How To

2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD – 3500HD Radio Head Unit Removal and Install

There is nothing out there I found with a step by step on how to remove the radio/display unit from the dash on these new 2020 Chevy/GMC 2500HD or 3500HD. After some deep searching and messing with the tearing apart my trucks interior, I figured I would do a write up on how to do this IF you have the full center console. If you have a bench seat, it’s much simpler and straight forward. GM decided the center console trucks needed to be a pain in the butt to remove the radio. I personally wasn’t in there to find radio stuff but instead was looking for the computers like OnStar and the radio amp (which are not there, amp is behind the rear seat, still looking for the OnStar comp). Anyhow, let’s get on with removal/install.

Getting Started

Getting to the head unit/switches/inverter plug/usb plug and so on, on a full center console truck, you have to take the center console apart. There are a few tricky parts that have to come out in a certain series so nothing breaks as you remove things. 

  • Tools needed to remove the radio:
    • T10 torx screw driver or socket driver
    • 9/32 socket w/ 1/4 drive ratchet and short extension
    • plastic trim removal tool (this will help ensure you don’t mar up your pretty interior parts)
    • tough fingers and low fear to yank on plastic parts

Pulling Trim Off

Starting on the driver side, look down by the throttle pedal and locate a little square plug that is 1.5″ by 1.5″ in the plastic trim, remove this with your plastic trim removal tool. You don’t have to have one of these removal tools but it helps keep you from messing up plastic interior parts. You will need a thin piece of something to help aid in parts removal throughout this.

How to remove 2020 chevy silverado 2500hd 3500hd radio head unit switches plugs
Plug that houses a 9/32 bolt underneath

Under the cap is a 9/32 bolt that must be removed. Proceed by removing it.

How to remove 2020 chevy silverado 2500hd 3500hd radio head unit switches plugs
Remove 9/32 bolt

Now comes the fun part, pulling on the plastic trim to get the clips to pop out. Take your time and run your fingers up under the trim to feel where the clips are and pull as close to them as you can. It will help to keep from stretching the plastic and creating distortion. You will need a good hard tug to get them to pop. There is an area near the front that is slid into the center console to hold the trim in place, just pull the trim back and it will pop out.

Keep pulling that trim all the way back past the cup holder area. You may have to move your seat all the way back to do so. We are not fully removing the trim but need to get the top two clips but the cup holder popped out. 

Now move to the passenger side and repeat. There is no bolt that needs to be removed; you can just start pulling the trim to pop the clips out.

How to remove 2020 chevy silverado 2500hd 3500hd radio head unit switches plugs
Passenger side side trim popped out

Cup Holder Comes Out

Next comes removal of the cup holder. Start by opening the center console. At the very front edge of the console, there are two clips that need to be popped up. Use your trim removal tool to get under the trim and pop each side up. As you can see, in using a metal bracket I’ve used for trim stuff but not recommended, very easy to put a scratch or gouge into the plastic

2020 Chevy Silverado 2500 radio install
Clips under console lid, must pop them up

Once you get those popped up, get your fingers under the trim there and pull up decently hard, the whole center cup holder area will pop up. Underneath it is two electrical connections that will need to be removed so the whole section can be removed. They can be difficult to undo so take your time with them. 

2020 Chevy Silverado 2500 radio removal
top cup holder area removed

With that out of the way, we can attack the little trim piece under the radio. It’s maybe 1″ to 1.5″ wide in areas. There are 5 clips that can be seen in the picture below. It must come off to gain access to two bolts.

The Head Unit

The next step is finally getting to radio head unit removal. You can now pull off the chrome or painted trim piece surrounding the display screen and vents. This gives you access to the bolts that hold the whole unit in.

how to install a radio in the 2020 chevy silverado 2500
Display beauty ring removed

There will be a total of 6 bolts that need removal. These take the T10 Torx to remove. 4 are easily seen, the last two are a little hidden under the trailer brake/inverter plug area.

When those are removed, I grab the very top edge of the radio stack and give it a good yank. It all pops out meaning the display unit, HVAC controls, switches and trailer brake/usb/inverter plug is all one unit. Here is where you can start some electrical plug disconnections. They all have safety catches on them, some white, some red. Take your time and pop them out before trying to depress the tabs that hold each connection in.

With it free from the dash, you will need to pull the bottom out till it stops, tilt the top of the unit down and then pull forward. There is a large alignment tab at the very bottom of the unit that will hold the unit in until tilted just right. At this point, you now have the display unit free from the dash!

Re-Install

Do what you need to do and then start the process in reverse to put everything back together. The hardest part of installing everything will be to get the side console trim piece to slide back into the top console slot. Take your time and bend the side trim piece to get into the lock, don’t snap it all back into place as it will be very close to impossible to put back together then

How to reinstall center console trim piece on the 2020 gmc sierra 2500
Make sure these two parts slide back together when assembling or trim will stick out.

CDmax16

Member
Mar 3, 2018
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Did you change your head unit while you had apart, or just take it apart and put it together to show guys how to do it?
 

