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PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement

What you need

  1. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement, PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Use a coin to turn the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

  2. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following 10 screws:

    • Two 3 mm Phillips in the battery compartment, on either side of the battery contacts.

    • Four 3 mm Phillips around the memory compartment.

    • Four 16 mm Phillips along the hinge.

  3. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the memory compartment cover.

    • Remove the two 12 mm Phillips screws on the Aluminum bracket at the top of the memory compartment.

  4. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the power receptacle faces you.

    • Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws along the edge of the lower case.

    • When replacing these screws, you must install them in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, then work your way toward the front of the computer.

  5. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Turn the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the hinge faces you.

    • Remove the lower 5 mm Phillips screw on each side of the hinge (two total).

  6. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise so the ports face you.

    • Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws along the edge of the lower case.

    • When replacing these screws, you must install them in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, then work your way toward the front of the computer. Also, be careful not to put the screws in the two holes on either side of the video out port.

  7. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Turn the computer over and open the display.

    • Remove the two 4.2 mm long, 1.5 mm hex screws at the top corners of the upper case (two total).

    • A T6 Torx driver will work, but repeated use will strip the screws.

  8. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the back corners of the upper case and pull up.

    • Do not pull the upper case off yet; you still need to disconnect the keyboard and trackpad cable.

    • Lift the back of the case up and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

  9. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the upper case up and toward the screen, so that the upper case rests against it.

  10. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the amber tape securing the trackpad ribbon to the logic board.

    • Disconnect the trackpad ribbon from the logic board by pulling up on the connector.

    • Remove the upper case from the computer.

  11. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 3 mm Phillips screws securing the left ambient light sensor. One is silver and one is black, or both black.

    • Disconnect the cable from the Logic board and remove the left ambient light sensor from your computer.

  12. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the 4 mm hex nut securing the left speaker.

  13. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the left speaker cable.

  14. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four Phillips screws from the PC card cage.

    • The two longer screws go on the right side of the card cage.

  15. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the PC card cable from the logic board.

  16. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the PC card cage up and remove it from the computer.

    • When replacing the PC card cage, make sure you attach it to the post on the metal eject button.

  17. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Close the display and turn the hinge side of the computer to face you.

    • Remove the remaining 5.2 mm Phillips screws on either side of the hinge (two screws total).

  18. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Support the display with one hand as you remove the remaining T8 screws.

    • Remove the upper two full thread 10 mm T8 Torx screws from each side of the display, then the two lower shanked 13 mm screws (four screws total).

    • When replacing the display, make sure that the correct screw pins down the ground loop from the display data cable.

    • Disconnect the two antenna cables from the airport/bluetooth card (shown in yellow circles), as well as the display cable (wide connector right hand upper corner) and the cable on top left corner of the logic board (shown in blue square).

  19. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the display assembly off the lower case.

  20. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the two 6mm long, 1.5 mm hex screws near the lower left and right corners of the display.

    • A T6 Torx screwdriver works just fine.

  21. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the front display bezel and the plastic rim attached to the rear bezel near the lower left corner of the display.

    • Do not insert the spudger between the plastic rim of the rear display bezel and the aluminum rear display bezel plate.

  22. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2
    • With your spudger still inserted under the front display bezel, run it around the lower left corner of the display.

    • Rotate the spudger away from yourself to pry the rear display bezel off the aluminum tabs on the front display bezel.

    • Work your way down the side of the display until the rear display bezel has been separated from the front display bezel.

  23. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the rear display bezel and the clutch cover.

    • Twist the spudger to unclip the rear bezel from the clutch cover.

  24. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2
    • Repeat the previous steps to separate the right side of the rear display bezel from the display.

    • Use your spudger to pry the plastic retaining clips on the rear display bezel over the raised aluminum tabs on the front display bezel.

    • At this point, the clips on the left and right edges of the rear display bezel should be free from the raised aluminum tabs on the front display bezel. If they are not, use a spudger to pry them past the front display bezel.

  25. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 3 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 3 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 25, image 3 of 3
    • Slightly lift the lower edge of the rear display bezel and push it toward the top edge of the display, releasing the clips along the top edge of the rear display bezel.

    • Rotate the rear display bezel toward yourself and lay it flat on the table.

  26. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect both antenna cables from the rear display bezel.

    • Remove the rear display bezel and set it aside.

  27. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 2
    • The inverter is an extremely thin circuit board that is very delicate and easily cracked. Take care when handling.

    • Use a spudger to raise the end of the inverter out from the clutch cover.

    • Lift the inverter enough to access both cable connectors.

  28. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 28, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect both inverter cables by pulling their connectors away from the sockets on the inverter.

    • Remove the inverter from your display and set it aside.

  29. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the five 2 mm Phillips screws securing the LCD retaining bracket to the front display bezel.

    • Lift the LCD retaining bracket off the front display bezel.

    • Some machines do not have this bracket. If your machine is missing the bracket, remove the five screws and proceed to the next step.

  30. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 2 PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 30, image 2 of 2
    • The clutch cover is constructed from aluminum and is held on to the clutch hinges with metal clips that require a good deal of force to remove. Proceed with caution.

    • Use your thumbs to push the clutch cover away from the clutch hinges.

    • While pressing with your thumbs, rotate the clutch cover toward yourself about its long edge to pop it off the clutch hinge.

    • It may be necessary to wiggle the clutch cover while pressing it away from the clutch hinges to release the retaining clips.

  31. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 31, image 1 of 1
    • Repeat this process for the other side of the clutch cover. Once the clutch cover is completely free from the clutch hinges, lift it off the front display bezel.

  32. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 32, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three 5.7 mm T8 Torx screws securing the right clutch hinge to the front bezel.

  33. PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.67 GHz Right Clutch Hinge Replacement: step 33, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the right clutch hinge from the front bezel.

Conclusion

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

System

Member since: 09/24/09

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