Macbook Unibody Model A1342 Upper Case Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

                          2 hours

Sections

Lower Case
2 steps
Battery
1 step
Rear Vent
3 steps
Logic Board
14 steps
Upper Case
21 steps
Upper Case
6 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Lower Case

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook.

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook.

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Step 2

The lower case is constructed of rubber-coated aluminum. Do not excessively bend the aluminum during removal, as any permanent deformation will cause tolerance issues after reassembly.
Slightly lift the lower case near the vent opening.
Continue running your fingers between the lower and upper cases until the upper case pops off its retaining clips.
The location of these three clips is shown in the third picture.

The lower case is constructed of rubber-coated aluminum. Do not excessively bend the aluminum during removal, as any permanent deformation will cause tolerance issues after reassembly.

Slightly lift the lower case near the vent opening.

Continue running your fingers between the lower and upper cases until the upper case pops off its retaining clips.

The location of these three clips is shown in the third picture.

Step 3

              Battery

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the battery connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge. This step is optional and is not required.
Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.
It may be easier to use your fingernails to lift up on both sides of the connector.

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the battery connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge. This step is optional and is not required.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

It may be easier to use your fingernails to lift up on both sides of the connector.

Step 4

              Rear Vent

Remove the following screws from the optical drive side of the rear vent:
Two 10 mm T8 Torx
Two 5.2 mm Phillips

Remove the following screws from the optical drive side of the rear vent:

Two 10 mm T8 Torx

Two 5.2 mm Phillips

Step 5

Remove the following screws from the port side of rear vent:
Two 10 mm T8 Torx
Two 5.2 mm Phillips

Remove the following screws from the port side of rear vent:

Step 6

Carefully lift the rear vent out of the upper case.

Carefully lift the rear vent out of the upper case.

Step 7

              Logic Board

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off the logic board.

Step 8

Use a spudger to pry the fan connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.
It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.
The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Use a spudger to pry the fan connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Step 9

Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:
One 7.1 mm Phillips screw.
Two 5 mm Phillips screws.
Lift the fan out of the upper case.

Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:

One 7.1 mm Phillips screw.

Two 5 mm Phillips screws.

Lift the fan out of the upper case.

Step 10

Carefully pry the delicate rear speaker connector up off the logic board. These small L/R speaker connectors are quite easily broken.
Use extreme caution; this connector is easily destroyed.

Carefully pry the delicate rear speaker connector up off the logic board. These small L/R speaker connectors are quite easily broken.

Use extreme caution; this connector is easily destroyed.

Step 11

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up off the logic board.

Step 12

Use a spudger to pry the right speaker connector and sleep LED connector up off the logic board.
These connectors are very delicate and easily broken.

Use a spudger to pry the right speaker connector and sleep LED connector up off the logic board.

These connectors are very delicate and easily broken.

Step 13

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 14

Use your fingernail to flip up the locking flap on the ZIF socket for the keyboard ribbon cable.
Use the tip of a spudger to slide the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

Use your fingernail to flip up the locking flap on the ZIF socket for the keyboard ribbon cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to slide the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

Step 15

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 16

Use a spudger to pry the left speaker connector and microphone connector up off the logic board.
These connectors are very delicate and easily broken.

Use a spudger to pry the left speaker connector and microphone connector up off the logic board.

Step 17

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

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

Step 18

Gently pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.
Pull the socket parallel to the face of the logic board.
The display data cable socket is made of very thin metal and is easily bent. Be sure to pull the connector straight away from its socket.

Gently pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the socket parallel to the face of the logic board.

The display data cable socket is made of very thin metal and is easily bent. Be sure to pull the connector straight away from its socket.

Step 19

Remove the six 4.1 to 4.4 mm T6 Torx screws securing the logic board to the upper case.
Remove the two 4.1 to 4.5 mm T6 Torx screws securing the MagSafe board to the upper case.
On some models, these screws may be T7. Be careful not to strip away the head with a smaller bit.

Remove the six 4.1 to 4.4 mm T6 Torx screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

Remove the two 4.1 to 4.5 mm T6 Torx screws securing the MagSafe board to the upper case.

On some models, these screws may be T7. Be careful not to strip away the head with a smaller bit.

Step 20

Lift the side of the logic board opposite the ports out of the upper case.
Rotate the logic board away from the upper case until the ports clear the lip molded in the upper case.
Pull the logic board and MagSafe board away from the edge of the upper case as one piece.
The MagSafe board may get accidentally disconnected during this process. As a precaution, be sure the MagSafe board connector is securely seated in its socket before lowering the logic board back into the upper case.
Before lowering the logic board back into the upper case, be sure the left speaker and microphone cables are seated in their channels cut into the upper case (as seen in the third picture).

Lift the side of the logic board opposite the ports out of the upper case.

