I have a pretty stupid question, but I can't seem to find a solution to it.
I have a 1995 Dakota V6 SLT single cab, bench seat all that good stuff.
I'm looking to replace the speakers in the door. I know the size and what not by doing research on line...

But how in the heck do you actually get to the speakers?
Does the face plate just pop off? (I was trying to pry on them with a flat head and was afraid I was going to break them)
Or do I have to take the door trim off to get to them?

 

I think I have seen some 1st gen door panels where the speaker grille pops off, but I'm not sure there's enough access to remove/install speakers. I have some panels in my garage from an '89 and a '94, and the grille is not removable. Anyway, I think your best bet is just to remove the whole panel, they're not too hard to remove. As I recall, you need to take out the large phillips head screw in the opening of the arm rest, and I think there's one behind the chrome door latch too. If your windows are manual there's probably a clip that holds the window crank on. If so, just push in on the panel and pop the clip off. Then go around the edges of the panel with a plastic wedge or a putty knife (put tape over the blade if you don't want to scratch your paint) and "pop" the panel clips. There are no panel clips along the top edge, you just lift the panel up off the window sill once you have the clips popped. If you have power windows you'll need to disconnect the wires once the panel is free of the door.

 

For the manual window crank ****, one thing to keep in mind is that some of the older ones (like my 1988) used a hex-head bolt in the middle. I THINK the 1995 is with the clip like Ragged89 says, but just be sure to eyeball it.

The door handle has a black piece that slips into place around it - that may have to come out also.

If you're doing factory size, you CAN work through the speaker grills when they pop out separate - my current door panels in my 1988 are that way (and are missing the panels! I have a brown one on the driver's side so I don't kick out the speaker while waiting to swap the door and fender), but it's a lot easier if you go ahead and pull the door panel.

Also, you can see where you can add some tweeters or another speaker up higher for better sound when you get the door panel off.

Amazingly, to make it easier to connect, while awaiting the door swap, I put a pair of "premium" (but non-Infinity!) speakers in the doors, and a pair of inexpensive WalMart 5x7's in the back of my cab, and the radio sounds MUCH better than it did before. Easier to hear, too.

Too bad there's no bass worth mentioning - but hey, that's what subwoofers are for *grins*

RwP

 

Eh. I was afraid of that. Oh well, I guess it will be a good learning experience. Thanks for the info!