[HOW TO][INTERIOR][GEN III DAKOTA] Ext Cab Rear Interior Removal

This "how to" is going to explain the process of removing all of the interior behind the front seating. Reasons for doing so may include but are not limited to:

- Water leaks
- Floor pan rust
- Custom panels
- Rear speaker replacement
- Rear seat re-upholstery
- Loose panels

Tools required:

- Ratchet, spinner handle, or drill (ratchet preferred)
- 10mm deep-well socket
- 13mm socket
- Size 4 or smaller flathead screwdriver
- #2 phillips screwdriver
- Large Torx bit (size unknown) or 1/4" allen wrench

Tools recommended:

- 18mm socket
- Dremel with cut-off discs
- 5 inch ratchet extension bar

Before you start removing the rear interior I strongly recommend removing the front row seating. This can easily be done by removing two 13mm bolts on the front of each driver and passenger seat, as well as two 18mm bolts on the rear of each seat. If you have a center console, you may remove the entire row as a whole now; if not, each seat will come out on its own.

All pictures have green circles highlighting points of interest. You may need to click them to enlarge the image and clearly see where they are marked. All panels shown that are side-specific are drivers' side only. Passenger side panels will be mirrored.


Here is the interior before any parts have been removed.

STEP #1
First, flip up the two seats and remove eight 10mm bolts holding the seat to their arms.


STEP #2 If you are only removing/replacing speakers, skip this step:
I preferred to go ahead and remove the bolts holding the bottom panel to the truck now, as I knew it would be the most difficult piece to remove, and having any complications now would be easier than later. There are five 10mm bolts, mirrored from the center one on the passenger side. The two bolts in the cupholders and the next one in, in the round wells are where a 5 inch ratchet extension bar will come in handy. However, if you are using a spinner handle, there is no need.



STEP #3
The next panel to remove is the center one that serves as the back of the seating. DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE CUSHIONED PANELS YET IF YOU ARE REUPHOLSTERING. Doing so will most likely cause them to break. Before you begin pulling the panel off look and see each of the eight ribbed push-in pins. Pulling in the wrong place can break a panel, and be sure to pull straight out so you do not bend or break the panel as well. There are also three metal clamps holding the base of the panel on. Use the flathead screwdriver on the backside, as there is a lip on each side, to lift it enough to pull off.

Keep in mind, this is a rear view of it, so the pins' placement will be mirrored when looking at it installed.


STEP #4 If you are only removing/replacing speakers, skip this step:
You should now be able to see the lower seat's arms entirely. Remove each of the eight nuts with a 10mm deep-well socket.


STEP#5 If you are only removing/replacing speakers, skip this step:
Now that the arms no longer hold the foam to the back wall (some will, and some will not), you simply pull each of the four ribbed push-in pins straight out, as shown below.


STEP #6 If you are only removing/replacing speakers, skip this step:
Next, you will want to remove the bolts that the arms mount to. Do so by pulling out on the tabbed end of each piece slightly and sliding it in it's corresponding direction to the larger opening.


STEP #7
After you have those removed, start on the seatbelts. The cover at the top has a hooked tab at the top center in the back, and two prongs in the middle, so you will want to use your thumb at the bottom center, pulling up and out. With the bolts exposed, unbolt both the front and rear seat belts by using the proper Torx bit or a 1/4" allen wrench, but be careful not to strip the bolt when using the improper tool.


STEP #8
Before pulling out on the upper panel, open the rear windows and then see where the three ribbed push-in pins are marked in the photo. Again, be sure to pull as close to them as possible, and only pull straight out.


This is how it will look when the upper panel is removed.


STEP #9
As you continue to your lower panels, you should see two screw for each side, as shown. Remove these before you begin pulling and again, see the photo for placement of the push-in pins.