How to change your Rear Quarter Panel Side Scoop 94-98 Mustangs

97RioCobra · Mar 11, 2012

Ok... so my car got backed into, right into the rear quarter panel side scoop and it got busted and cracked. Thought the process of just pulling it out would be as simple as just snapping it out, but was i ever wrong! So i figured i would try to do a write up about about to replace a broken or cracked one for all to know. Not as simple as you would think...but not hard either.

First you will need to remove the bottom section of the back seat, there are two release buttons about mid ways you will need to press in with a flat head screw driver.
Next you will need to let down the back seats and remove the 3 bolts for the back head rest pad with a 8mm nut driver.
Now, you will need to remove the rear quarter panel. there will be three plugs that will need to be removed on the rear quarter panel near the trunk, and two very small ones on the rubber of the door jam.
Next you can either remove the top quarter panel window trim, or just pop it loose as i did to remove the rear quarter panel.
Once the panel is removed you will see an opening, covered with weather shield plastic that is glued to the body. Don't demolish this, just cut it to where you can fold it to get your hand in.
Inside, you will see three 9mm bolts that hole the side scoop on, and will need a 9mm nut driver, or 9mm wrench, which ever your prefer to remove these.
The scoop is now ready to pop out, finally...
Now just install your new scoop and reverse the process, and whalla.. all that work for three little bolts lol

Here are some pictures i took during the process:

Old cracked scoop

Back seat removed

Quarter panel removed exposing opening

Removing Bolts

Broken Vent Removed

My new shiny Vent

Finished Product

SN95nut · Nov 30, 2012

great write up very useful for me. ive been wanting to replace mine and now i know how much is involved

belber095 · Nov 30, 2012

hope your insurance covered the paint and all for that! nice write up man.

KillNThrill24 · Nov 30, 2012

I always wondered how they were attatched.. Man when I first got the car I thought the sails were snap on's lmao

CC'S95GT · Nov 30, 2012

good write up.
BTW. the 94-96(maybe 97's too) quarter vents go through to the wheel well. So there might be a couple more fasteners back there as well.

ttocs · Nov 30, 2012

no on the 94's at least it is the same way to remove it all.

Orange 94 · Nov 30, 2012

I believe when i took my 94 vents out it is the same way. Even though the vents go through to the wheel wells there is still 3 bolts that go into the interior. I don't remeber there being anything else.

greenscobie86 · Nov 30, 2012

Nice writeup! Kudos.
FYI: Its a LITTLE harder on verts because the top tension cables are mounted to the retaining nuts for the scoop. I chose to leave the scoops in during the respray and just "pop" out the black plastic vents. That reminds me... I gotta go put em back in hah.