DIY: Antenna removal - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Hardrock4445 · 09-09-2012, 08:01 PM

I spent some time looking at the FR-S today and decided I really do not like the stock antenna. With my wedding upcoming and all funds allocated for that at this time I did not want to spend money at this time to replace with "shark fin" style antenna. this is what I came up with. I removed the stock antenna. I found a small rubber plug that is a tight fit in the existing hole. This rubber plug is such a tight fit that I was able to screw it into the hole and it will not fall out. This plug is something I had laying around and is from the bolt head covers on a bicycle. (look on your kids bikes or around the racks in wal-mart you might be able to find some) I will try and answer some questions before they arise. 1.) I have an FR-S with bespoke system. 2.) I do not know if this will work on a BRZ with navigation 3.) I do get all my channels very clearly with no interference. 4.) All local HD channels still work and come in crystal clear.

stock antenna look:

antenna removed:

rubber plug I used:

finished results:

Lonewolf · 09-09-2012, 09:18 PM

If this works as well as you say it does, I don't see why anyone needs to have the RC style antenna on their car anymore...that is unless they actually like it...

Thanks for being a guinea pig

Rossman · 09-10-2012, 01:56 PM

I guess I'm like the only person who likes the stock antenna!

DaJo · 09-10-2012, 02:01 PM

^ I don't mind the stock antenna either, though I wished the car came with the sharkfin type.
I know there are some here for sale, but I'm just worried about the radio reception.

Jayde · 09-11-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossman

I guess I'm like the only person who likes the stock antenna!

Don't worry, I do too. :happy0180:

White64Goat · 09-15-2012, 05:31 PM

I can't imagine the shark fin having better reception (except maybe for satellite). I'd like to find a little longer antenna to improve the FM reception. I assume the stock antenna has metric threads?

Gamma · 09-17-2012, 02:37 AM

Great idea but in my area at least I lose most if not all HD radio reception by doing this.

Just wanted to post and give some feedback.

You can still get radio but at least in my case it is not HD

MF_DEUCE · 09-17-2012, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamma

Great idea but in my area at least I lose most if not all HD radio reception by doing this.

Just wanted to post and give some feedback.

You can still get radio but at least in my case it is not HD

get a phone that has Bluetooth capabilities and music...you'll never have to listen to the radio ever again! No Commercials, NO MERCY!

Gamma · 09-17-2012, 04:30 PM

Haha at that point you could just remove the whole antenna ><

michaelahess · 09-17-2012, 05:01 PM

I'm actually surprised how many folks still listen to radio, HD or otherwise. I can't even stand XM/Sirius anymore. Plus the 32Gb $20 tiny USB stick I bought cost a lot less than most of the antenna options.

I plan on doing what the OP did, was just looking for the right cap, now I know what to look for, thanks!

Rossman · 09-17-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelahess

I'm actually surprised how many folks still listen to radio, HD or otherwise. I can't even stand XM/Sirius anymore. Plus the 32Gb $20 tiny USB stick I bought cost a lot less than most of the antenna options.

I plan on doing what the OP did, was just looking for the right cap, now I know what to look for, thanks!

I still listen to the radio sometimes, but just to CBC (Canadian NPR equivalent).

Sometimes I will put some tunes through the bluetooth but mostly I prefer driving in silence!

michaelahess · 09-17-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossman

I still listen to the radio sometimes, but just to CBC (Canadian NPR equivalent).

Sometimes I will put some tunes through the bluetooth but mostly I prefer driving in silence!

I even got away from that. I'm in the car at such random times, I just pull the podcast for the NPR shows I care about, usually catch up on the entire week while driving on the weekends!

Chad86 · 06-18-2014, 01:38 AM

Has anyone come up with an option to just remove the whole antenna and properly plug the roof? (color matched of course)

This antenna needs to go!

HighContrast · 06-18-2014, 02:20 AM

^ Yes totally agree.

09-09-2012, 08:01 PM	#1
Hardrock4445 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Syracuse Posts: 719 Thanks: 274 Thanked 277 Times in 161 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	DIY: Antenna removal I spent some time looking at the FR-S today and decided I really do not like the stock antenna. With my wedding upcoming and all funds allocated for that at this time I did not want to spend money at this time to replace with "shark fin" style antenna. this is what I came up with. I removed the stock antenna. I found a small rubber plug that is a tight fit in the existing hole. This rubber plug is such a tight fit that I was able to screw it into the hole and it will not fall out. This plug is something I had laying around and is from the bolt head covers on a bicycle. (look on your kids bikes or around the racks in wal-mart you might be able to find some) I will try and answer some questions before they arise. 1.) I have an FR-S with bespoke system. 2.) I do not know if this will work on a BRZ with navigation 3.) I do get all my channels very clearly with no interference. 4.) All local HD channels still work and come in crystal clear. stock antenna look: antenna removed: rubber plug I used: finished results:

09-10-2012, 02:01 PM	#4
DaJo FT86Club Vancouver Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: BRZ Sport-Tech; Drove: MR-S, AE86 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 2,533 Thanks: 391 Thanked 1,180 Times in 634 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	^ I don't mind the stock antenna either, though I wished the car came with the sharkfin type. I know there are some here for sale, but I'm just worried about the radio reception. __________________ 1984 AE86 BT 20V 5MT 2007-2012 2000 MR-S 5MT 2010-2012 2013 BRZ Sport-Tech 6AT Since '12 (OEM+ STI tS Build) 2015 Lexus IS250 AWD F-Sport 2 2015-2018 2018 Lexus NX300 F-Sport 3 Since '18

09-17-2012, 02:37 AM	#7
Gamma Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Location: United States Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Tryed briefly Great idea but in my area at least I lose most if not all HD radio reception by doing this. Just wanted to post and give some feedback. You can still get radio but at least in my case it is not HD

09-17-2012, 05:01 PM	#10
michaelahess Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: '13 GBS BRZ Lim, 2006 Dodge RAM MC Location: Wyoming Posts: 663 Thanks: 72 Thanked 148 Times in 98 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm actually surprised how many folks still listen to radio, HD or otherwise. I can't even stand XM/Sirius anymore. Plus the 32Gb $20 tiny USB stick I bought cost a lot less than most of the antenna options. I plan on doing what the OP did, was just looking for the right cap, now I know what to look for, thanks! __________________ Mike's Car Journal

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09-09-2012, 09:18 PM	#2
Lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Moped Location: CA Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 4,905 Thanked 2,132 Times in 1,195 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If this works as well as you say it does, I don't see why anyone needs to have the RC style antenna on their car anymore...that is unless they actually like it... Thanks for being a guinea pig

09-10-2012, 01:56 PM	#3
Rossman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: '22 BRZ, '17 BRZ (prev '13 FR-S) Location: Backwoods Ontario Posts: 366 Thanks: 44 Thanked 123 Times in 68 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I guess I'm like the only person who likes the stock antenna!

09-15-2012, 05:31 PM	#6
White64Goat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 BRZ CBS LTD MT, 02 WRX Location: Fred. Co. Md. Posts: 2,351 Thanks: 65 Thanked 1,113 Times in 628 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I can't imagine the shark fin having better reception (except maybe for satellite). I'd like to find a little longer antenna to improve the FM reception. I assume the stock antenna has metric threads?

09-17-2012, 04:30 PM	#9
Gamma Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Location: United States Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Haha at that point you could just remove the whole antenna ><

06-18-2014, 02:20 AM	#14
HighContrast Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: Subaru Location: Norcal Posts: 59 Thanks: 44 Thanked 24 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	^ Yes totally agree.

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