Toyota Tundra Forum

So I was going to show how to pull the brackets off the OEM stereo and use it on the aftermarket stereo and bezel. But I put the OEM stereo in the aftermarket box and couldn't find the box. So instead, I decided to show another idea I had.

Anyone who has changed the OEM radio or added satellite to it knows how easily the stereo can be removed from the truck. Probably 20 seconds tops and the stereo is out. Perfect opportunity for a smash and grab. So I decided I was going to make it a little harder to get my stereo out of my truck. Went to the hardware store and picked up the following:

4 feet of 1/16" uncoated steel cable (aircraft cable)
two 1/8" wire rope clips
package of #10 flat washers
three packages of M5x10mm screws (only needed 2 packages for a total of 6 screws) (see below for pictures of the screws)

Total cost was under $5 with tax.

The screws that came with the new stereo are too short. Almost impossible to use with an aftermarket plastic fit kit. You will strip the screws trying to get them to grab hold. So longer ones are definitely needed and I should have got some the first time I installed the stereo.

In order from left to right:
#10 washer, original M5 screw (cheese head?), M5 raised head machine screw, M5 hex head bolt (these were all they offered in a short M5 screw)



The end of the thread on the original screw is stripped as you might be able to see. The shortest they had was the 10mm screw which was OK. If you get longer ones, you can use washers to take up space so you don't screw too far into the head unit and damage something.

Here's a picture of the packages if you need to find them. I got these at Lowe's.



I put a washer behind each screw so they would hold the plastic bracket better. On the last screw, I used two washers. I unwound the end of the steel cable and pinched it between the washers.




I did this on both sides of the stereo. On the other side, I actually ran the wire behind 2 screws just in case.

I wanted to wrap it around the steel support bar under the dash, but wasn't able to find a proper way to do it where I could get to the clips. So I passed the wire through an eye in a brace that comes off the bar. This is right under the stereo.



Install the stereo and pull the slack in the wires. Then I wrapped it around another support behind the glove box (above the cabin filter), pulled the wires tight and put on two wire clamps to act as my locks for the stereo.



You can get through the wires with wire cutters, but you have to find them first. If you try to pull out the stereo, you aren't going anywhere with it very fast. This should hold up to most people pulling on it. Either they give up, or cause enough damage to the stereo where if they get away with it, a pawn shop can hopefully tell it was ripped out of a vehicle so the thief hopefully gets nothing for it.

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2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, 3M clear bra, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI, Llumar tint, CompuStar Pro alarm, ProComp 6066 20" wheels, Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/60/20 tires, OME HD coilover lift, Firestone helper air bags, stereo cable lock, Tekonsha P3 brake controller
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007-2009 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

Thats a pretty good idea. I think I'll try that out when I get my head unit in.

Nice idea Tox... I think I'll do the same with mine when I take it back apart to install the bluetooth module and the Sirius satellite. BTW, I noticed your Scosche double din mounting brackets and bezel are totally different than mine. I'll try to remember to take some pics of mine when it's apart the next time.

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2007 Tundra Limited Double Cab 4x4 Super White
Volant CAI
Pioneer AVIC Z-2 (hard drive upgrade to AVIC Z-3)
Key FOB Tailgate Lock (courtesy of Toxarch)
OEM back-up camera w/flip down monitor microswitch mod
Sirius Satellite Radio
WeatherTech Floor Liners
20" OEM alloy wheels
Line-X Bed liner
UWS Black Powdercoat Low Profile Toolbox
DU-HA underseat storage unit
JC Whitney Black Nerf Bars
Lund Interceptor II Bug Shield
Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller

I will venture to say, this is probably on of your best mods Tox, Great thinking and application. Kudos Brother!!!

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Very simple and nice idea. It's something I will do when I change my OEM headunit.

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07 DC SR5 Long Bed Desert Pyrite Mica, folding rear seat mod, Raptor step bars, OEM back-up camera, "iPod in the ashtray", Toytec 3" leveling kit