PlayStation 3 Slim Lower Case Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the plastic lower case of your PlayStation 3 Slim.

What you need

Step 1 PlayStation 3 Slim Lower Case Replacement

PlayStation 3 Slim Lower Case Replacement, PlayStation 3 Slim Lower Case Replacement: step 1, image 1 of 1

Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside.
Carefully peel the warranty sticker up off the lower case to reveal a hidden screw cover.
To avoid activating the VOID that may come up, heat the sticker carefully to remove and replace it cleanly.

Step 2

Use the flat end of a metal spudger to pry up the seven screw covers around the edge of the lower case.

Step 3

Remove the seven 37 mm Phillips screws securing the top cover to the lower case.

Step 4

Remove the four 13.3 mm T8 security Torx screws beneath the Blu-ray drive opening. (Some models may only have three screws)

Step 5

Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.
Lift the top cover off the PS3.

Step 6

Squeeze the AC inlet connector's locking mechanism and pull straight up to disconnect it from the power supply.

Step 7

Pull the DC-Out cables straight up to lift their connector up and out of its socket on the power supply.

Step 8

Remove the two 7.6 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the lower case.

Step 9

Lift the power supply upward from its left edge as viewed from the front of the PS3.

Step 10

Continue to lift the left edge of the power supply until it lifts off the two metal posts shown in the second picture.
Remove the power supply from the PS3, minding any cables that may get caught.

Step 11

If present, remove the pieces of tape securing the cables to the body of the Blu-ray drive.

Step 12

Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.
Be sure you are prying up on the movable retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Step 13

Pull the Blu-ray ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket.

Step 14

Pull the Blu-ray power cable straight up to lift its connector out of the socket on the Blu-ray drive.

Step 15

Remove the single 9.5 mm Phillips screw securing the Blu-ray drive to the lower case.

Step 16

Lift the Blu-ray drive slightly by its right edge to dislodge the control board from its housing.
Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3.
After you reinstall the Blu-ray drive, be sure the control board is firmly seated in the lower case before proceeding.
If replacing the Blu-ray drive with a new drive, swap the circuit board from your old drive into the new drive.

Step 17

Pull the AC-In cables upward to remove the AC inlet from the lower case.

Step 18

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the motherboard.

Step 19

Pull the control board ribbon cable up and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Remove the control board.

Step 20

Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside.
Use the flat edge of a metal spudger to pop up the small access door on the bottom cover near the front of the PS3.
Remove the blue Phillips screw hidden under the access door.

Step 21

Slide the hard drive bay cover toward the right side of the lower case, then pull it away from the front edge to remove it from the PS3.

Step 22

Using its attached metal handle, pull the hard drive out of its bay.

Step 23

Remove the following five screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case:
Two silver 6 mm Phillips
Three black 8 mm Phillips

Step 24

Lift the motherboard assembly from its front edge and remove it from the lower case, minding the antenna cable still attached to the lower case.
Be careful not to bend the metal antenna bodies as you lift the motherboard assembly.