Replace Antenna Mast (w/o removing antenna)
#1
Cruising
Thread Starter
Replace Antenna Mast (w/o removing antenna)
Hello from Austin,
I need your help. I have a 96 C4 Grand Sport and my little boy (2 years old) decided to lower the garage on top of the car breaking my antenna off at the base. I have bought a new antenna mast and when reading the instructions it say to remove the mast nut from the top of the car. The only problem here is that the base of the antenna is bent and is preventing the mast nut from coming off. I've tried to bend the antenna back to a cilinder shape so that the nut can be removed but no such luck.
Any suggestions? At this point is my only option to remove the entire antenna motor (through the RL passeger side fender well? Is so, will I run into any issues removing the mast head nut once I've removed the antenna motor?
Thanks so much for any feedback or suggestions you can offer.
I need your help. I have a 96 C4 Grand Sport and my little boy (2 years old) decided to lower the garage on top of the car breaking my antenna off at the base. I have bought a new antenna mast and when reading the instructions it say to remove the mast nut from the top of the car. The only problem here is that the base of the antenna is bent and is preventing the mast nut from coming off. I've tried to bend the antenna back to a cilinder shape so that the nut can be removed but no such luck.
Any suggestions? At this point is my only option to remove the entire antenna motor (through the RL passeger side fender well? Is so, will I run into any issues removing the mast head nut once I've removed the antenna motor?
Thanks so much for any feedback or suggestions you can offer.
#4
Cruising
Thread Starter
Will I be able to pull the antenna motor down without first removing the mast nut? I'm assuming the broken off antenna and mast nut will easily pull out from the fender well along with the motor?
#5
Cruising
Thread Starter
#6
Racer
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Clarksville Tennessee
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Removing the antenna assembly is not that hard.
I really think if you can just break the mast off at the nut, it should be able to unscrew, but my experience is that the mast base is a bugger to get pulled out after the nut is undone. A whole lot easier when the assembly is out.
I did mine laying on the ground, not removing any outside body parts(the rear hatch center trim needs removed and left side trim and left center foam need lifted to access wires), looking up and having a decent light to see above. Be ready for all sorts of dirt you never knew was there to fall in your face. I have about a 6' arm span and had to reach to get the grommet into the cargo well hole.
It works well to have someone on the other side, use a string or such to guide the wires through on installation. (When removing the wires, tie a line that is used to pull them back into the cargo area.)
You should not have an issue with the rubber boot if you can crimp the old mast into the center area of the nut. Lube it up with dielectric grease, too.
Also, if you'd like, I could send you a remasted assembly. Then you could just swap.
I did mine laying on the ground, not removing any outside body parts(the rear hatch center trim needs removed and left side trim and left center foam need lifted to access wires), looking up and having a decent light to see above. Be ready for all sorts of dirt you never knew was there to fall in your face. I have about a 6' arm span and had to reach to get the grommet into the cargo well hole.
It works well to have someone on the other side, use a string or such to guide the wires through on installation. (When removing the wires, tie a line that is used to pull them back into the cargo area.)
You should not have an issue with the rubber boot if you can crimp the old mast into the center area of the nut. Lube it up with dielectric grease, too.
Also, if you'd like, I could send you a remasted assembly. Then you could just swap.
#7
Drifting
Shoot me an email at blkharleyman@yahoo.com, I'll talk you through how to get that mast out without having to pull the entire assembly out. It's not as bad as you think.
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
#8
Cruising
Thread Starter
Shoot me an email at blkharleyman@yahoo.com, I'll talk you through how to get that mast out without having to pull the entire assembly out. It's not as bad as you think.
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
Hi Noland, I just sent you an email. Thanks in advance!
#9
Cruising
Thread Starter
I really think if you can just break the mast off at the nut, it should be able to unscrew, but my experience is that the mast base is a bugger to get pulled out after the nut is undone. A whole lot easier when the assembly is out.
