Removing the Rear Speakers


Looking to replace the rear speakers in your Impala?  It's not as easy as just removing the speaker grilles.  To get the speakers out, you have to remove the rear seat, then the rear upper quarter trim panel, then the rear shelf trim panel.

NOTE:  This is all book information.  I have not tried this out yet.  I've been asked for these directions a number of times so it's quicker if I just post it once.

I:  Remove the rear seat.

Rear Seat Cushion:
  1. Pull the tabs on the rear seat cushion retainers in order to release the rear seat cushion.
  2. Remove the rear seat cushion by lifting up and pulling out of the retainer. Remove cushion from vehicle.

Rear Seat Back:
  1. Remove the nuts from the rear seat retainer at the bottom of the rear seat back.
  2. Fold the rear seat back cushions down.
  3. Remove the bolts from the rear seat latches.
  4. Remove the rear seat latches from the rear seat back.
  5. Fold the rear seat back cushions up.
  6. Reposition the seat belts from the rear seat back.
  7. Remove the rear seat back from the vehicle.


II:  Remove the rear upper quarter trim panel.

  1. Reposition the rear seat belt from the rear upper quarter trim panel.
  2. Remove the rear upper quarter trim panel from the clip retainers on the upper side rail.
  3. Remove the rear upper quarter trim panel from the rear quarter upper inner panel.  Remove from vehicle.


III:  Remove the rear shelf trim panel.

  1. Remove the push-in retainers from the front of the rear shelf trim panel.
  2. Lift the rear shelf trim panel and remove the seat belts through the slots in the rear shelf trim panel.
  3. Slide the rear shelf trim panel forward to disengage the integral hook from the retaining hole and remove the rear shelf trim panel.


IV:  Remove the rear speakers.


  1. Disengage the speaker retaining tabs. Remove the speaker alignment tab from the opening in the rear window panel. The speaker seal may have bonded with the shelf metal. Carefully pry the housing away from the metal while holding the speaker retaining tabs in order to remove the speaker.
  2. Remove the rear speaker.
  3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the rear speaker.


After all that, you are probably wondering why you should go through all that trouble.  The speaker grilles are mounted from beneath the rear shelf trim panel.  To remove the grilles, you have to unscrew the mounting clips under the panel.

If you do not want to cut your factory harness, Metra/DashWorks sells a speaker wire harness adapter that works with the Impala.  One end has the special connector that fits into the factory harness and the other end has female connectors that should fit most aftermarket speakers.  The part number is DW-4568SH.  I purchased a set at Circuit City.


According to Crutchfield, any 6" x 9" speaker will fit in the openings.