Installing MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Optical Drive

Replace a broken optical drive in your Late 2011 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody.

  • Add Note x
  • x 7

Use this guide to replace a broken optical drive.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 1 — Lower Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.

  • Remove the lower case.

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 3 — Battery Connection  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

  • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 5 — Optical Drive  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Image #1

Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Carefully pull the camera cable out of its socket on the logic board.

  • Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board. Pulling it upward may damage the logic board or the cable itself.

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Carefully move the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of the way as you peel the camera cable off the adhesive securing it to the subwoofer and the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

  • De-route the camera cable out from under the retaining finger molded into the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

Image #1 Image #2

Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the antenna connector closest to the logic board up from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

  • De-route the antenna cable from under the finger molded into the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

Next » « Previous

Required Tools

Spudger

$2.95 · 50+ In stock

Phillips #00 Screwdriver

$4.95 · 50+ In stock

Recommended Tools

Universal Drive Adaptor

$29.95 · 50+ In stock

iFixit Lock Pick Set

$29.95 · 25 In stock

Inspection Scope

$39.95 · 39 In stock

Frictionless Ratchet

$24.95 · 48 In stock

Portable Anti-Static Mat

$24.95 · 18 In stock

Comments Add Note Comments are offturn on