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Installing MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Clips

Replace broken gray plastic upper case clips that hold the upper case above the optical drive opening.

Author: Andrew Bookholt
Difficulty: Moderate

Use this guide to replace the gray plastic upper case clips that secure the upper case above the optical drive opening. The clips are captive to the lower case on Santa Rosa MacBooks and later and are thus not replaceable on these models.

Sections

Battery 2 steps
Memory Cover 2 steps
Upper Case 8 steps
Upper Case Clips 1 step

Tools

Coin

Tools (continued)

Relevant Parts

MacBook Upper Case Clip Set

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Edit Step 1 — Battery ¶

Use a coin to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

Edit Step 2 ¶

Lift the battery out of the computer.

Edit Step 3 — Memory Cover ¶

Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.
The screws are captive to the metal memory cover so you cannot lose them.

Edit Step 4 ¶

Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift it up and out of the computer.

Edit Step 5 — Upper Case ¶

Remove the following 3 screws:
- One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the case. (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)
- Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00 (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)
If the screws stick in the case, you can use a magnetized screwdriver to draw them out.
The shorter of the three screws goes in the middle.

Edit Step 6 ¶

Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:
- One 3 mm Phillips #0. (Head: 2.75 mm. dia.)
- Two 4 mm Phillips #0 on the either side. (Head: 2.75mm dia.)
Take extra caution with these screws as they can strip easily.

Edit Step 7 ¶

Remove the two Phillips screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).
- Two 6.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

Edit Step 8 ¶

Remove the four indicated Phillips screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.
- Four 3.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x 4mm thick)

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