How to: Instrument Cluster Remvoal

I've been looking for awhile on how to swap clusters. I found one on how to remove a lancer cluster but it left out alot of details, so I figured I'd make my own to help future people who attempt this endeavor.

Parts Required:
Whatever cluster you decide to swap to (08 Evo, 11 Ralliart, 13 Lancer GTS etc.)

Tools Required:
Philips head screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver (not required but nice to have)

Recommended Number of People
Just yourself, unless you need an assistant, buddy, or beer retreiver

Difficulty
3. No swear words should be used

Time to complete
Remove and install, about an hour if you take your time.

Info
My project is I'm swapping my 08 GSR instrument cluster for a 11 Ralliart Cluster. The reasons why I'm (and maybe you) are swapping clusters is:
1- The center LCD is colored on clusters after 2010 (on turbo models). 08 and 09 are not.
2- The coolant temp is shown at all times, whereas with 08-09 clusters, you would have to flip through menus to get to it.
3- Warnings are spelled out and not logos (ie. it says air bag service required whereas it would show an airbag and say service required)



The main differences between Ralliart and Evo X clusters are
1-a few cluster lights are different
2-ralliart needle is red, evos are white
3-the tachometer is different (just spaced out more)
4-the speedometer goes up to 170mph on ralliart, 190 on evo
Also important, mileage will not stay the same. If you want the correct mileage, you have to take your cluster to someone who can.




Removal (If you have removed your stereo before, skip straight to step 7. For those who have never removed their stereo, I'm sorry I don't have any pics). I also apologize, the pics will be out of order as I decided to make a how to in the middle of the swap.

1-Open and empty the glovebox. After you empty it, squeeze on the sides of the glovebox towards the inside. There are little black tabs that hold the glovebox in the dash. After you squeeze the tabs out, the glovebox should fully swing down

2-Disconnect the air piston on the right side. Simply pull it off the tab off the glovebox and inside the dash. The glovebox should be able to be completely moved out the way.

3-Remove the philips head screw on the right inside of the glovebox space. It's just one screw. Silver in color. Once removed, a black plastic piece should be removed, held in by a few tabs, to expose another screw.

4-Remove the carbon-fiber looking trim that goes across the dash. After removing the black plastic piece in step 3, it should expose a screw that holds this piece in. Remove the screw, then grab that end of piece and gently pull it up (its only held in by tabs at this point).

5-After removing the carbon fiber dash trim, it will expose 3 philip head screws where the hazzard lights/air bag light is. Pull it out (haha) and remove the plug. There's also a little strip going into the other side. Gently pull this out.

6-You're now gonna remove the radio face. It's all held in by stiff tabs, so you have to pull up kinda hard.

7- At this point, you should have the radio face/dash kit removed (with the stereo still installed, don't worry). Remove the phillips head screw in the upper left corner. That holds in the instrument cluster bezel.



8- The silver rings going around the speedometer/tachometer. It's one piece and its held in by clips. Pull up on it then pull on the little dimmer switch on the cluster itself.



9- On the left hand of steering wheel, there's a small piece of that carbon fiber trim. It doesn't have to be removed, but it needs to be unclipped slightly. What I did was where ASC button is (this is on my base gsr, there might be other things there as well), I pryed with a flat head between the black piece and the carbon fiber trim, then I pulled slightly on carbon fiber trim.



10- Next, we remove the instrument cluster bezel. Start on the radio side and pull towards you. It's all held in with clips and tabs and work your way around. On the info button, it's held in by a plug similar to the hazzard light/air bag piece.



11- Right above the cluster, the oval piece on top the cluster needs to be removed. Simply pull up.




12- Cluster removal time! Simply undo the 3 philips head screws, pull out the cluster, and unplug the plug on the back of the cluster.



Installation is the reverse of the install.