I'm trying to install my new Parcel shelf but I can't get the center of the knee bolster to release. The cheap plastic cross brace seems like it will break if I try to force it. All the threads on this just say "remove the knee bolster" and then proceed with the shelf install. Thanks...Mike

 

Grab the area under the steering column with one hand while grasping the upper edge with your fingers and pull backwards and down. If it's never been removed before, it can be kinda tight. Just when it feel like you are going to break something, it will pop away at the top. Hinge it down then twist it slightly to unhook it from the lower brace.

 

Thanks Greatbear...It's the lower brace part thats giving me trouble. The center hinge or connector dosen't want to release from the brace..

 

It's been a while since I had a knee bolster. If memory serves, all I had to do was lift up on one side of the back edge and pull back while the bolster was horizontal or a bit lower. It's more difficult to disengage when more upright.

 

On the 05's it's a bit harder to remove than on previous years. I think there was a slight change in the clips that attach to that support bar in the transition to the MY 05 design.

I don't remember how I removed mine, but it wasn't nearly as easy as the '03 (which was grab and yank down HARD!). I remember fiddling and prying it for a bit in order to get it to come off.

 

Thanks again Greatbear...I'll give it another try

 

I'm planning on doing mine (2005) within the next hour or so. I just drilled the first hole for my aux input jack, and need to install that before I pull out the bolster and install the parcel shelf with input jack. On my 2003 it was a bit of a leap of faith, so if the 2005 is more difficult, this should be interesting. I'll post back when I'm done...

Chris

 

mine on my 05 just fell off the first time i opend it up lol

you need to pull the one side out by pushing down and pulling at the same time.

the brace wont break, its a thick piece of plastic.

 

And that's where the leap of faith jumps in! That sucker flexes A LOT as you're trying to work the bolster off.

 

I just removed my knee bolster. MUCH more of a pain than the 2003 was. Here's what I did: if you rotate the bolster down toward you, and pull it straight toward the back of the car, the plastic brace piece will flex slightly and the clips on the left and right will easily pull out of their sockets. Once they're out, the clip in the center needs to be pulled straight down, HARD! If you cram a light in there, you'll see that the clip is open to the top of the car, so this is really the only way to remove it. Therefore it has to be possible without breaking anything.

Leap of faith, my friend.

 

Bikeguy57, you've got a PM. Give me a call if you need any help.

Chris

 

now, go try to put it back on lol


its harder than taking it off!!!!

 

Oh my $#&*@ing LORD what a pain in the ***. I've finally got it all back together (parcel shelf with aux jack ), but lining up the screws with those blue clips is just absurdly hard. I had to tape the clips into position (otherwise they slipped down a crucial millimeter or so), then press forward on the back of the parcel shelf with all of my strength while upside down looking up through the holes with a headlamp to see when they were lined up. I'm not sure this would have been at all easier if I wasn't doing it outside at night.

*phew*

beer time.

 

Parcel shelf and full switch panel done Thanks to everybody for the help...Mike

 

I pulled the panel down so I could just add an aux port, but it came off the latches. Now I can’t get it back on. Does anybody know any tips?