metra dash kit - did I do something wrong?

I have metra dash kit

$31 99-8235chg Single DIN Dash Installation Kit For 2012 Toyota Tacoma Vehicles

99-8235chg. I don't like the look, or how it is supported. Maybe I did something wrong.

1) The Look:

There are gaps enough to see through. I can see daylight through three gaps when the assembly is pressed against the faceplate. One gap above the HU, the other between the HU and pocket, and then below the pocket. The sum of the gaps is close to a quarter of an inch.

Other aspect of the look is difficult to describe. The front face of the HU and pocket to not lie flush with the plane of the face plate. I can make an exception for the HU, but the pocket? It just looks ugly to me.

2) The support:

There are mount points on the bottom of the assembly, and the faceplate is clipped to the dash, but there is apparently nothing that anchors the faceplate and assembly. I imagine that the assembly can move forward and back in the dash, like when I push a button on the HU, the whole assembly will be pushed into the dash.


The instructions do not explain how to overcome the above. I have thought of different ways of putting this together, but hit several limitations:

1) Maybe the trim of the HU hides gaps: No. The trim of the HU does not attach to the HU because the metra faceplate is in the way.

2) Maybe the pocket's wider edge sits on the front of the faceplate. THis might hold the faceplate to the assembly. No. This is even uglier.

3) Maybe the HU is supposed to sit throuth the faceplate, so its front edge holds the faceplate. No. The HU is too wide to fit, and I don't know how much frontward stress the HU will be subject too when holding the faceplate.


I'm not at all satisfied with this.

I have sent email to metra for suggestions.

 

Not sure what's going on. Do you have all necessary parts of the dash kit? If all else fails, try Crutchfield. The dash kit came with my Kenwood HU and it looks and fit great.

 

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