppose I could have taken a few pictures, but there are so many of this setup already I figured I'd just leave them out.
I was lucky, my JBL sub was not blown, so I can give an honest idea of what to expect from this upgrade, speaker for speaker.
I can say I was surprised how easy this actually turned out to be, after reading about all the panel removal required I set aside the entire afternoon to tackle this, I think it took me about an hour and a half or so to complete, following the instructions I linked from "dannyg", (thanks for that post it was instrumental in making this job as easy as it was.)

On the video, the guy explains that the red wire and black wire in the two connectors are positive, I double checked during the install and that was correct for my 2004 Limited. I simply cut off the connectors, tinned the wires with solder and slipped the positive into the spring loaded positive terminal on the sub, did the same for the negative, and then repeated the process for the second voice coil.
I filled the sub box loosely with polyester batting and fitted the sub to the box. (The factory holes don't line up, so you'll need to drill 6 new ones.)
After fitting the sub in the box I tested it and it worked fine.
Next step is to reverse the disassembly process and you're done.

So on performance; If you are looking for a big boom difference in bass, this is not the route you want to go. I can honestly say, yes, I hear the difference, and I am happy with it. However it is not hugely noticeable. It's a harder, tighter bass note, and it may very well get better as the woofer loosens up a bit, but in comparison to functionng JBL, the difference is a slight improvement. That said, if I decided down the road I want more, it would be easy to add a dedicated amp.
I'm replacing my door and dash speakers with components, so I'll have dedicated woofers in each as it is, the sub is just to fill some lower tones for my setup.

I hope this helps someone in the future. Thanks to all who posted helpful information on this subject.

Cheers, Terry

I did this same swap on Friday. I want to chime in with my experience.

First, the terminals on my factory JBL sub had the polarity marked on them with a little + sign. It was hard to see, but it's on the bottom terminal (looks like the bottom of a T).

Second, you don't need to drill new holes. All you have to do is clock the subwoofer slightly so that the holes on its basket line up with the factory holes. This will put the Pioneer logo slightly tilted (the P is around the 10 o'clock position), but since you can't really see it behind the grill, you'd have to have OCD worse than mine to care. This will save you a bit of time.

Hey, thanks for the write up and resources posted. I installed an aftermarket when I first bought my 08 4runner but don't remember if it was JBL or JBL synthesis.

Without opening the subwoofer panel, my rear passenger side has the same subwoofer grill as the youtube video you have posted. Is it safe to say that I have the JBL system?

@terry great post. Are you happy with your sub? Would you recommend it?

Sorry for being off topic. I'm looking for a good sub for my ride and can't wrap my head around which would suit me best.

Do I need to spend over $1000 to get some decent sound? I've been reading the reviews all over the internet and I didn't get closer to finding a solution. Plus most reviews are hype. Blatant copy of manufacturer's features that's it. Now I've found a different site which writes more on our language. Still there are 10 subs on the page and it's hard to choose. This best enclosed sub post is different. What I loved about the reviews were that he highlights many negatives. Best of all they are not watered down.

What are the most important things when you're looking for a sub? Any tips?

Do the photos show up for anyone else’s from this post? It says image not available.

I need to do this, along with replacing the stock tape/CD head unit. PITA JBL shit...

Thank you for the post Tire Torcher! This is a big help (along with all of the other contributors). Just signed up as a member and was trying to see how to "DIY" a sub replacement. Blew my sub yesterday and the rattling is insane. Much appreciated!

I installed this same subwoofer back in 2017, and it has worked flawlessly. It is a huge improvement over the factory’s booming sub. I have also replaced the head unit, amp and all four door speakers with better quality, aftermarket parts.