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Does your display have a hard time staying upright? Nobody likes a floppy display. Use this guide to replace the right clutch hinge.
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Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
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Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
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Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
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Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the two clips holding the lower case to the upper case.
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Remove the lower case.
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If present, grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the device. For Late-2011 models the battery connector will not have a tab and is simply a plug that inserts straight down into the motherboard--to remove pry the plug straight up.
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Use the tip of a spudger to push the small plastic cable retainer away from the camera cable socket for enough clearance to remove the camera cable.
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Pull the camera cable toward the optical drive opening to disconnect it from the logic board.
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Carefully pull the Bluetooth cable toward the fans to disconnect it from the Bluetooth board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to peel the thin plastic cover off the top and sides of the Bluetooth board housing. For late-2011 models check out the other picture because the connector location is in a totally different location.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Bluetooth antenna connector up and off its socket on the Bluetooth board.
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De-route the camera cable from the slot molded into the Bluetooth board housing.
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Remove the two 7.1 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable retainer to the upper case.
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Remove the camera cable retainer from the upper case.
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Lift the black plastic flap attached to the display data cable retainer and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the MacBook.
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Pull the display data cable out of its socket.
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Remove the two 7.1 mm Phillips screws securing the display data cable retainer to the upper case.
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Remove the display data cable retainer.
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Remove the two outer 6.8 mm T6 Torx screws from each of the two display brackets (four screws total).
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While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the remaining T6 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.
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Remove the last remaining T6 Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.
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Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.
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Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.
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Lift the display up and away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.
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Grab the clutch cover as shown and slide it toward the right side of the display.
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Lifting the left edge of the clutch cover, gently rock it back and forth on its long axis while pulling it away from the display.
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Remove the clutch cover from the display, minding any cables that may get caught.
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Remove the three 5.2 mm T6 Torx screws securing the right clutch hinge to the display assembly.
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Remove the right cltuch hinge from the display assembly.
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Remove the plastic hinge guard as well, making sure to not lose it.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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I had a broken right hinge and replaced it using this guide. The pictures were amazingly spot-on and clearly illustrated the procedure to be followed.
The one thing I did not find (perhaps because Apple Support had previously opened this up to test the hinge) was the "plastic hinge guard" - would be great if you folk could add a pic of this.
The other thing I found a bit hard was the final separation of the display unit and its reattachment which I got through kind of by trial and error. But no biggie. Thanks for this guide - it was MOST helpful!
Hello everyone, does this guide also apply for the 15 inch late 2011 model?
My teardown revealed that the real failure was of the thread locking compound on the screws permitting them to come loose and the hinge to therefore rock, not an internal hinge failure. The new hinges were therefore installed with fresh fastener locking compound. This would be a recommended additional supply for this solution.
Any advice on finding parts? I just picked up an Early 2011, 17-incher and the screen hinges are less than tight, if not "floppy."
