I was poking around my Tj this afternoon, wanted to figure out how to take apart the center console. I thought I could just flip open the lid, remove the two phillips screws in the bottom of the cd tray, pull the entire tray out and work from there, but four odd shaped screw heads are in the way. They're not torx, they have a round center and then three short slots branching out. Something to this effect:

\
-O--
/

Do I have to deal with these, or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Spyderbyte

There is a screw under the cup holder (remove the rubber)... same for the cup holders in the backseat. If you want to remove the part around your shifter, there is a screw under your boot on the right side.

 

I was poking around my Tj this afternoon, wanted to figure out how to take apart the center console. I thought I could just flip open the lid, remove the two phillips screws in the bottom of the cd tray, pull the entire tray out and work from there, but four odd shaped screw heads are in the way. They're not torx, they have a round center and then three short slots branching out. Something to this effect:

\
-O--
/

Do I have to deal with these, or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Spyderbyte

The "odd shaped screws" are rivets. Thats what holds the inner part of the center console together.

To get those apart, you need to drill them out with a 3/16th drill bit. You will need a rivet gun and some spare rivets to put it back together though, so unless your sure you want to continue, I wouldn't recommend it.

I took mine apart to see what the stock sub looked like, but I have rivets and a rivet gun, so reassembly was no problem.

Bill

 

How do I get the rear cupholders out? The front ones have a slight lip so I can get some leverage, but the rear ones seem tucked down inside the plastic frame? Maybe a standard screwdriver?

Thanks for the quick reply

Spyderbyte

 

What year jeep do you have, I had rivots on the bottom holding the console together but there was also 2 screws with caps on the top of them.

 

maybe this helps a little?

Greg

 

The "odd shaped screws" are rivets. Thats what holds the inner part of the center console together.

I was wondering if that might have been the case. I've never seen rivets with the slots though, thats what confused me.

I took mine apart to see what the stock sub looked like, but I have rivets and a rivet gun, so reassembly was no problem.

Is drilling rivets the only way I can get the factory sub out? I heard mention of a factory sub enclosure, (hopefully held on by the three screws around the sub?) I was hoping I could just remove the entire setup. Then it'd be sweet to mod the cd tray so it can lift out, and have a ton more storage underneath.

What year jeep do you have, I had rivots on the bottom holding the console together but there was also 2 screws with caps on the top of them.

'02. So far I've discovered a pair of screws inside the console and a bolt underneath the first cupholder in the front. I'm a little leery about just prying away at the back cup holders until I understand what I'm doing.

BigWaylon- Yep, I think that might help "a little" Looks like it's going to be quite a bit more of a project than I expected, maybe I'll hold off until I actually need to get my sub out. I still need to figure out how to get at the bolts under the rear cupholders.

Thanks for the help so far

Spyderbyte

 

maybe this helps a little?

Greg

That definetly helps him in getting the center console out of the Jeep, but it does not show the four rivets that hold the cd/junk tray together with the "shell".

He asked a few different questions, but his original question was how to get the cd tray out of the console (maybe he thinks getting that out will aid in removing the whole console, I don't know).

Do you have another page that shows how to breakdown the console further?
Bill

 

Something to this effect:

\
-O--
/

Do I have to deal with these, or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Spyderbyte

Looks exactly like my Flux Capacitor, I thought I was the only one with that rare option :rofl:

 

That definetly helps him in getting the center console out of the Jeep, but it does not show the four rivets that hold the cd/junk tray together with the "shell".

He asked a few different questions, but his original question was how to get the cd tray out of the console (maybe he thinks getting that out will aid in removing the whole console, I don't know).

Sorry, I do tend to ramble and just fire off questions. I'll try to summarize:

I'm considering selling my factory sub/amp/enclosure, the whole deal.

I figured as long as I'd have all of the extra space, it would be cool to be able to access it. Hence the lifting the cd tray out.

The easist way to accomplish both of these seems to start with removing my console so I have room to work.

What I would still like to know:

1- How to get the rear cup holder out to access the bolts.

2- How the sub enclosure is attached inside the console. I'm looking to remove everything, preferably in as few pieces as possible.

3- If I will have to drill out/cut off the rivets to be able to move/mod my cd tray. I'm a big fan of a polished end result, not sure if I'll be able to pull that off with the number of modifications I would have to do.

Thanks again

Spyderbyte

 

Use your SpideySenses! You got this spidey!

 

I was wondering if that might have been the case. I've never seen rivets with the slots though, thats what confused me.

Is drilling rivets the only way I can get the factory sub out?

Yes. The rivets hold the plastic enclosure that holds the sub and amp inside the console outer shell. Its all molded together and has some screws holding it to the shell also.

