My factory Sub is blown and the dealership wants 400 for it. I just want to replace the speaker and not spend a bunch of money. When I unplugged the sub the stereo sounded terrible! Any advise for an aftermarket replacement?

 

I've read a couple of places online where guys are pulling the factory sub and amp and replacing the Factory sub with an aftermarket 8" shallow mount sub. All you would need to do after that is find a decent amp to power the sub and run the wires. I've never seen the setup for the Factory sub and not sure how much power the factory amp pushes out. I'm sure the Sub is a single voice coil and if you find your self a single voice coil aftermarket sub you can cut the factory connector off the speaker wire that go to the sub and use the remander of the wire to connect an aftermarket sub. Like I said I haven't seen anything on the factory sub. I just finished installing a 10" Shallow Mount Rockford in my truck with an Infinity Amp. It's sounds great for the most part but I bought the sub box off the internet and I'm not getting enough clearance between the sub and the floor so the sub isn't flexing enough... Might have to break down and have someone build a custom box.

 

You could check the classifieds and ebay for a used sub. You'll see one every now and then.

 

For 500 dollars I bought an Alpine amp, patch cable, line converter, power cable and a kicker 10" that fits great and I am sure sounds better. I am quite impressed with my setup. Just for the fun of it I went to a store and they priced out a single 10" , amp, and install for 1200. And I tried pricing out a factory setup on ebay it is so expensive and you will not get as good of performance.

 

I took out the stock 8" sub and replaced it with a kicker compVT shallow mount 8" ($84 on amazon.com). Only thing I had to do was drill new screw holes since they didn't match. I have it hooked up to the factory amp (wussie looking lil thing) and factory stereo, I can't say that theres much of a difference right now. one of these days Im gonna get around to hooking my 400 watt amp up to it, should be a huge improvement
Don't pay $400 for a factory replacement unless you enjoy pissing your money away. $400 can buy you a nice sub and amp setup on ebay like Twinsdad98 mentioned. Im sure theres some FTE sponsers that have some sweet deals too

 

for 500 bucks I got a new box, 2 JBL 10" subs and a Phoenix Gold amp...

go aftermarket, the stock stuff isn't worth the hassles.

 

Not sure of his prices, but supercrew sounds has some subs that are made to fit our trucks. Probably more than you want to spend...

 

If I remeber right his prices aren't bad but you are limited to the brand that he sells. The important thing about stereo equipment is to shop around and find what you like. And by shop around I mean find a couple of buddies that have the same truck you have and that have already spent money on a system and find what you like. I've never heard a bad sounding sub in a store before but I have heard plenty of crappy subs in cars. This way you know you will be happy in the end because your friends already did the research for you.