I am about to undertake installing an amp and new component speakers. I have seen many threads about the water draining through the doors, but it is a lot of info. I was hoping an expert could sum it up in this thread.

I plan to make spacers. I have seen, you should cut the bottom of the baskets, the top of the baskets, take baskets out. Basically I am trying to find out if taking the basket completely out and just installing the spacers would cause my speakers to be damaged. If so, what is the best option to protect the speakers?

Thanks in advance.

Greg

 

you may want to look into some foam baffles to protect them from the water these are easy to cut to open up.

 

but should these be cut open??? Aren't these designed to act like a small enclosure for the speaker?? Opening them would defeat the purpose right??

 

I like using the baffles, but cutting a hole in the bottom so that they do not stifle air movement too much. If you completely enclose the speaker, it's response will suffer. By using a baffle with a chunk cut out of the bottom, it protects the speaker from dripping water without hurting cone movement.

 

[QUOTE=mporreca01,Jul 11 2008, 10:44 PM]


but should these be cut open??? Aren't these designed to act like a small enclosure for the speaker??

 

Here's the answers you need:

If your car is a daily driver and not just a weekend sunny day car, then yes without protection water can drip onto the speakers in the doors(the midbass drivers in the lower section not the tweeters in the upper section because they are behind the plastic) and damage them.

You need to purchase this type of baffle:


You MUST cut out a hole in the bottom. I recommend cutting a slit about 3/4" to 1" x 2" long. Most speakers for installation in a car are of a free air design and can be damaged if installed in a sealed enclosure. However you'll need to check with the manufacturer since you did not list the brand and model number of the speaker you will be installing.

Next with regards the baffle.
You can just cut the back out of the stock speaker basket and mount the speakers into them. But there are a few speakers that don't fit very easily and its faster to just make new ones. When making them please be sure to coat them with something that is a water protectant. I use 3M undercoating spray myself. Please be sure to drill out the hole you will need so that the undercoating gets in the holes as well.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I am installing CDT CL61 (I think that is the model number) I know they are 6.5 CDTs. I plan to make 3/4" MDF spacer, coated to protect from water. I had gotten everything for the project, but had forgotten about these baffles until last night when I posted this.

Darkknight, are the baffles you posted normally stocked in local stores, or online order only? So if I use the stock baffle, you recommend cutting the back out, or just making the slit in the bottom?

This is my daily driver. Sorry if these are basic questions, but none of my prior vehicle installs had the water issue.

Greg

 

Nice speakers... If you can fit the CDT in the stock speaker basket without cutting them, then you do not need the foam baffles, as the stock speaker baskets are designed to shield the speaker from water... but I don't think the CDT fit like that in the stock baskets without cutting the back out of them. So I'm pretty sure you'll need to cut them.

oh and yes you can get them locally... I think you can get them at BestBuy and Circuit City. Most local car stereo shops have them instock as well.

 

Awesome! Thanks for your help. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

 

I finally found the baffles locally, and picked them up today. So far, I have matted the floorboards and almost done with the doors. I have the power, remote and RCAs run. MDF baffles made.

Not looking forward to running speakers wires from what I have read. Still have closed cell foam, speaker wires, install of speakers and re-attaching everything. Fun project so far, and I think it will be well worth it.