Rotate the logic board away from the upper case until the ports clear the lip molded in the upper case.

Pull the logic board and MagSafe board away from the edge of the upper case as one piece.

The MagSafe board may get accidentally disconnected during this process. As a precaution, be sure the MagSafe board connector is securely seated in its socket before lowering the logic board back into the upper case.

Before lowering the logic board back into the upper case, be sure the left speaker and microphone cables are seated in their channels cut into the upper case (as seen in the third picture).

Step 21

              Upper Case

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
These screws are captive in the hard drive bracket.
Remove the hard drive bracket from the upper case.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

These screws are captive in the hard drive bracket.

Remove the hard drive bracket from the upper case.

Step 22

Lift the free side of the hard drive and pull it away from the side of the upper case.
The hard drive is still attached to the upper case by the hard drive cable.

Lift the free side of the hard drive and pull it away from the side of the upper case.

The hard drive is still attached to the upper case by the hard drive cable.

Step 23

Disconnect the hard drive by pulling the hard drive cable connector away from its socket on the hard drive.

Disconnect the hard drive by pulling the hard drive cable connector away from its socket on the hard drive.

Step 24

Remove the single 3.1 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cable to the upper case.
Lift the hard drive cable out of the upper case.

Remove the single 3.1 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cable to the upper case.

Lift the hard drive cable out of the upper case.

Step 25

Remove two 5 mm Tri-Wing screws securing the battery to the upper case near the battery connector.

Remove two 5 mm Tri-Wing screws securing the battery to the upper case near the battery connector.

Step 26

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully peel back the finger of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-Wing screw.
Remove the 5 mm Tri-Wing screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully peel back the finger of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-Wing screw.

Remove the 5 mm Tri-Wing screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Step 27

Remove three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the battery near the edge of the upper case.
When reinstalling the battery, be sure to install these three screws before proceeding to fasten the Tri-Wing screws. Keep an eye on the keyboard ribbon cable, you may need to use the flat of the spudger to hold the ribbon cable out of the path of the battery as it swings down into place.

Remove three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the battery near the edge of the upper case.

When reinstalling the battery, be sure to install these three screws before proceeding to fasten the Tri-Wing screws. Keep an eye on the keyboard ribbon cable, you may need to use the flat of the spudger to hold the ribbon cable out of the path of the battery as it swings down into place.

Step 28

Lift the battery near its connector and remove it from the upper case.
When replacing the battery, take care that the keyboard ribbon cable is not trapped underneath.

Lift the battery near its connector and remove it from the upper case.

When replacing the battery, take care that the keyboard ribbon cable is not trapped underneath.

Step 29

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth antenna connectors (three total) up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.
If necessary, de-route the long antenna cable from its slot in the rear speaker housing.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth antenna connectors (three total) up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

If necessary, de-route the long antenna cable from its slot in the rear speaker housing.

Step 30

Remove the single 3 mm Phillips screw securing the antenna ground straps to the rear speaker housing.

Remove the single 3 mm Phillips screw securing the antenna ground straps to the rear speaker housing.

Step 31

Remove the single 2.2 mm Phillips screw inserted horizontally into the side of the optical drive.

Remove the single 2.2 mm Phillips screw inserted horizontally into the side of the optical drive.

Step 32

Remove the single 12 mm Phillips screw securing the rear speaker to the upper case.

Remove the single 12 mm Phillips screw securing the rear speaker to the upper case.

Step 33

Remove the rear speaker assembly from your MacBook.

Remove the rear speaker assembly from your MacBook.

Step 34

Remove the single 4.5 mm Phillips screw securing the inner edge of the optical drive to the upper case.

Remove the single 4.5 mm Phillips screw securing the inner edge of the optical drive to the upper case.

Step 35

Remove the two 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case near the optical drive opening.

Remove the two 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case near the optical drive opening.

Step 36

Lift the optical drive near its connector and pull it away from the upper case to remove it from the computer.

Lift the optical drive near its connector and pull it away from the upper case to remove it from the computer.

Step 37

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 remaining T8 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.
Before retightening the T8 Torx screws, close the display and adjust it so that the back edges of the upper case and display are aligned and the gaps at the ends of the hinge are equal.

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 remaining T8 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Before retightening the T8 Torx screws, close the display and adjust it so that the back edges of the upper case and display are aligned and the gaps at the ends of the hinge are equal.

Step 38

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 T8 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 T8 Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Step 39

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.
The display data cable may cause the upper display bracket to get caught on the upper case. It may be helpful to slightly rotate the upper case away from the display for more clearance.
Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.

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.

The display data cable may cause the upper display bracket to get caught on the upper case. It may be helpful to slightly rotate the upper case away from the display for more clearance.

Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.

