Trackpad doesn't sit flush on new topcase

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MacBook Air 13" Mid 2012

1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache

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Andrew Gresbach @andrewgres91665

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Posted: Jan 18, 2017

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Trackpad doesn't sit flush on new topcase

I had to replace the topcase on my air and while it works and everything went back together properly, the only way to make the touchpad work so it didnt sit loose was to turn the set screw far enough that the bottom slightly sits higher than the palmrest (photo below). The top of the touchpad thats closest to the keyboard looks normal where it sits slightly below the top case but the bottom is raised about 1 mm. All works fine but i'm worried about long term functionality and that it doesnt look like it did before. any help would be appreciated

https://goo.gl/photos/JZSJLJMCpahn6we67

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Dan @danj

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Posted: Jan 18, 2017

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Your image isn't very clear. From what I see it appears the touchpad is cockeyed side to side. The foreground edge is high and the other side is low. Not top to bottom which is what I would have expected.

You'll need to take the touchpad out and inspect it and the frame edge did you properly mount the spring clips (12 screws - 6 per side)?

If you take a good straight edge can you see a bulge in the case just above the touchpad? If you do then you do have a swelled battery ;-{

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tough thing to get a pic of i found but if you have the laptop on your lap the entire top edge that faces the keyboard sits even across, just slightly below the topcase like it should and as you move down to the bottom it slowly raises. so its even from left to right everywhere. i took it apart again tonight and i'm thinking maybe its the battery. the very middle of the battery has a very subtle bow in it. i was going to try and replace that soon so i'll see if that helps. everything else in the touchpad install checks out from what i can see....thank you for chiming in!

Jan 18, 2017 by Andrew Gresbach

Yes, I follow what you're saying. My Touchpad on my MacBook Pro (not a trackpad which has the separate button) is about .3 mm below across the entire edge of the case. My older MacBook Pro which has a trackpad button is above the edge at the bottom about .002 mm.

Jan 19, 2017 by Dan

the bulge that i think i saw was the side of the battery that would be RIGHT below the touchpad actually. I"m not sure what you mean about a straight edge above the touchpad. i'm not seeing anything noticable bulging on the top case that i can tell. if i leave the battery out and loosen the set screw a couple of turns so that the touchpad sits down where it should, it does not seem to have that wiggle like it does once i put the battery in.

Jan 19, 2017 by Andrew Gresbach

The straight edge would sit between the bottom of the keyboard and the touchpad horizontally to both edges of the systems case. I would then run it down to the bottom edge making sure there was no bulge in the case (were the battery sits). You can also do the same with the battery as well.

It does sound like your battery needs to be replaced.

Jan 20, 2017 by Dan

I had an update on this. I replace my Air with an Anker battery and that seems to have taken care of the issue. The touchpad now sits flush again so the old battery must have been starting to bulge like everyone suggested. thank you for all of the help!

Feb 8, 2017 by Andrew Gresbach

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tough thing to get a pic of i found but if you have the laptop on your lap the entire top edge that faces the keyboard sits even across, just slightly below the topcase like it should and as you move down to the bottom it slowly raises. so its even from left to right everywhere. i took it apart again tonight and i'm thinking maybe its the battery. the very middle of the battery has a very subtle bow in it. i was going to try and replace that soon so i'll see if that helps. everything else in the touchpad install checks out from what i can see....thank you for chiming in! — Andrew Gresbach
Yes, I follow what you're saying. My Touchpad on my MacBook Pro (not a trackpad which has the separate button) is about .3 mm below across the entire edge of the case. My older MacBook Pro which has a trackpad button is above the edge at the bottom about .002 mm. — Dan
the bulge that i think i saw was the side of the battery that would be RIGHT below the touchpad actually. I"m not sure what you mean about a straight edge above the touchpad. i'm not seeing anything noticable bulging on the top case that i can tell. if i leave the battery out and loosen the set screw a couple of turns so that the touchpad sits down where it should, it does not seem to have that wiggle like it does once i put the battery in. — Andrew Gresbach
The straight edge would sit between the bottom of the keyboard and the touchpad horizontally to both edges of the systems case. I would then run it down to the bottom edge making sure there was no bulge in the case (were the battery sits). You can also do the same with the battery as well.

It does sound like your battery needs to be replaced. — Dan
I had an update on this. I replace my Air with an Anker battery and that seems to have taken care of the issue. The touchpad now sits flush again so the old battery must have been starting to bulge like everyone suggested. thank you for all of the help! — Andrew Gresbach

MacBook Air 13" Mid 2012

Trackpad doesn't sit flush on new topcase

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Update (01/19/2017)

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