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Fixing Dashboard Speaker Rattle (with pics)

16K views 29 replies 24 participants last post by  RichR 
#1 · (Edited)
I had been dealing with a rattle from my dashboard speakers for about 2000 miles now, and I finally had enough. I went looking around this board and many other Challenger and LX-platform forums and have read this to be a pretty common issue with our cars.

After doing my research, it appears the rattle originates from how the front 3.5" speakers are mounted. There are no rubber washers on either side of the speaker mounting screws, leaving the metal directly touching the metal mount in the dashboard causing the rattle.

This is how you fix it.

Materials:

Harbor Freight Nylon Pry Kit (to remove dashboard panel). I do not recommend trying to do this with non-nylon pry tools (like a screwdriver or similar) as it would be much easier to damage your dashboard. This kit doesn't cost more than $6-7.


Four (4) 5/32 x 3/8 x 1/16 Rubber Washers
AND
Four (4) 1/4 x 1/2 x 1/16 Rubber Washers
I purchased these at Lowe's


1/4-inch ratchet with 1/4-inch socket to remove/install screws (too difficult to get a screwdriver in there with the windshield in place)


How to remove dashboard panel:

The dashboard panel is shown here removed to show all 10 clips the hold the panel in place. It is helpful to know where these are in the relationship to the speaker grills and vents so you pry at the correct areas.



To remove panel, start with the angled pry bar:


Fit the angled pry bar into approximately where the clip is to be found and gently pry the panel up a bit.


Now there is room to fit to one, two, or three additional nylon pry tools in the opening:


Once the nylon pry tools are in place, gently press them further into the panel while pressing down on the rear of the tools to force the clip to pop out. You'll need to do this eight (8) times along the side of the panel facing you, and two (2) times on the side facing the windshield. Take your time and do not use too much force; you don't want to damage the dash panel.

Once all the clips have been popped out, carefully remove top panel. It is a bit flimsy, so be careful removing it from the vehicle.

Onto the speakers... Shown here is how the speaker is mounted; with a direct metal on metal fitting:


Use the 1/4-inch ratchet fitted with a 1/4-inch socket to remove the screws. I recommend doing one speaker at a time.

Once the screws are removed, place the larger of the two-sized washers onto the screw as shown;


Now, gently lift the speaker out of the dash and place the screw back through it's opening in the speaker, so the washer is between the screw head and the speaker mount:


Now, get the smaller washer onto the screw beneath the speaker, so both side of the speaker with have rubber insulating the speaker from rattling. This smaller rubber washer is much snugger, so it may take a bit to get it on there, but it won't easily slip off as you get the speaker back in the dashboard:


Fasten the screws back down with the ratchet, making sure they are nice and snug, but not so snug as to destroy the rubber washers (some compression is expected and okay, but too much force and the rubber washers will shred).


Repeat on other side. Reinstall the dashboard panel. I found it easiest to make sure all eight (8) clips nearest me were popped into place and then worked on getting the two (2) others near the windshield back secured. There's a nice satisfying clip/pop when they are reattached. I did not find any need to a mallet or similar; my hands where enough.

I cannot recommend this enough. My car is back to being as silent as the day I drove it off the lot. The whole process took between 15 and 20 minutes.
 
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#27 ·
Matt, I also bought that pry-bar kit (they should send you a commission), and have just popped the front panel off. The hardest part was getting the front two clips apart, other than that easier than I thought.

Great write-up!!!
 
#30 ·
Thanks for the reps, everyone. I recently took my front dash panel off again to install the R/T sunsensor and checked the tightness of the screws for the speakers. All is still well, and still no speaker rattle.
Just saw this today for the first time. It caught my eye because one of the few issues I have with my car (and want to get fixed before the 3/36 runs out next June) is a noise in the front speaker which I guessed was a cone rattle. Anyway, the dealer ordered the replacement speaker and should be calling any day now to tell me it's arrived.

If the new speaker doesn't solve the noise, I have this to fall back on, thanks to you.

Rep points on the way!
 
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