Installing MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Right Speaker/Subwoofer

Replace the subwoofer and right speaker assembly on your Late 2011 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody.

  • Add Note x

Use this guide to replace a blown subwoofer or right speaker.

Sections
Tools
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Lower Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Three 14.4 mm Phillips screws

    • Three 3.5 mm Phillips screws

    • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips screws

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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.

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Add Note Edit Step 3 — Battery  ¶ 

  • 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Remove the following five screws:

    • Two 10.3 mm Phillips screws

    • Two 3.1 mm Phillips screws

    • One 5 mm Phillips screw

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Pull the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly and the Subwoofer upward near the center of the side of the optical drive until they clear each other.

  • Move the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly and the subwoofer away from the top of the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Pull the right speaker/subwoofer cable out from under the retaining finger near the side of the optical drive.

  • Pull the right speaker/subwoofer cable upward to disconnect it from the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up from its socket on the logic board.

  • Bend the hard drive cable away from the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 2.7 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Pull the optical drive upward from its edge closest to the display and remove it from the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 16 — Right Speaker/Subwoofer  ¶ 

  • Use a plastic opening tool or another thin prying object to carefully pry the right speaker up from the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

  • Start prying up from the edge of the right speaker nearest the display. Starting from the other side may damage one of the antennas.

  • Pry up along the edge of the right speaker until it is separated from the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Pull the right speaker away from the optical drive opening.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Peel up the right speaker cable along the edge of the optical drive opening.

  • De-route the cable from the clips near the edge of the logic board.

  • Remove the right speaker/subwoofer assembly from the upper case.

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

For more information, check out the MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 device page.

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