Apple macbook pro 15 inch late 2008 User Manual

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 191 2010-06-15
Removal
1 Remove trackpad flex 
cable from adhesive 
on mounting ramp.
Note: If a bar code label 
stays stuck to adhesive, be 
sure to remove it.
2 Remove 6 short 
Phillips #00 screws 
from flexures.
3 Remove 1 tri-lobe #0 
set screw.
4 Dispose of old screws; 
they lose their ability 
to hold securely if 
reused.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 192 2010-06-15
5 Hold trackpad and 
flex cable and press 
down on edge closest 
to logic board.
6 Slide trackpad down 
and back towards 
keyboard to clear 
supports in front 
edge of top case.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 193 2010-06-15
7 Spiral trackpad down 
and away from top 
case, taking care 
to route flex cable 
through hole.
8 Remove 4 Phillips #00 
screws from black 
plastic stiffeners.  
Keep screws and 
stiffeners for reuse.
9 Remove 2 flexures 
(thin metal pieces).
10 Dispose of old 
flexures; they are 
matched to each 
individual trackpad  
by thickness.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 194 2010-06-15
Replacement
Important: Dispose of old 
flexures, 6 short Phillips 
screws, and 1 tri-lobe 
set screw, and only use 
new ones included with 
trackpad kit.
1 Peel and adhere 
black label (included 
with new trackpad) 
to cover trackpad 
stiffener as shown.
2 Align new flexures on 
positioning posts.
Note: This procedure will 
take patience and a steady 
hand.  Try supporting the 
delicate flexures with a 
black stick underneath.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 195 2010-06-15
3 Align black plastic 
stiffeners so the raised 
semi-circle portion 
covers the flexure.
4 Tighten 4 Phillips #00 
screws on stiffeners.
5 Carefully route 
flex cable through 
guidehole.
6 Spiral and pivot 
trackpad into place, 
inserting front edge 
first.
Important: Minimize 
rubbing edges of trackpad 
against top case while 
installing.  This could 
cause invisible cracks to 
form in the glass of the 
trackpad.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 196 2010-06-15
7 Loosely insert 6 short 
Phillips #00 screws 
into flexures.  Do not 
tighten yet.
8 On the palm rest, 
insert one sticky 
(Post-It) note into gap 
on each of the four 
sides of trackpad.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 197 2010-06-15
9 Fold sticky notes over 
so that top case can 
be laid flat.
10 Tighten 6 short 
Phillips #00 screws at 
flexures.
11 Inspect that gaps 
between trackpad 
and top case are even 
on all sides.  If not, 
loosen screws and 
adjust.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Trackpad 198 2010-06-15
12 Insert tri-lobe #0 set 
screw.  
13 Slowly turn set screw 
in small increments 
until trackpad has 
a normal clicking 
motion. 
Important: Do not 
overtighten set screw 
or you may damage 
trackpad.
14 Adhere flex cable to 
mounting ramp.  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Battery Power Cable 199 2010-06-15
First Steps
Remove:
• Access door
• Battery
• Bottom case
• Battery connector 
cover
• Logic board
Tools
• Clean, soft, lint-free 
cloth
• ESD wrist strap and 
mat
Battery Power Cable  

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Take Apart — Battery Power Cable 200 2010-06-15
Removal
1 Disconnect the 
battery power cable, 
from the underside of 
the logic board. 
Note: The cable can 
be disconnected 
without removing the 
logic board; however, 
to reconnect the 
cable, the logic board 
must be removed to 
access the connector.
2 Pull the cable under 
midwall and peel it 
up from the top case.
Replacement Note: 
Press cable to top 
case so it lays flat.