Step 40

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

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

Step 41

There are four orange and black rubber inserts that the hard drive sits in. One side has full circles and the other side has half circles. (The other side of the half circles are located on the hard drive bracket that was previously removed).
The new upper case may not have these inserts. Be sure to remove them from the old and insert into the new.
The inserts are easily pried out with a spudger or a flat tipped screwdriver. They are not glued in, but instead have notched sides to hold them in place.

There are four orange and black rubber inserts that the hard drive sits in. One side has full circles and the other side has half circles. (The other side of the half circles are located on the hard drive bracket that was previously removed).

The new upper case may not have these inserts. Be sure to remove them from the old and insert into the new.

The inserts are easily pried out with a spudger or a flat tipped screwdriver. They are not glued in, but instead have notched sides to hold them in place.

Step 42

              Upper Case

Remove the four 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the upper edge of the trackpad to the upper case.

Remove the four 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the upper edge of the trackpad to the upper case.

Step 43

Carefully tilt the trackpad away from the keyboard side of the upper case.
Pull the trackpad away from its opening in the upper case to clear the two mounting tabs on its lower edge.

Carefully tilt the trackpad away from the keyboard side of the upper case.

Pull the trackpad away from its opening in the upper case to clear the two mounting tabs on its lower edge.

Step 44

Remove the 1 mm T6 Torx set screw near the front edge of the upper case.

Remove the 1 mm T6 Torx set screw near the front edge of the upper case.

Step 45

Use the following steps to install the old trackpad into your new upper case.
Reinstall the T6 Torx set screw until it is flush with the aluminum bracket surrounding the trackpad.
Place the trackpad back into its void in the upper case, being sure the lower tabs are inserted underneath the keyboard side of the upper case.
Be sure the trackpad ribbon cable is not pinched between the trackpad and the upper case.

Use the following steps to install the old trackpad into your new upper case.

Reinstall the T6 Torx set screw until it is flush with the aluminum bracket surrounding the trackpad.

Place the trackpad back into its void in the upper case, being sure the lower tabs are inserted underneath the keyboard side of the upper case.

Be sure the trackpad ribbon cable is not pinched between the trackpad and the upper case.

Step 46

Reinstall the four silver Phillips screws securing the trackpad to its steel brackets.
Loosen all four silver screws about 1/16th of a turn.
Flip the upper case over and adjust the position of the trackpad until the gap between the trackpad and the upper case is evenly spaced around the perimeter of the trackpad.
Tighten the four silver screws to hold the trackpad in place.
Repeat this process until the trackpad is perfectly positioned in its void on the upper case.

Reinstall the four silver Phillips screws securing the trackpad to its steel brackets.

Loosen all four silver screws about 1/16th of a turn.

Flip the upper case over and adjust the position of the trackpad until the gap between the trackpad and the upper case is evenly spaced around the perimeter of the trackpad.

Tighten the four silver screws to hold the trackpad in place.

Repeat this process until the trackpad is perfectly positioned in its void on the upper case.

Step 47

While repeatedly pressing the trackpad to simulate clicking, tighten the T6 Torx set screw until the trackpad no longer wiggles freely.
Do not over-tighten the set screw, as the button will cease to click at a certain point. Adjust the set screw until the movable side of the trackpad has minimal play.

While repeatedly pressing the trackpad to simulate clicking, tighten the T6 Torx set screw until the trackpad no longer wiggles freely.

Do not over-tighten the set screw, as the button will cease to click at a certain point. Adjust the set screw until the movable side of the trackpad has minimal play.

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

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                    Andrew Bookholt

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janesem - Apr 22, 2011

NOTE: Ensure you don’t pull the entire assembly straight up or the base will come off the logic board. Use an extremely small straight blade screw drive to gently loosen the inside assembly while gently pulling on the wire bundle! Will save buying a new logic board!!!!

firstn10 - Dec 10, 2011

Some of the screws are extremely tight, I stripped at least 6 Phillips screws during the upper case replacement.

Matthew Hester - Jan 10, 2015

I used the iFixit 54 bit kit and found that the Phillips 000 bit fits the screws better than the recommended 00 bit. When loosening or tightening I use plenty of downward pressure to keep the bit from rising out of the screw head and damaging it. The torx screws are so much easier to work with and I wonder why they don’t use only those.

Lance J - Dec 8, 2018

Definitely only use unworn, appropriately sized drivers when going into any Mac or iPhone. If the driver starts to slip, stop and access the situation. That said, I have encountered many screws with damaged screw heads. I usually first try the “rubber band” trick to loosen the ruined screw. If that doesn’t work, I often resort to using a dremel tool to cut a slot in the screw (while protecting everything from the debris generated). In all cases, be careful - one slip can do a lot of damage.

sales - Jan 25, 2012

Introduction#

What you need#

Video Overview#

Introduction

What you need

Video Overview