Secure your sub.

[FadeToBlack]

Well, this morning I woke up to find my dad's (formerly mine) ED had been broken into, first car i'd ever experienced being broken into so was a bit of a shock, doors unlocked, mess everywhere etc. They managed to knock off some $10 imitation sunglasses and a panasonic head unit worth about 400, but my anger subdued a bit when I looked in the back to see the sub and amp still intact.

My reason for this post is that the back seats were ripped down..but the sub and amp were untouched, reason being that when we installed the sub and amp we had security and stability in mind, using 2 large brackets to bolt it to the floor. I know it's common sense to do a good job when installing, but I know a ton of people that have a couple of little shitty screws, or even worse some who have the box simply sitting in the boot.

Heres a few pics to show the brackets...i'm not saying it's the best install because it clearly isn't, but it sounded fine, and it's still sitting here while the head unit is in the hands of some thief. I've had to take the sub out once after I installed it, and even with a socket set it still takes a fair amount of time to get out.



Hopefully most of you will never have to experience having your car broken into, but I urge anyone with any boot equiptment to put a bit of thought into securing it (I'm sure a lot of you do anyway), anything so it can't just be ripped out or taken out with a couple of screwdrivers. You can't stop someone coming back after the fact with more tools...but it helps ease the pain after a break in when you see something like a decent sub and amp left untouched.

[Jeff T]

Glad to hear that they didn't get everything, and sorry to hear that your car was broken into.

I think you got pretty lucky though, if they really wanted your sub they could've just taken it out of the box. Same goes for the amp. It's only ~12 screws.

[mouce]

I'm with Jeff on that, it's only a dozen screws holding the whole thing in. Still...thankfully it's all still there.

BTW: most people are quite happy to have an amp mounted on a sub box, but generally it will shorten the life of the amp because of the vibration.

[SweetWagon]

I also had theft in mind when installing my setup. The sub box is screwed down from the inside so they have to un-screw the sub (8 screws) then another 4 to remove it all. And thats after they figure out how to get to it, its all contained within a large box (In a wagon and the back seats have to be folded down before you can even access anything which i had modified the release button)

Hope its never is broken into, gotta killer alarm but atleast it will make it harder for them.

[garfa]

maybe instead of screwing down from the inside to whoever is reading this just drill out the phillips slots of the screw. then to get the sub out you need to drill out each screw.
also this is what i will be doing is having my amps mounted to the parsel shelf and then putting a 1/2 inch plexi glass sheet that covers the amps from underneith the amps. this will be hold in place by threaded rod and bolts and washers secured to the parsel shelf. it will leave enough room to play with any of the side mounted controls by there is no way it will move without an angle grinder or socket set...

[FadeToBlack]

Yeh great idea.. I know my setup wasn't the best, i've just seen too many dodgy installs with a few tiny screws holding the sub in or worse the box just sitting in the boot. Theres nothing stopping someone determined enough taking your whole car and spending as much time as they want removing your equipment, but when it's some dodgy thief who wants in and out as quick as possible the more effort you've put in to the install, the more chance you've got of keeping it if the unthinkable does happen.

[JunyaVn]

I had an idea a while back which i plan to use when i get my gear for the boot...*could be used on the whole car i guess*....HEX BOLTS/SCREWS ....they are still easy enough to get undone....but are a BITCH if ya dont have the right tools , MR BASTARD THIEF ...i plan to hex screw everything when i get it in....

L8r all !

[mouce]

Vice-grips. They manage to undo hex bolts/screws in no time. Now if you really want to give them a challenge use anchor plugs.

They get used in houses all the time, basically the way they work is that you drill the hole, start screwing the anchor plug onto the screw, push it through the hole so that it pops out the other side, and do it up. As it gets pulled against the other side of the metal, it fans out. The only way to get it to come off is to unscrew it completely (dur), BUT, once you start unscrewing it, it loses contact with the metal and just starts spinning in the air. You either need to get a bit smart about undoing them, or get a pair of plyers on the other side.

[garfa]

where do you get these anchor plugs?
i am planning on using either locking bolts- they have an allen screw inbeded in the top of the bolt. you tighten the allen key once you have locktited on 2 bolts on the back and it forces the end of the bolt to spred a bit thus there isnt an easy way to get it off.
grinding off the square shoulder on a couple of carriage bolts.
one was security screw/bolts, spin lok seem good, and of course the head shearing ones.