MacBook Air 13" (Mid 2011) Trackpad

My Problem

Trackpad stopped clicking got spongy when pushing down unlike before. Started to get stuck when dragging things.

My Fix

Man, those are some tiny screws, glad I don't have Andre the Giant hands. Took me a few tries to get the positioning of the set screw just right but no problems, no extra parts/screws, and great iFixit step by step was spot on.

My Advice

The set screw needs to be set at a fairly precise point and should not be tightened. Once the trackpad is screwed in with the two ribbon cables are properly reattached and the set screw is in place but not deeply set, put the battery unit back on top but do not screw down. Flip over holding the battery in position with your hand especially at the bottom center where the trackpad is, lift the screen up and try the trackpad full click. There should not be any downward play before the click, lightly tap the trackpad at bottom center and if you feel any play flip unit back over and tighten the set screw a half turn and then retry. Don't be impatient, just keep trying until the trackpad feels right. The bottom/front edge of the trackpad should be ever so slightly below the rim of the chassis. The trackpad should definitely not sit above this rim and it should not sit too far below either. If you have a friends macbook handy, test the edges with your finger to get a sense of how yours should feel when put back together. It's almost impossible to get the set screw just right without putting the battery back first so go with this trial/error method until you get the feel and positioning just right. If you feel any resistance or friction in the up/down motion of the front/bottom edge of the trackpad, you may need to loose or remove the six screws again and just reset to be sure it's in exact center free-moving position. Good luck! Sorry, no photos, will take some next time.

My Problem

Basically the trackpad that I had was registering click events when I wasn't clicking (yes, I had, and always have had, tap to click disabled). So as you can imagine, trying to open new tabs? #nope, trying to move a window? #hahanope

My Fix

Check out the writeup on my blog!!

http://andrew.sc/

My Advice

PLEASE PLEASE be sure to keep those extra screws with the package. Wouldn't have been able to finish the replacement without them.