JDM Knee Pad Install

[Smudgeous]

Just got back from a 2 week vacation in Japan, where my wife was able to order the center panel knee pads from a Toyota dealership.

The factory actually had to make one of the pads for me (I forget if it was the left or right), as it seems due to the car being so new and them apparently coming standard on cars, it's not a widely-ordered item yet (both the factory and dealership didn't seem to know the part until shown pictures). It took some legwork for us to be able to get the actual part numbers so we could order them.

For anyone trying to scour the 'net for the best price possible for these and needs model numbers, below is an image I snapped from the boxes I got while I was in Japan:


Hope that helps!

[newkid185]

Originally Posted by Trojan_SC

So I started installing the knee pads yesterday and thought I'd show you guys how to do it and not screw up your interior (I failed a little). Scuffed up the corners of my center console and broke the old new pads. So follow this if you want to do a clean install.

First let's start with the Center dash knee pads:

To do this you have to remove the center console.

Start off by taking off the small panels under the oem knee pads, just pull gently and they come right off.



Next remove filler under the AC controls (idk what it's called, the thing with the USB/AUX ports) You can just grab it and pull (gently) or you can push it out from behind where you just removed the panels.


Disconnect the wire harness and you have just exposed 2 screws for the center console.


Unscrew the shift knob. (easy enough)
Next pull off the trim around the shifter, it is just clipped in so it will come off with some pulling.


The shift boot is connected to this trim with 4 screws, unscrew and take out the plastic trim.


You have just uncovered 2 more screws for the console.

The last 2 are under the rubber liner inside the center console, where the cup holders go.

Now that you've found all 6 screws, unscrew them. Detach the e-brake boot, from the center console. You don't have to remove it entirely.


Remove the center console and get it out of your way.

Almost done.
Now remove the faux carbon fiber bezel surrounding the head unit



You've uncovered more screws. The following 2 screws are what hold the kneepads to the center dash. Unscrew them.



Once this is done, you can just grab and pull the knee pad out toward you. It's only clipped in now.



Look at the back, remove the silver trim by unscrewing the screw holding it in place.



Attach the new, sexy, red-stitched knee pad to the silver trim.


Reinstall everything in reverse order of how you took it out. Inventory your screws and make sure you don't lose/forget to install any and you're done. OH AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FORGET TO RECONNECT YOUR POWER OUTLET AND THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE TCS/VSC.


Took me a long ass time because I didn't know how to properly take apart the interior. I RE-DID it to do this DIY and it took me about 20 minutes.

Next up are the door panels:

I haven't been able to do these just yet because there seems to be a difference between the OEM knee pads and JDM knee pads. OEMs have the speaker grill built in as part of the mold, JDMs do not.

Some comparison pics FYI:




And for those of you that might want to ask "well can't you pull the speaker grills off?" No you can't:


Got word from Luis @Carson Toyota that the speaker grills are on order so once I get them, I will update you all.

Where did you buy all these panel???

[Trojan_SC]

Originally Posted by newkid185

Where did you buy all these panel???

Carson Toyota

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by newkid185

Where did you buy all these panel???

Way to quote the whole DIY post, SMH...

Thanks for the write-up! Those panels add a nice touch of class to the interior - I wish they would've just charged us the few bucks extra in the U.S. to get these as standard!

[davey90]

How do you take the door knee pad off, can you pull it off?
Australia gets JDM parts as standard.

Cheers

[Gt bug]

Do you have the partnumber for both knee pad n speaker cover?
Many thanks!

[luscious]

Just finished doing this...thanks for the guide!!

[jstans84]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Nice work!! Do you plan to swap out the HVAC for the JDM digital one?

Any idea where someone would be able to pick up the JDM one or if it would even work with our cars?

[makalaka]

Has anyone completed this on a BRZ Limited? I just tried and I couldn't get the filler with the USB/AUX ports out. I got the two panels under the knee pads out but I couldn't push the filler panel out from behind nor could I pull it out from the front. I couldn't get any leverage. I think it may have something to do with the push button start being on the panel.

Anybody have any advice on how to get that panel out?

[ayau]

any updates on the speaker grille?

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by jstans84

Any idea where someone would be able to pick up the JDM one or if it would even work with our cars?

Have you tried contacting Carson Toyota?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=carson+toyota

[j.t.]

Originally Posted by makalaka

Has anyone completed this on a BRZ Limited? I just tried and I couldn't get the filler with the USB/AUX ports out. I got the two panels under the knee pads out but I couldn't push the filler panel out from behind nor could I pull it out from the front. I couldn't get any leverage. I think it may have something to do with the push button start being on the panel.

Anybody have any advice on how to get that panel out?

I just did this today. its a pain in the ass, but it just pops out. Try pushing the drivers side corner out, then the rest will pull out.

[2pt5RS]

Thanks for the awesome write-up! Using yours made it so much faster to get my JPM goodies installed!

[makalaka]

Originally Posted by j.t.

I just did this today. its a pain in the ass, but it just pops out. Try pushing the drivers side corner out, then the rest will pull out.

Can you explain how you popped it out? Did you push the drivers side upper or lower corner? Did you use a tool or just your fingers?

I tried again today and i just couldn't get it out.

Thanks for any advice!