Replacing the Satellite Shark Fin with a OEM Satellite stubby

What you need:

• Part No.: 86960-04040 ANTENNA ASSY, SATELL
• Flat Head Screw Driver
• 10mm socket wrench, + long reach adapter
• adjustable wrench

Here they are, in all their glory:



Start: Rear Passenger Seat -

Pull your rear seat down, and loosen/remove the 10mm bolts that hold down the black plastic storage compartment (behind the seat against the back of the cab). This is to make room to get the side panel (pictured below) loose.

Now use a screw drive to get the bottom half of the side panel loose. It doesn't need to come out, you're more worried about removing the top piece to get to the headliner. Pull at it and wedge it open.



Now you should be able to pry in there to expose two bolts holding the top half in.



Once complete, pop out that air bag logo plastic cover at the top of the side panel to expose a bolt underneath. This is where you could use a long 10mm socket wrench.



Now that this upper side piece is loose-ish, remove the "oh shit" handle above the door with the same 10mm. You will also need to remove both coat hanger hooks above the back seat. Just push them in a little firm and turn them 45 degree toward the closest window. Then wiggle them out.

Now you can use your screw driver gently to get the headliner free starting from the upper side panel/door area. The reason the upper side panel had to be loosened is there is a "lip" of the headliner that tucks into it, which is larger right at the corner of the door opening. Once that is out, you can bend the headliner down. Mind the side air bags directly above the door (pictured in red) while you're pulling this off.



Now you can see the antenna bolt pictured in the center of the photo. Remove the white plastic on the inner cab roof closest to you by inserting the flat head into the snaps.



Now you can access and loosen antenna bolt with the adjustable wrench. Remove / replace antenna




End: Put that shit back together and drink a beer.

 

What is the reason to change it?

 

Better clearance for racks, campers, or possibly just plain old looks?

Somewhere around 2012 or so the illusive shark fin started to appear on our trucks, for what appears to be purely cosmetic reasons. It has about 2-3” of empty plastic above the actual antenna components, and many are just simply cutting it off and filling it with silicon. I try to avoid creating new ways of allowing water into the cab, so I decided to remove/replace with the earlier 2011 model.

I’m installing kbvoodoo aftermarket bed rail caps which have a much lower profile than the plastic stock caps. With a cab over pop up camper on the way (such as the Drifter or GFC), I’ll need the clearance.

 

Awesome, thanks! I'll likely need to do this one of these days. Your install makes it look not too awful as far as only needing to drop part of the headliner.

 

Do you have a pic of the new antennae installed? Having a hard time picturing it.

 

Its funny, you'd think I would have snapped one. I'll get one tomorrow.

 

@Toyoland66

 

Now that I have seen that photo it is on my to do list for sure.

 

another route, which shows how unnecessary the height of the fin is...
http://www.bodenzord.com/archives/1449#more-1449

 

So my reception sucks, as in sucks fucking suck sucks. Did this mod improve your reception?

 

I don't use XM, so I don't have a baseline to tell you if it made a difference. XM still works though...

 

Interesting for sure. My sharkfin gets in the way of my aluminum boat
Gonna have to get this mod done soon

 

Nice write up.

I like my shark fin.

 

Can anyone confirm this setup works on 3rd Gen ?

 

Great photos!

Is the plug just under the headliner?

Do I have to remove my entire headliner?

I broke my shark fin backing out of my garage, so my GPS does not work, so I must replace.

 

I tried replacing mine on my 3rd gen 2018.

3rd gen I believe had 3 wires versus 1 and completely different connector and is about 3ft longer.

So I have a brand new stubby 2nd gen antenna available if anyone is interested

 

What color?

 

Standard black. Same part number as first post

 

Nice write up

 

Pm’ed