Front Speaker install - Spacers?!

[djbrand1]

So I've done a lot of searching before starting my stereo install, and mostly what I found was that only the rear speakers would need spacers. Well...... With the front door panels off, I got the stock woofer and tweeter out and went to put in my new Polk MM 6.5 components and the woofer is def. smacking the window frame in the door. These are pretty small speakers as far as magnets and depth, I'm surprised more people have not mentioned needing spacers in the front.

These come with an adapter plate that's probably a 1/4 inch thick, with that on, the speaker just squeezes in. Problem with that adapter ring is that no holes match up the stock plastic speaker mount. So I was just going to purchase some plastic spacers or wooden rings and have it. Looking into it, I see they make specific Toyota speaker adapters. I thought the stock speakers are a standard "6.5 ish" screw pattern. If thats not the case I guess I will go with a wooden ring, screw that into the stock plastic, then screw the new speakers into the wooden trim ring? Nothing is ever really "plug and play" right! Anyways, got those for the front, got Polk DB 5.25's for the rear doors. Will be running it off of an Alpine PDX-5 amplifier under the front seat, with a 12inch Diamond Audio D6 subwoofer in the rear.

 

[salvaged]

i just installed a set of sony 6.5" ES componants in my truck and the holes did not line up either on the stock plastic ring. So i made due got 2 of 4 to fit and used a lil RTV on the ring to ensure a good seal . So far so good

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

i made MDF spacers for my Alpine Type X Pro's as the magnet was pretty big on them.

 

[Dark Runner]

Great choice on the subwoofer!
To be honest, i wouldnt really worry about all of that. Its just a waste of time and money. Just drill the new hole, it wont be a problem putting the old speaker back in if thats what youre worried about. If you have any questions let me know. Im an ex-car audio installer and ive helped a lot of people on this forum with their installs.

 

[djbrand1]

i made MDF spacers for my Alpine Type X Pro's as the magnet was pretty big on them.

How thick was the spacer, and did you have any trouble getting the door panel back on, and speaker clearance with the panel?

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

How thick was the spacer, and did you have any trouble getting the door panel back on, and speaker clearance with the panel?

mine are about 1/4 thick. had no issues getting door panel back on.

 

[Foques]

can anyone tell me where I can buy the spacers? Speakers I am getting will not come with spacers.

 

[rickashay]

I just did mine as well and needed some spacers. I got mine from here:

Car-Speaker-Adapters - www.car-speaker-adapters.com - Call Us Today - 412-260-6835

and check out this good write-up: (about halfway down the page)

Rock Slide's 2002 Sport - YotaTech Forums

 

[Foques]

I just did mine as well and needed some spacers. I got mine from here:

Car-Speaker-Adapters - www.car-speaker-adapters.com - Call Us Today - 412-260-6835

and check out this good write-up: (about halfway down the page)

Rock Slide's 2002 Sport - YotaTech Forums

Their site doesn't list 4runner. are sizes the same as highlander?

thank you for the linky!

damn it, I just noticed that this is in the 3rd gen area... i'm picking up the 5th gen shortly..

 

[rickashay]

Their site doesn't list 4runner. are sizes the same as highlander?

thank you for the linky!

damn it, I just noticed that this is in the 3rd gen area... i'm picking up the 5th gen shortly..

Sorry I may have linked you the wrong page on that website. Just browse around as you can search by make and model. They are on there!

 

[djbrand1]

I just ordered the adapters for the rear doors. They need some minor triming to get them to lay correctly against the door. Also, I still need spacers for my Polk DB series speakers as the magnet hits the window. They are 5 1/4 inch speakers, and didn't look all that massive. Looks like it wont be a walk in the park fishing speaker wire through the loom going into the door either.

 

[BrianSD_42]

are you trying to fit the speaker in the toyota plastic door adaptor or mount it directly to the door?

 

[djbrand1]

are you trying to fit the speaker in the toyota plastic door adaptor or mount it directly to the door?

I bought the plastic adapters from that website. Was going to mount the speakers to that and then to the door. Even with the adapter those speakers I got, the magnets hit the glass. Will need to get some spacers for them, then cross my fingers they dont rattle the door panel. I hate rattles..........

 

[BrianSD_42]

it is going to vary depending on the brand and model. Infinity Kappas have much larger magnets than Infinity Reference speakers.

 

[Alabamaguy]

I have MM 6.5's in the doors and 6x9's in the deck in my SS. I ran them through a 50Wx4 amp and LOVE them. However, Chevy doesn't have the best interior quality so even with a ton of foam tape stuff still rattles lol. I can run them all the way up with no distortion. Wonderful products.

 

[pauls4runner]

Ive got JL Audio C2 650-Cs in the front doors of my 98. the 6.5 mid is in the same plastic baffle from the factory, I just had to tilt the speaker mounting screws a little. My C2 650 Cs are running off my JL Audio black edition slash 300/4v1

 

[Socco]

Ive got JL Audio C2 650-Cs in the front doors of my 98. the 6.5 mid is in the same plastic baffle from the factory, I just had to tilt the speaker mounting screws a little. My C2 650 Cs are running off my JL Audio black edition slash 300/4v1

Do you listen to a lot of music while lying on the floor? Why are your tweeters on the kick panel? Tweeters are very directional, unlike woofers. You'll get a way better sounding system if they're mounted on the sail panel of the doors or on the A-pillars.

 

[BrianSD_42]

YEAH those tweeters should be on the door just like the limited 4Runners.

 

[Stick Figure]

Do you listen to a lot of music while lying on the floor? Why are your tweeters on the kick panel? Tweeters are very directional, unlike woofers. You'll get a way better sounding system if they're mounted on the sail panel of the doors or on the A-pillars.

Unless you like good imaging. You are right, the higher frequencies are much easier to determine the origin of, which is why if they sit in the kick panel and are cross aimed the won't pull the image to the side like the stock location does. The door location is just too close to your ear and will almost always pull the sound to the side of the vehicle that your on.

crappy pic, but you can see my tweeter location in my Scion here

sounds amazing, and probably one of the easiest locations to get good imaging with out rebuilding the whole dash.

 

[pauls4runner]

stock tweeters in the mirror cover (aka sail panel, my SR5 has the stock tweets their) running on head unit power is fine in that location. with an actual component set (mids, tweets and crossovers) that are amped, having tweets in the mirror cover take away from the imaging and overall dynamics of the sound. down in the kick panels keeps the imaging clear. my last car I had MB Quart components, mid in the door and tweet in the a-pillar it sounded pretty good but the tweets being that high brought too much attention to the highs and the mids werent as noticeagble (clear) in my 4runner, with where the mids and tweets are located, the front staging and imaging is 10 times better than in my last car. I do know that different speakers can effect that too but, I am using the same amp from the previous car with the same gain setting and same frequencies. My wife (who doesnt like stereos) has even commented that my install sounds alot better in my 4runner than it did in my last car. For what its worth, JL Audio even says that kick panels or in the door by the mid is the optimum tweet location