Macbook Unibody Model A1278 Right Clutch Hinge Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

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Sections

Access Door
2 steps
Battery
1 step
Lower Case
2 steps
Display Assembly
9 steps
Clutch Cover
3 steps
Right Clutch Hinge
3 steps

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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.

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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 white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.

Grab the white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

Step 4

              Lower Case

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
One 3 mm Phillips screw.
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:

One 3 mm Phillips screw.

Three 13.5 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

              Display Assembly

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.
Be careful not to pull up on the cable as you remove it from the socket.

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

Be careful not to pull up on the cable as you remove it from the socket.

Step 7

De-route the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.

De-route the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.

Step 8

Remove the following screws securing the camera data cable and right speaker to the upper case:
One 9.9 mm partially threaded Phillips screw
One 9.6 mm threaded Phillips screw
One 4 mm Phillips screw
Slide the camera cable bracket out from under the subwoofer and remove it from the computer.
The iSight cable has an eyelet through which passes the left-most screw in these pictures.

Remove the following screws securing the camera data cable and right speaker to the upper case:

One 9.9 mm partially threaded Phillips screw

One 9.6 mm threaded Phillips screw

One 4 mm Phillips screw

Slide the camera cable bracket out from under the subwoofer and remove it from the computer.

The iSight cable has an eyelet through which passes the left-most screw in these pictures.

Step 9

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-in side of the computer.
Pull the display data cable connector straight away from its socket.
Make sure to pull the connector straight away and not straight up from its socket.

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-in side of the computer.

Pull the display data cable connector straight away from its socket.

Make sure to pull the connector straight away and not straight up from its socket.

Step 10

Remove the following two screws from the display data cable bracket:
One 7 mm Phillips screw.
One 5 mm Phillips screw.
Lift the display data cable bracket out of the upper case.

Remove the following two screws from the display data cable bracket:

One 7 mm Phillips screw.

One 5 mm Phillips screw.

Lift the display data cable bracket out of the upper case.

Step 11

Remove the two outer 6 mm Torx screws securing each side of the display to the upper case (4 screws total).

Remove the two outer 6 mm Torx screws securing each side of the display to the upper case (4 screws total).

Step 12

Open your MacBook so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.
Place your opened MacBook on a table as pictured.
While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the 6 mm Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Open your MacBook so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.

Place your opened MacBook on a table as pictured.

While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the 6 mm Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Step 13

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.
Remove the last remaining 6 mm Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.

Remove the last remaining 6 mm Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Step 14

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.
Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.
Lift the display away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

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.

Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.

Lift the display away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

Step 15

              Clutch Cover

Grab the clutch cover as shown and slide it toward the right side of the display.
It should move about 1/4" and stop. Don’t force it beyond this point.

Grab the clutch cover as shown and slide it toward the right side of the display.

It should move about 1/4" and stop. Don’t force it beyond this point.

Step 16

Gently rock the clutch cover back and forth on its long axis while pulling it away from the display.
Do this action along the length of the clutch cover until you can lift it off the framework attaching it to the display.

Gently rock the clutch cover back and forth on its long axis while pulling it away from the display.

Do this action along the length of the clutch cover until you can lift it off the framework attaching it to the display.

Step 17

Remove the clutch cover from the display.

Remove the clutch cover from the display.

Step 18

              Right Clutch Hinge

Remove the single 5.2 mm T6 Torx screw securing the right clutch hinge nearest the display glass.

Remove the single 5.2 mm T6 Torx screw securing the right clutch hinge nearest the display glass.

Step 19

Remove the two remaining 5.2 mm T6 Torx screws securing the right clutch hinge to the display.

Remove the two remaining 5.2 mm T6 Torx screws securing the right clutch hinge to the display.

Step 20

Remove the right clutch hinge.

Remove the right clutch hinge.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Walter Galan

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Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need