I did mine laying on the ground, not removing any outside body parts(the rear hatch center trim needs removed and left side trim and left center foam need lifted to access wires), looking up and having a decent light to see above. Be ready for all sorts of dirt you never knew was there to fall in your face. I have about a 6' arm span and had to reach to get the grommet into the cargo well hole.
It works well to have someone on the other side, use a string or such to guide the wires through on installation. (When removing the wires, tie a line that is used to pull them back into the cargo area.)
You should not have an issue with the rubber boot if you can crimp the old mast into the center area of the nut. Lube it up with dielectric grease, too.
Also, if you'd like, I could send you a remasted assembly. Then you could just swap.
I did mine laying on the ground, not removing any outside body parts(the rear hatch center trim needs removed and left side trim and left center foam need lifted to access wires), looking up and having a decent light to see above. Be ready for all sorts of dirt you never knew was there to fall in your face. I have about a 6' arm span and had to reach to get the grommet into the cargo well hole.
It works well to have someone on the other side, use a string or such to guide the wires through on installation. (When removing the wires, tie a line that is used to pull them back into the cargo area.)
You should not have an issue with the rubber boot if you can crimp the old mast into the center area of the nut. Lube it up with dielectric grease, too.
Also, if you'd like, I could send you a remasted assembly. Then you could just swap.
#10
Cruising
Thread Starter
Shoot me an email at blkharleyman@yahoo.com, I'll talk you through how to get that mast out without having to pull the entire assembly out. It's not as bad as you think.
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
R/Noland
P.S. What number is your GS?
I just sent you an email (it's coming from james[at]hmgcreative.com, thanks so much for reaching out.
#11
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Apr 2009
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#12
Racer
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Clarksville Tennessee
Posts: 403
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The remasted antenna means you just swap.
I had some trouble removing the mast-even though the mast itself was good (broken ribbon), it stuck inside the housing when I tried to pull it out.
These housings do not appear to be remast-ready. The housing needs to be glued back together. I have remasted, cleaned, lubed, epoxyed and tested this unit. You would just pull yours, stick this in place, send me your old stuff and be done. From your picture, the rubber boot should not be an issue in pulling the assembly.
I keep trying to forget that you should not have to take the housing off, since the ribbon is all out. But still, IMHO it would be simpler to swap and be done, rather than deal with frustration of the remast itself.
But, if you want to do it yourself, I'd be glad to talk you through. Send me a pm to swap phone numbers and find a time to chat.
BTW-the mast grommet should not need removed to pull the antenna assembly out the bottom.
I have not tried remasting with unit in place. I had broken ribbon to remove, which required assembly removal.
Your replacement mast came with the special socket, right? Does it fit in the hole, catch the nut and clear the rubber grommet?
These housings do not appear to be remast-ready. The housing needs to be glued back together. I have remasted, cleaned, lubed, epoxyed and tested this unit. You would just pull yours, stick this in place, send me your old stuff and be done. From your picture, the rubber boot should not be an issue in pulling the assembly.
I keep trying to forget that you should not have to take the housing off, since the ribbon is all out. But still, IMHO it would be simpler to swap and be done, rather than deal with frustration of the remast itself.
But, if you want to do it yourself, I'd be glad to talk you through. Send me a pm to swap phone numbers and find a time to chat.
BTW-the mast grommet should not need removed to pull the antenna assembly out the bottom.
I have not tried remasting with unit in place. I had broken ribbon to remove, which required assembly removal.
Your replacement mast came with the special socket, right? Does it fit in the hole, catch the nut and clear the rubber grommet?
#13
Racer
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Clarksville Tennessee
Posts: 403
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The assembly just butts up to the grommet from underneath
The nut is part of the assembly. No need to remove the nut before assembly removal.
If you are going to try to remast w/o pulling assembly, I have no experience, but my mast base sure took some effort to get out.
If you are going to try to remast w/o pulling assembly, I have no experience, but my mast base sure took some effort to get out.