Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
27
Time Required
Suggest a time??
Sections
7
- Access Door
- 2 steps
- Battery
- 1 step
- Lower Case
- 2 steps
- Optical Drive
- 6 steps
- Subwoofer & Right Speaker
- 3 steps
- Hard Drive Cable
- 7 steps
- Hard Drive Bracket with Sleep Sensor
- 6 steps
Flags
0
BackMacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2008 & Early 2009
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Access Door
- With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.
- Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.
With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.
Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.
1024
Step 2
- The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.
The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.
Step 3
Battery
- Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.
- Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.
- If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.
Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.
Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.
If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.
Step 4
Lower Case
- Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
- One 5.4 mm Phillips screw.
- Three 14 mm Phillips screws.
- Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.
Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
One 5.4 mm Phillips screw.
Three 14 mm Phillips screws.
Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.
Step 5
- Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.
Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.
Step 6
Optical Drive
- Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.
Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.
Step 7
- Deroute the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.
Deroute the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.
Step 8
- Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.
Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 9
- Remove two 8 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
- The rightmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.
- Lift the camera cable bracket out from the upper case.
Remove two 8 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
The rightmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.
Lift the camera cable bracket out from the upper case.
Step 10
- Remove the following three Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case:
- One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.
- Two 2.5 mm Phillips screws.
Remove the following three Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case:
One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.
Two 2.5 mm Phillips screws.
Step 11
- Lift the optical drive from its left edge and pull it out of the computer.
Lift the optical drive from its left edge and pull it out of the computer.
Step 12
Subwoofer & Right Speaker
- Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.
Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 13
- Remove the following four screws securing the subwoofer and right speaker to the upper case:
- Two 3.2 mm Phillips screws.
- One 2.6 mm Phillips screw.
- One 5 mm Phillips screw.
Remove the following four screws securing the subwoofer and right speaker to the upper case:
Two 3.2 mm Phillips screws.
One 2.6 mm Phillips screw.
One 5 mm Phillips screw.
Step 14
- Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.
Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.
Step 15
Hard Drive Cable
- Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
- This screw is captive in the hard drive bracket.
Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
This screw is captive in the hard drive bracket.
Step 16
- Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.
Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.
Step 17
- Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.
Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.
Step 18
- Remove the following 5 screws securing the mid wall to the upper case:
- Three 10.5 mm Phillips screws.
- Two 3.7 mm Phillips screws.
- Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.
Remove the following 5 screws securing the mid wall to the upper case:
Three 10.5 mm Phillips screws.
Two 3.7 mm Phillips screws.
Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.
Step 19
- Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.
Step 20
- Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.
Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 21
- Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.
Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.
Step 22
Hard Drive Bracket with Sleep Sensor
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip the lock on the ZIF connector.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip the lock on the ZIF connector.
Step 23
- Pull the hard drive bracket cable out of its socket.
Pull the hard drive bracket cable out of its socket.
Step 24
- Peel the connector side of the sleep sensor cable up from the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
- Be especially careful peeling the folded section of the cable, and peeling around corners. These areas are more susceptible to damage.
Peel the connector side of the sleep sensor cable up from the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
Be especially careful peeling the folded section of the cable, and peeling around corners. These areas are more susceptible to damage.
Step 25
- Remove the two 5 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
Remove the two 5 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
Step 26
- Insert the tip of the spudger between the hard drive bracket and the front edge of the upper case to free it from its recess.
Insert the tip of the spudger between the hard drive bracket and the front edge of the upper case to free it from its recess.
Step 27
- After ensuring that the cable is freed of all adhesive, remove the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly from the upper case.
- If your new bracket cable is not pre-folded, use the old one as a guide to crease it for proper fit in your MacBook.
After ensuring that the cable is freed of all adhesive, remove the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly from the upper case.
If your new bracket cable is not pre-folded, use the old one as a guide to crease it for proper fit in your MacBook.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
One other person completed this guide.
Author
with 2 other contributors
Sam Goldheart
Member since: 10/18/2012
455,549 Reputation
548 Guides authored
Badges:
48
+45 more badges
Team
iFixit
Member of iFixit
Community
141 Members
15,767 Guides authored
