How to disconnect OEM dash tweeters & center?

Some have said that if upgrading the door speakers and adding components to the door sails then it's best to disable the OEM dash tweeters and center speaker.

But how is this accomplished?
- Must one pull the OEM HU to gain access?
- Is it a matter of unplugging something from the OEM HU?
- Or should the speakers individually be unplugged at the speaker end?
- Or do the wires get cut?
- Or...... is this even necessary?
- What if I just leave them alone? Does it sound like crap?

And if I'm tearing the whole dash apart just for this, is it worth it to upgrade the HU at the same time?

Thanks

 

Yes disconnect the dash speakers - you can just lift the speaker grilles and unclip the connectors at each speaker.

Yes to replacing the HU as well. That’s going to net you the best audio gain in the first place.

 

I did the tweeters in the sail panel and only disconnected the OEM tweeters, left the center speaker plugged in. In the instructions from James he goes over why - OEM center and tweeters don't go through the amp, the HU powers them, and no need for both sets of tweeters. Just pull up the grille over the tweeters in the dash and unplug them, replace the grille. Takes 5 minutes.

 

While I tend to trust James’ recommendations on these things, it’s not as simple as just disconnecting some components and calling it good. Depending on your overall setup, you could have issues with sound leveling and balancing. The stock speaker system is built to provide 4 ohms at each channel, with each speaker in the channel being all over the place depending on trim level, speaker location, etc. In my truck, the front doors were 2 ohm, dash corners 6 ohm, and center speaker was a dual voice coil 8 ohm (I think anyway, I’d need to look at pics I took during removal to be sure). So if you just have the center channel speaker, you have an 8 ohm load on each of the front channels. This might sound ok, or it might sound like complete crap. Just something to think about.

 

Ok thanks. How to pry up the speaker grills without denting them? Butter knife? Plastic spatula?

I have a center grille but no idea if there's actually a speaker under it. Tried to take some pics but still can't see through it.

 

They mostly pry straight up. I’d recommend a plastic panel tool kit if you don’t already have one. But a plastic spatula might work in a pinch.

 

As @TRDFerguson suggested, use anything plastic and pry the covers off.

Order a set of dash tools, they are nice to have around..
There are SEVERAL on Amazon..

$10 Tresalto Auto Trim Removal Tool Kit - 5 Piece Set for Dash, Door Panel, Clip Remover - Scratch-Resist Nylon Pry Tools for Interior Car Trims Work - Panel Prying Tools Included - Blue

Amazon.com: Tresalto Auto Trim Removal Tool Set [Non Marring and No Scratch] Auto Trim Kit for Easy Removal of Car Door Panels, Fasteners, Molding, Dashboards and Wheel Hubs, 5 PCS: Electronics

There is a center speaker in your truck.

If you disconnect (unplug) the side dash speakers, it will effectively disconnect the center on a non-JBL system.
Signal runs from the HU, to the side dash, to the center.
Not sure about JBL..
So if you have aa non-JBL you don't need to remove the center cover or the center speaker to disconnect it...

 

That's good to know about the Left/Right disconnecting the center at the same time, thanks.

 

So now I'm installing an aftermarket HU. Do I still need to disconnect the front speakers or will they be undriven anyway? Thanks

 

I can still here mine. I will put my Pioneers in there at some point.