To get the back 1/2 of the console out of the Jeep (the part that holds the sub), there are 4 floor bolts. (2) are under the rubber pad which sits at the bottom of the rear cupholders (it looks like it's part of the cupholder, but it's not, the rubber is just laying in the bottom. After years of spills, it will take a screwdriver to pry it up so that you can pull it out of the bottom of the cup holder).
The other bolts are in the bottom of the front cupholders (just pull up on the front cupholder plastic insert to access).
Once the console is loose, you need to disconnect the pin connector that has the wires for the sub/amp.
After you get it out of the Jeep, you can look at it and see if you want to go further. This is where you would have to drill out the rivets to free the sub enclosure from the console shell.
If your going to take out the sub and not reuse it, I would suggest you look at some of the Tuffy consoles for the pre-subwoofer TJ's. They have that storage your looking for instead of a sub/amp, and they are much more secure than the stock plastic one.
Also Tuffy has a drop in compartment for your console that has more room than the stock cd tray.
Bill

 

I didn't drill the rivets out...I just broke 'em all off...

it went back in just fine, just didn't attach at those points anymore...

I'll look in my FSM, but I don't think there was any additional info on the sub console...

Greg

 

now I remember why I didn't post it...here's all the info it has (and the section 23 it refers to is the pic I posted earlier):

Greg

 

now I remember why I didn't post it...here's all the info it has (and the section 23 it refers to is the pic I posted earlier):

Greg

ahh...ok I just thought he needed some more visualization help...lol
Thanks Bigwaylon!
Bill

 

I've found the best way to remove the rear cup holder tray is with a vacum cleaner. Sometimes it takes a little work but once you get it in the right spot the tray will stick to the vacum and come right out.

 

I've found the best way to remove the rear cup holder tray is with a vacum cleaner. Sometimes it takes a little work but once you get it in the right spot the tray will stick to the vacum and come right out.

Good call, my 3" shop vac hose should do the trick.

BigWaylon- Two questions:

Did you notice any slop in your setup once you broke the rivets off? Seems like it would be loose at best.

Step 6, "Open console lid and remove the retaining fasteners from the console." Fancy name for the rivets?

Fifteen posts in less than two hours, this is a great forum.

Spyderbyte

 

Use a crow bar.

 

Good call, my 3" shop vac hose should do the trick.

BigWaylon- Two questions:

Did you notice any slop in your setup once you broke the rivets off? Seems like it would be loose at best.

Step 6, "Open console lid and remove the retaining fasteners from the console." Fancy name for the rivets?

Fifteen posts in less than two hours, this is a great forum.

Spyderbyte

no noticable slop...no rattle at all with an aftermarket sub and amp...

fancy name? maybe so...

Greg

 

The way i took mine out of my 02:

2 bolts under front cupholder, 2 under back cupholder (remove rubber mat from bottom first) a flat head screw driver works well to flip an edge of it up.

Disconnect wiring

Console should be out now....

To remove sub:
3 or 4 screws on driver's side of the console
and i had 2 BOLTS inside the storage area of the console that held the sub/amp from the top...
If you flip the whole thing upside down tehre were two plastic stubs with metal ring around them (one in front and one in back) take needle nose pliers and twist the ring and break it....take them off.

If you need to put the sub back in, then you can push rings back on stubs and silicone around the stub and metal ring. Held mine in place fine....

 

If you flip the whole thing upside down tehre were two plastic stubs with metal ring around them (one in front and one in back) take needle nose pliers and twist the ring and break it....take them off.

If you need to put the sub back in, then you can push rings back on stubs and silicone around the stub and metal ring. Held mine in place fine....

now that you mention it...that's closer to what I remember...

didn't drill out any rivets, but I did bust off the metal rings...I just didn't put any kind of silicone or anything when I put them back...

Greg

 

Ok, maybe I missed it, but what was the result of gaining extra storage by taking the factory sub out? Did it work well? I started to attempt this project tonight, but decided I'd do a little more research first. I don't want the factory sub/amp in the console, and it would be awesome if I could actually gain more storage in the space where they were.

 

HELP! Factory subwoofer is blown.

Is there any way i cant get to the factory sub without taking the entire console out?? It looks kinda like there might be a cover onthe outside of the console that could come off and would get me to the sub?

 

Nope, gotta pull the console.

It's EASY to remove. As noted above - one 10mm bolt under the front cupholder pad, and 2 torx bolts under the rear cupholder pad, and it's out. At least, those are the fastener sizes in my '06 - your sizes may vary, but it will be 3 fasteners for the rear section of the console (it splits just in front of the front console, you don't have to remove your shifter surround if all you want to do is pull the armrest/cubby section).

My TJ was NOT a factory sub option. I bought a JBL Nano sub (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-Z8Sbp...jbl sub&awmt=e&awnw=s&awat=&awug=94362&msclkid=6eb6530df5231a68ccf63be61c415585) and put it under the drivers seat. It fit OK with stock risers, but I put 1" seat risers in and that allowed me to space the sub up on some 1/2" box tubing to keep it out of any water that may get in the cab. It won't overwhelm the guy in the car next to you...but it keeps the stock system from sounding like a telephone, and has some decent punch and rumble to it. Self-amplified, easy install. And, invisible during those no-top, no-door months, without stealing any luggage space.

 

We just put a factory sub console in the 97. It came from an 05. It used the same 3 mount points as the original one but the back ones were phillips screws (maybe someone previously pulled and lost the original torx?)


The original 97 console was one piece

 

My purchased new 97 TJ's console had two bolts and around 4 sheet metal screws holding it to the floor.