NB Radio Removal

[Robbo]

Hi Guys,
I know this subject has been covered before (and I am sorry to ask) but how do you remove the radio in a NB. I plan to replace the head unit plus add some gauges

[PASHN8]

Found on page 2 of this section:

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=28063

[wun911]

The alan key thing didnt work for me. (I used a crow bar)

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=29006

[PASHN8]

Alan keys or just get a metal coat hanger, use some metal cutters to cut some equal length pieces and bend the ends at right angles so you can use those to release the head unit from the frame.

[Alex]

I used coathanger method, worked a treat, I posted some pics before showing the lock system, I'll try and find them later

[TieNN89]

The alan key thing didnt work for me. (I used a crow bar)

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=29006

wun911 can people hear you properly when you have the top up/down with the mic where the visor use to mount?

[sliq]

I used coathanger method, worked a treat, I posted some pics before showing the lock system, I'll try and find them later

took me a while using coat hangers, had to find the right angle to jiggle them around to slot it out... i guess its a hit and miss sorta thing.

[wun911]

Visor mic with the roof down at 100kmph no they can't hear me properly; roof down at 60kmph around town etc yes they can hear me. With the roof up there are no problems.

I have tried to put it behind the stearing wheel was ok but didnt like wires getting in the way and was a afraid of punks would see it and say BT HU!

Now im thinking of getting a larger mic like one off a PC...

Sliq I didnt get to buy the metra kit incognito kindly donated his to me so I dont know the price. But the kit has two faces one piece of plastic for for single din and one for double din (incognito had installed double, so he gave me the single din bit).

Fits perfectly however (its a frame and a pocket in one pice of plastic).

[Alex]

here you can see where the locking mechanism needs to be pushed inwards

[wun911]

Yep and on an NB8B its a double din unit that has 3 of these clips (on each side) but you need a total of eight allan keys to push down all the clips!

[wun911]

Pics for sliq...

The metra kit is basically one piece of plastic that holds both the pocket and a frame around the HU (1st & 2nd pic).

That frame also has clips that hold the whole thing in the car (3rd pic left corner).

So when you take your HU out you take the whole thing out of the car with the pocket (very easy to take out but bad against theft so I chained the HU to the car).

Also note that the pocket suports the weight of the HU, so you cant install it \"upside down\" ie you cant do pocket on top with HU on the bottom near the shifter (shifter is in the way when you put a CD in so you probably dont want the HU on the bottom anyway).







Before and after metra kit:

If you use just a pocket, the HU is sunken in the hole and there is a 1cm gap on the sides and on the top.

After the metra kit the HU is flush the the centre consol, and there are no more gaps.





I think its twice the price of a typical 20 buck auto barn pocket but it just looks heaps better.

[sliq]

thanks wun911 for posting up the photos. it sure looks the ducks nuts.. i'll probably head out to autobarn tomorrow to look for a metra kit.. certainly has me wanting one for sure

[Robbo]

Thanks Guys,
All help greatly appreciated. I will give it a go and hope not to break the main surround as the clips that hold it in are a real bitch.Had a bit of a go yesterday and found the bottom clips are real tight bastards. I have a 10AE and this section is carbon fibre and I would thing Mazda would charge blood money for a new one.

[Alex]

I actually prefer the stock one, it has a little bump near the front so things don't fall out as easily