Replacing driver surrounds

halo71

How hard is this to really do. I have read before that you have to be really careful lining every thing up so the coil is aligned correctly. I have a few old drivers I am thinking about getting a kit for and was just wondering.

Paden501

I put together a thread on my latest surround job.

http://vintagehifipgh.com/forum/index.php?topic=131.0

Hopefully this is at least somewhat helpful.

mhardy6647

Generally speaking, easy-peasy. :-)

Here's a detailed (almost scarily so, though) step by step from Steve Deckert. He makes it look a little harder than it is (probably because besides selling surrounds he also does surround replacements!).

http://www.decware.com/newsite/refoam.htm

good cheap sources of generic surrounds include:

www.matelectronics.com
http://www.rssound.com/

Kits from www.partsexpress.com

Some drivers have unique surrounds and require specifc replacements. Parts Express has some; others are available from multiple online vendors.

Here's a Pioneer HPM-1500 woofer that I refoamed. This one, which is sort of a JBL clone, requires a special but not-too-hard to find surround (which mounts on the back of the cone in this case).

tx_polkhead

which speaker are you looking to repair? Most all polk have rubber surrounds so that will be a little different, but the pair of Advent Legacy II's that I re-foamed were a breeze. Pictures are available here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/aas.sanchez/AdventLegacyIIReFoamSurrounds?feat=directlink
The one thing I learned, use less glue! You want just enough, more glue equals loooong dry time. Dry time is when things can shift, less glue, shorter dry time! Good Luck!

pitdogg2

I agree with most of the advice given so far. The one thing I would recommend is to buy the correct foam surround for your speaker some are made for many different makes of speakers and some don't have the correct angle for the speaker your repairing. The bigger the woofer the easier. I did a Infinity 6.5 that the foam went to the back of the cone and it really was a tight fit for the fingers, so 10,12's and 15 are really easy to get in there and do what you need to do. The best advice i could give is google your driver "IE cerwin vega foam repair kits" and look at all the results then pick a few and email and ask questions like are what your selling the exact replacement surrounds for this model or is it a universal for many models and what type of glue do you supply with the kit. Some less than reputable sellers will just give a generic glue or just plan old elmers. In most cases you do not have to remove the dust cap but if your driver has the pointed phase plug make sure you cover the center well enough to keep the old surround material from getting down in the motor assembly. If you do have a pointed phase plug cut index cards work well to keeep driver centered.

good luck it's very easy but take your sweet time do not get into a hurry do not try and do both sides of the woofer at the same time let each side dry completely

halo71

Thanks guys!

TX, the drivers in question are a old pair of Cerwim Vega 10" subs and a pair of old Kicker 12" subs.

pitdogg2

halo71 wrote: »

Thanks guys!

TX, the drivers in question are a old pair of Cerwim Vega 10" subs and a pair of old Kicker 12" subs.

when you google that cerwin vega foam repair there is a place in Cali. that bought most of CV's stuff when they mover to Florida from Cali. Give Orange county speaker repair a email here's the link.

www.speakerrepair.com/

they have other stuff too you might get lucky and be able to get both from them.

HB27

Just a FYI here...
Changing surrounds using some generics not properly matched for particular drivers can and will change the sound of the drivers and the overall sound of speakers.
IF you have a very nice pair of speakers and want to keep the sound "stock" you might want to consider spending the extra $10 or so and get the correct ones for your drivers.
Harry