I have been searching for hours and still cannot find an answer. My stock sub has blown and I want to replace it. I have a Kicker ZX200.2 amp I can install with an aftermarket sub (which I want to put in the stock location.) It seem that the JL 8w3v2 is discontinued. I have seen other subs mentioned like the elemental design. I would just like some insight on the best aftermarket sub i can put in the stock location. Im not looking for trunk rattling bass, just comparable or a little better than stock.

Some other subs I have found are the Kicker CVT8 shallow mount, JL audio 8w0-4, JL 8w1v2, and Pioneer TS-SW841D shallow mount. Which one should i get?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Here is one from Crutchfield. It's a free air sub. I ordered and JUST received it yesterday. I cannot vouch for it's performance but it has to be better than the stock one.

Hope this helps.

 

its a shallow mount sub, discontinued, but i do have one for sale if you need it. just sittin doing nothing. others on the forum have used the sub successfuly

 

Crutchfield has them in stock....

 

^^^^ STEW, install it already, and provide feedback

 

LOL, I will install it this weekend and let you all know how it sounds.

 

yes...please let me know. I may be ordering the pioneer shallow mount. every shop I've gone to has tried to sell me a box..howevr I refuse. there has to be a good 8 inch sub that works decently in stock location.

 

where are you located and how much would you sell it for? how does it sound in your car?

 

Thanks to all the great info here, I feel prepared to tackle this job. I will be replacing all the speakers. I just need to get a few connectors, speaker wire, amp kit.. etc. I will have to figure out where to best run the main power wire (4 guage) to the trunk.. and all that good stuff... anyone in the HOuston area is welcome to come help

Like you, I want to keep it as stock as possible. If the free air sub doesn't do the trick, I'll order an enclosure that fits in the trunk side panel.

 

thanx to sfont012....im now considering a mid bass speaker. im happy as long as it sounds a little better than stock. I found KICKER SSMB8 8" 350 WATT MID BASS SPEAKERS. so now I ask....do I purchase a 8" mid bass speaker or a 8" shallow mount sub?

 

I contacted Pioneer about their shallow mount subwoofer and they actually suggested I get a 8" component driver.

 

Are these actually free air subs? I think the 8's listed above are designed for a box...

I think that's why Pioneer suggested their component driver....Any info on this?

 

the Pioneer TS-SW841D shallow mount does say free air use...this is why i'm considering it. But im not sure if the component driver will give the bass im looking for, i dont know if midbass in this aplication is deep enough

 

any update on this? did you do the install?

 

Oh we did the install...hehe - I'll let Stew4HD update though...I helped him with the tear down and some of the install...

I also ended up being 3 hours late for my GF's birthday party and got in a little trouble...LOL!

 

OOoo can't wait!! how does it fit? how does it sound? Any trouble installing? Did you still have to seal the area?

 

As RedAggie said, we did the install. The sub was pretty much a pain. I am not The problem was: The location of the bolt holes on the new sub are in a smaller diameter than the factory. If I centered the sub in the hole, I had no metal to screw to. What we did was slide the sub forward and was able to drill a few holes around the front and sides but none in the back. I put weatherstripping around it to prevent metal to metal contact. I will need to revisit that area soon. I didn't dynamat the deck but... I think I will when I redo the sub mount.

It sounds great and much improved over the stock sub. I have it turned down a bit because of a rattle when it kicks in. My guess is that the rear deck cover is what is rattleing.. but will need a tear down to verify.

 

well Stew4HD, I followed you footsteps and got the kicker sub. I couldnt find the Pioneer I was thinking about. To help me with the fitment issue, what I plan on doing is cutting some mdf board to size for the sub, and then drill it to the rear deck. hopefully it works out!

 

You may need to do some modification to the rear deck cover because that mdf thickness will raise your sub by that thickness. I cut out a piece of 1/4" plywood as an adapter but saw that it raised up the sub that much. In hindsight, I should have tried it anyway.

Good luck. When are you going to do your upgrade?

 

You should really try the JL since you have it...

Again, only one here has blown, and he clearly was overdriving it. MANY have and are satisfied with it.

Any sub can suffer that fate, free air or not, if overdriven.

 

been workin on the install of the kicker sub. trying to make a mount for it. but so far so good. the JL is still for sale all....it will be eaisier to install if anyone wants to upgrade.

 

Did you guys finish this? I bought a kicker SSMB8 for my 2nd gen and since it came with two im giving one to my sister for her 3rd gen just want to know how it sounds in the 3rd gen and if u have pics

 

How do you get to the sub?

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/how-remove-back-seats-put-suspension-3g-garage-f-070-a-567460/

Look in there for a how to on removing the rear seat. Remove the C-pillar and rear shelf deck as well and you'll be set.

For future refrence please search because chances are your question has already been answered.

Here is a link from the 3G garage with all kinds of write-ups.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3g-tl-garage-faq-3g-tl-newbies-553554/