Fitting aftermarket HU cage

[guiddruid]

Once the original (aura) head unit is removed, is there anything else that needs to come out before an aftermarket HU cage can be fitted?

I removed the aura unit yesterday, and tried to trial-fit the cage for my JVC hu, but it was really tight, I think left-right. Should I just trim the plastic guides on either side back a bit with a chisel? Will this make the original hu loose when I refit to sell the car in a few years?

 

[truCido]

i'm pretty sure the aura unit doesnt have a cage so you wont need to remove anything else, it will be a tight fit but thats the way it should be.

 

[Icecavern]

You need to trim some of the plastic "fins" on the top and bottom of the HU opening. A stanley knife is usually good enough.

 

[truCido]

You need to trim some of the plastic "fins" on the top and bottom of the HU opening. A stanley knife is usually good enough.

oh didnt realise you had to do that? is that the same on all of them?

Just because I've fitted stereos into Leon's before without having to do it

 

[Icecavern]

It depends on the cage design of the HU you're fitting. I've had to do it on all the HU's I've fitted to Leons to make them fit right though.

 

[ChrisUK]

My Pioneer cage was a tight fit.

I;d read what Pete said in another thread & thought I'd need to do the same, but I forced it in (not coming out again lol) - and it's perfect now

 

[RobM]

I've had a JVC and Alpine cage in the Leon and didn't need to cut anything. Got a Becker now which doesn't have a cage, and that also went in without the need to take a knife to it.

They can be tricky to get in, a bit of squeezing, twisting and determination is needed. But it's worth the effort, as it means the standard unit can slot straight back in snugly when it comes to getting rid of the car.

 

[Danbo]

My Pioneer cage went in fine without any fettling. Easily too.

 

[guiddruid]

Thanks for all the tips. Fitted it properly today & it went in just fine; one of the tabs on the cage was angled down a bit, and was catching on the way in. Lots of room behind the unit for all the cables too, which makes a nice change.