Simple Battery Replacement - MacBook Pro 15"

My Problem

My computer is an early 2011 MacBook Pro, which has been upgraded in almost every way possible: SSD, more RAM, etc. With the upgrade to OS X Mavericks, however, the laptop battery started going downhill ... fast.

My Fix

I was glad to find that the replacement battery I ordered from iFixit was genuine Apple; this saved me $100 on the Apple Store part price. The replacement process was pretty straightforward, with the exception of the fact that neither of the iFixit tools served the purpose. I was simply unable to generate enough torque on either one to loosen the case Phillips screws or the three Tri-wing screws holding the battery in place. In both cases, I had to find and use other tools to finish the job.

My Advice

Buy decent tools to begin with ... that will make almost any job a lot easier.