Hoser

Active member
Jun 19, 2016
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There’s nothing you can replace it with. The factory HU is so integrated into the truck that you can’t swap it.

i Was pulling my truck apart yesterday trying to figure out how to disable Stabilitrak. It’s hard to do to a new truck, but that’s part of the fun of figuring Out a new vehicle!
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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Did you change your head unit while you had apart, or just take it apart and put it together to show guys how to do it?

I was looking for modules in the truck like factory amp and onstar and so on. They are not behind the radio area like older years
 
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Hoser

Active member
Jun 19, 2016
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Any luck?

I would say yes. I ended up pulling the yaw sensor connector off and wallah! no more Stabilitrak! I forgot to try it, but I’m pretty positive there will be no cruise control with no input from the yaw sensor and the TC and Stabilitrak light on. So my plan is to put a switch inline on one of the sensor wires so I can have it normal and then hit the switch and it’s fun time. So many people talk about pulling a fuse or putting a switch inline on one of the wheel speed sensors, but then you have no ABS, which normally is fine, but I was trying to minimize the number of lights that lit up on the dash when I hit the switch Lol. I am actually super excited about this, it’s been so irritating having the back end hanging out in a sweet drift and then come 35 mph getting jerked straight.
 
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Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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I would say yes. I ended up pulling the yaw sensor connector off and wallah! no more Stabilitrak! I forgot to try it, but I’m pretty positive there will be no cruise control with no input from the yaw sensor and the TC and Stabilitrak light on. So my plan is to put a switch inline on one of the sensor wires so I can have it normal and then hit the switch and it’s fun time. So many people talk about pulling a fuse or putting a switch inline on one of the wheel speed sensors, but then you have no ABS, which normally is fine, but I was trying to minimize the number of lights that lit up on the dash when I hit the switch Lol. I am actually super excited about this, it’s been so irritating having the back end hanging out in a sweet drift and then come 35 mph getting jerked straight.

even after holding the t/c button for 10 sec to disable stabilitrack, it still will kick in?
 

Hoser

Active member
Jun 19, 2016
235
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Farmington, MN
even after holding the t/c button for 10 sec to disable stabilitrack, it still will kick in?

Yes, after 35 mph Stabilitrak comes back on but TC stays off, one of the biggest things that almost prevented me from getting a new truck. But if this works as planned I’ll be happy, at least until there is BCM programming. Also to note, the “Off Road” screen with steering angle and stuff will not work with the yaw sensor disconnected, not a big deal to me though.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
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Were you able to answer Fish's question if the switches under the radio can be rearranged?
 
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CDmax16

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I was looking for modules in the truck like factory amp and onstar and so on. They are not behind the radio area like older years
Gotcha, I was looking for my Bose amps this week as well and found it behind the rear pass seat. Getting ready to upgrade the whole system except the head unit.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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Yes, after 35 mph Stabilitrak comes back on but TC stays off, one of the biggest things that almost prevented me from getting a new truck. But if this works as planned I’ll be happy, at least until there is BCM programming. Also to note, the “Off Road” screen with steering angle and stuff will not work with the yaw sensor disconnected, not a big deal to me though.

I noticed mine coming back on too. glad im not the only one. post up a thread on the switch, id love to add one. Be cool if we could integrated it into the t/c kill switch but doubt its that simple

Were you able to answer Fish's question if the switches under the radio can be rearranged?

negative. i did all this before he posted. we have to take his radio out (easier than mine) and check to see if its possible. i dont have high hopes

Gotcha, I was looking for my Bose amps this week as well and found it behind the rear pass seat. Getting ready to upgrade the whole system except the head unit.

yup, found the same. im really hoping someone comes out with a decent 8" sub for a stock replacement under the center console, thats my only gripe with the whole sound system (well and the fact i cant actually "tune it", stuck with just bass, mid,treble)
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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I'm not sure on the newer trucks, but I would guess they're the same as the older trucks. The switches aren't really individual switches; they're a module that has different inputs (like the buttons an HVAC module) with a single connector that ties into the rest of the communications system on the truck. It's unlikely that the switches can be rearranged without some sort of custom programming.
 

DuramaxRamRod

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Oct 11, 2014
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I broke half a clip pulling doing this with my '19 head unit, luckily theres so many it doesn't rattle.
I would say yes. I ended up pulling the yaw sensor connector off and wallah! no more Stabilitrak! I forgot to try it, but I’m pretty positive there will be no cruise control with no input from the yaw sensor and the TC and Stabilitrak light on. So my plan is to put a switch inline on one of the sensor wires so I can have it normal and then hit the switch and it’s fun time. So many people talk about pulling a fuse or putting a switch inline on one of the wheel speed sensors, but then you have no ABS, which normally is fine, but I was trying to minimize the number of lights that lit up on the dash when I hit the switch Lol. I am actually super excited about this, it’s been so irritating having the back end hanging out in a sweet drift and then come 35 mph getting jerked straight.
I can live with lights on the dash when having fun, especially if its just a yaw sensor.