How to Refoam a Subwoofer

Refoam a subwoofer with a speaker repair kit.

Subwoofers produce sound by the movement of the speaker's cone back and forth in the speaker's basket. The speaker cone is suspended in the basket by a foam or rubber surround attached to the outer edge of the cone and the inner edge of the basket. If the surround has been damaged or has deteriorated due to age, you can often replace it.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Razor blade
• Surround replacement kit
• Small brush

Instructions

1. Loosen the screws on the perimeter of the subwoofer and pull the subwoofer out of its enclosure.

2. Pull off as much as the surround as possible from the cone with your fingers. Scrape away any glue or remaining residue from the cone and basket with the edge of a razor blade. Be careful not to cut the cone.

3. Apply a thin bead of glue from the speaker repair kit on the outer edge of the cone. Spread it out to form a thin layer with a small brush. Place the new surround onto the cone, and carefully position it so that it is evenly lined up on the edge on the cone.

4. Apply a thin bead of glue onto the basket of the speaker. Spread it out with a small brush. Place the cone into the basket so that it's placed evenly in the basket and the edge of the surround is on the glue. Press down firmly around the edge of the surround.

5. Let the glue dry completely, at least 24 hours, before using the speaker again.

Tips & Warnings

• Speaker repair kits are available from a variety of sources. Use their information to help pick the proper kit for your subwoofer.

References

• "Car Stereo Cookbook"; Mark Rumreich; 2005

Resources

• Speaker Works: DIY Speaker Refoam Kit