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Shark Fin Antenna Removal

Nickv1214

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Does anybody have any info on removing the shark fin antenna ? Can you access it by dropping the rear section of the headliner down or does the entire headliner need to come down?

Any info on what needs to be removed to access the antenna would be appreciated.
 

Goatmann

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Don’t need to drop the entire headliner, just need to drop the rear portion of the headliner. You can also take the center brake light out so you can see the cable run and tie points on the roof line. The cables rest in hook against the rear roll of the roof.

Be careful as to how far you let it drop as you will crease it just past the “B” pillar. I folded some cardboard to fashion a stop so the liner would only go so far and yet give me room to work.

there is a YouTube video out there that explains how to remove the rear trim parts to gain access, but I can not find it for some reason.

the fin does have a locking tab type of fastener so take your time and look very closely at it before tying to loosen it
 

Nickv1214

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Don’t need to drop the entire headliner, just need to drop the rear portion of the headliner. You can also take the center brake light out so you can see the cable run and tie points on the roof line. The cables rest in hook against the rear roll of the roof.

Be careful as to how far you let it drop as you will crease it just past the “B” pillar. I folded some cardboard to fashion a stop so the liner would only go so far and yet give me room to work.

there is a YouTube video out there that explains how to remove the rear trim parts to gain access, but I can not find it for some reason.

the fin does have a locking tab type of fastener so take your time and look very closely at it before tying to loosen it
Thanks for the info , I’ll try to find that YouTube video as well .
 

Big White RAM

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If I had to access the shark fin from underneath, I would slightly lower the headliner, open the rear slider and reach in through the opening to get to the shark fin. I would think doing it that way would eliminate any chance of creasing the headliner. Would this approach work?
 

Nickv1214

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If I had to access the shark fin from underneath, I would slightly lower the headliner, open the rear slider and reach in through the opening to get to the shark fin. I would think doing it that way would eliminate any chance of creasing the headliner. Would this approach work?
I’m going to mess with it after work today and see the best way to approach it . Dropping the rear section slightly seems to be the best way and I’ll have to see what exactly needs to be done to reach in and make it happen
 

OldMarine

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Yes, just drop the back section. Taking the whole headliner out is a big PIA, you don't want to get into .
 

doolin64

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What is the purpose of removing the antenna? Just curious
I'm guessing clearance into garage. Someone on this forum with a dark red Ram has the fine mounted upside in the cab of the truck. Not sure I'd want to do that either.
 

Nickv1214

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What is the purpose of removing the antenna? Just curious
Wrapping the truck , and wrapping around raised objects just creates more of a headache .
You achieve a much nicer job removing things like antennas , door handles etc . But if it’s a huge pain I can wrap around it , was just seeing if it was a big pain or not
 

Nickv1214

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65DA79AC-8693-4C14-A16D-06DAA657029C.jpeg
figured I’m this far in disassembly , how hard could a antenna be , but I no some cars there a huge pain, and this looks to be one of them
 

Aseras

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The only real way to drop the headliner ( without ruining it ) is to remove the windshield or back window. Even opening the rear slide and trying to fish around with your hand is almost impossible.

I tried and gave up when I was running my wiring for the rear camera of my front+rear dashcam setup.

 

Nickv1214

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The only real way to drop the headliner ( without ruining it ) is to remove the windshield or back window. Even opening the rear slide and trying to fish around with your hand is almost impossible.

I tried and gave up when I was running my wiring for the rear camera of my front+rear dashcam setup.

Yeah I’ll definitely be wrapping around that antenna I am not getting involved in all that
 

Goatmann

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Wrapping the truck , and wrapping around raised objects just creates more of a headache .
You achieve a much nicer job removing things like antennas , door handles etc . But if it’s a huge pain I can wrap around it , was just seeing if it was a big pain or not
For what you want to do, dropping the rear of the headliner is quite doable. No need to drop nor remove the entire headliner.

the poster who claimed one needed to remove the headliner to install his rear dash cam did not know about:
 

Sascwatch

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I had a leak at the rear of the cab and the company the dealer uses to repair leaks dropped the rear of the headliner to do a leak test. In their report it said they removed the B and C pillars to do so.
 

Goatmann

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I didn’t mess with the B pillars, just would have added time to my shade tree wrenching.
 

jdmartin

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OK, this will probably make me sound like an old bastard, but what are you wrapping the truck in, some kind of saran wrap? And why are you wrapping it, is it for some kind of advertisement?
 

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