MacBook Neo Trackpad

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following part before you begin:

• Bottom case

Tools

• 2 mm hex driver

• Adjustable torque driver (10–34 Ncm)

• Adjustable torque driver (0.3–1.2 Nm)

• ESD-safe tweezers

• Gap offset kit

• Kapton tape

• Torx Plus 8IP 25 mm bit

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Important

Discard the trackpad baseplate screws and trackpad baseplate set screw according to your local recycling guidelines.

Removal

Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.

1. Open the computer as shown. Press the trackpad in the center and at each corner to sense its movement.

   

2. Close the computer.

3. Use the flat end of the black stick to flip up the locking lever on the trackpad interposer flex cable connector on the trackpad. Then slide the end of the flex cable out of the connector.

   

4. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to remove the four 8IP screws (923-14177) from the trackpad baseplate.

   • Caution: Don't reinstall the baseplate screws during reassembly. A replacement trackpad will include new screws.

     

5. Use the black stick to lift the corner of the trackpad baseplate. Then lift the baseplate off the trackpad as shown.

   

6. Use the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to remove the four 8IP screws (923-14186) from the trackpad.

   

7. Lift the flexure from the green highlighted areas shown to remove the trackpad from the top case.

   • Caution: Don't lift the flexure from the red highlighted areas, as it could damage the trackpad.

     

   • Caution: Clear the trackpad interposer flex cable before lifting the trackpad off the top case.

     

Reassembly

1. Fully open the computer and place it facedown on a clean surface with the display hanging down over the edge of the table.

   

2. Position the trackpad in the top case.

   • Caution: Hold the flexure in the highlighted green areas shown. Don't hold the highlighted red areas, as it could damage the trackpad.

     

   • Caution: Before positioning the trackpad in the top case, clear the trackpad interposer flex cable as shown to avoid trapping the flex cable under the trackpad and damaging the flex cable.

     

3. Position the trackpad baseplate in the top case.

   • Caution

     • Ensure that the trackpad baseplate is oriented as shown. The side with the black foam should be faceup.

     • Ensure that the trackpad baseplate is aligned with the screw holes in the top case.

       

4. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 34 Ncm. Then use the adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to install four new 8IP screws (923-14177) into the trackpad baseplate in the order shown.

   • Caution: Use new trackpad baseplate screws for reassembly. The new screws are included with a replacement trackpad or top case.

     

5. Use the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to partially reinstall the four 8IP screws (923-14186) into the trackpad by tightening the screws until you feel resistance. Then loosen the screws one full turn.

   

6. Slide the end of the trackpad interposer flex cable into the connector on the trackpad. Then flip down the locking lever.

   

7. Reassembly steps 9 through 27 must be completed within a set time limit. To save time, have the following tools ready:

   • 2 mm hex driver

   • Adjustable torque driver (0.3–1.2 Nm) (torque value set to 0.65 Nm)

   • Kapton tape

   • Torx Plus 8IP 25 mm bit

   • Gap offset kit

8. Use the 2 mm hex driver to partially install the new trackpad baseplate set screw (923-14185).

   

   • Caution

     • Use a new trackpad baseplate set screw for reassembly. The new screw is included with a replacement trackpad or top case.

     • Ensure that the top of the set screw is level with the trackpad baseplate.

     • You must complete the remaining trackpad reassembly steps within 5 minutes. Start a 5-minute timer immediately after completing this step.

     • If reassembly isn't completed in 5 minutes, the trackpad baseplate and trackpad baseplate set screw must be replaced.

9. Place the computer faceup and fully open the display.

   • Caution: Ensure that the trackpad interposer flex cable isn't trapped under the top case.

     

10. Insert the gap offsets along the top and bottom edges of the trackpad.

    

11. Insert the gap offsets along the left and right edges of the trackpad.

    

12. Secure each gap offset to the top case with a piece of Kaptop tape.

    

13. Place the computer facedown on a clean surface. Then open the computer between approximately 10 and 20 degrees.

    

14. Insert the 8IP bit in the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver. Ensure that the torque value is set to 0.65 Nm.

15. Hold the top case open using the palm rest as shown. Then use the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to fully reinstall the four 8IP screws into the trackpad in the order shown.

    • Caution: Don't hold the top case by the trackpad.

    • Note: You can hold the top case by either palm rest while reinstalling the screws into the trackpad.

      

16. Open the computer between approximately 20 and 25 degrees.

17. Press the center of the trackpad to sense its movement and use the 2 mm hex driver to turn the trackpad baseplate set screw counterclockwise one-quarter of a turn at a time until you feel a click in the set screw and the trackpad stops moving.

    

18. Continue to press the center of the trackpad while using the 2 mm hex driver to turn the trackpad baseplate set screw clockwise one-eighth of a turn at a time until the trackpad begins clicking.

    

19. Press all four corners of the trackpad to ensure that they click and that the movement of the trackpad feels similar to the movement from removal step 1.

    • If all four corners click and feel similar to the movement from removal step 1, skip to step 21.

    • If any of the corners don't click or the movement doesn't feel similar to removal step 1, continue to step 20.

20. Use the 2 mm hex driver to turn the trackpad baseplate set screw clockwise one-eighth of a turn at a time and press the corners of the trackpad to sense their movement. Continue to turn the set screw clockwise one-eighth of a turn at a time while pressing the corners of the trackpad until the movement of the trackpad feels similar to the movement from removal step 1.

    

21. Place the computer faceup and fully open the display. Then press on the center and all four corners of the trackpad to ensure that the movement of the trackpad feels similar to the movement from removal step 1.

    • If the trackpad movement doesn't feel similar to removal step 1, place the computer facedown and repeat steps 16 through 19.

      

22. To verify that the top of the trackpad is at the correct height, align a stack of three sticky notes on all four edges of the trackpad as shown. Ensure that the sticky notes are flush with the top case.

    • Top left

      

    • Bottom left

      

    • Top right

      

    • Bottom right

      

23. If the trackpad is at the correct height, skip to step 27. If the trackpad isn't at the correct height, note which side of the trackpad is affected. Then continue to step 24.

24. Turn the computer facedown. Then use the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to loosen the two 8IP screws on the affected side of the trackpad.

    • Important: The images shown are examples. Depending on which side of the trackpad isn't at the correct height, you may need to adjust the screws on the opposite side of the trackpad.

      

25. Press the flexure on the area shown. Then with the torque value still set to 0.65 Nm, use the 0.3–1.2 Nm adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to fully reinstall the two 8IP screws loosened in step 24.

    • Caution: Press the flexure on the area where the blue press symbol is shown. Don't press the flexure on the red highlighted area, as it could damage the trackpad.

      

26. Place the computer faceup and ensure that the trackpad is at the correct height. If the trackpad is at the correct height, continue to step 27. If the trackpad isn't at the correct height, repeat steps 24 and 25 to adjust the screws on the other side of the trackpad.

    

27. Press on the center and all four corners of the trackpad to ensure that the movement of the trackpad feels similar to the movement from removal step 1.

    

    • If the movement of the trackpad feels similar to the movement from removal step 1 and it's been less than 5 minutes since you installed the trackpad baseplate set screw in step 8, reassembly is complete.

    • If the movement of the trackpad doesn't feel similar to the movement from removal step 1, or if it's been more than 5 minutes since you installed the trackpad baseplate set screw in step 8, complete the following steps:

      • Repeat removal steps 4 through 7 to remove the trackpad baseplate and trackpad.

      • Repeat all reassembly steps with a new trackpad baseplate and trackpad baseplate set screw.

Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly:

• Bottom case