Replacing Frame: How To

GibMcFragger · Thread Author #1 12-04-2009, 12:40 AM

I just replaced my frame and I thought I would walk everyone through it since it is kind of a pain in the ****. I am going to skip the dis-assembly part as there are already loads of videos on how to do that. Let's get started shall we?

The first thing you are going to need is to ORDER A NEW TOP COVER when you order your frame. I ordered all my parts from True Supplier.The old cover is melted on and cannot be reattached to the new frame properly, resulting in a loose fit.

Tools: You will need a Torx driver and plastic pry tool (normally included with the new frame). You will also need a butane soldering iron like the one pictured below.

Ok. Once you have it all apart, there are a few pieces you need to move over from the old frame. The old top cover has to be removed by prying and breaking the bonds (which is ugly) in order to move the mesh screen for the mic over to the new top cover, as well as moving a few sticky foam pads over.

As you can see in this pic, I have marked the important parts with my crappy photoshop skillz.

The blue arrow shows the mesh screen which is stuck to the cover. Gently pry it away and put in on the new top cover. It should stick to the new top cover well enough to hold.
The foam tape strip (highlighted in green) also needs to be moved over. It can carefully be peeled off, but it tends to separate and leave the adhesive on the old cover.
Lastly, I have marked the plastic retaining tabs in red(ish) boxes that you will later have to melt to secure the cover to the new frame.

There is one more foam pad (that hold the mesh grill down) that you have to move to the new frame. I have marked it in this picture.

Once you do all that, fit the new top cover to the new frame. You can see below the little tabs you are going to have to melt next.

Here is a pic of the little tabs melted down with the soldering iron.

After that, I added a tiny bit of crazy glue to make it stronger.

Then reassemble everything and you are done. Took me about 15 minutes.

Jes7r · #2 12-04-2009, 12:59 AM

Awesome dude! Thanks!

kodath · #3 12-04-2009, 01:02 AM

Pictures of the red bezel on the phone?!

GibMcFragger · Thread Author #4 12-04-2009, 01:33 AM

Hehehe ya ya. I will take a pic tomorrow when I have better light.

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imoklo38 · #5 12-04-2009, 01:42 AM

Awesome, thanks for the tips! I have that exact Snap on soldering gun.

GibMcFragger · Thread Author #6 12-04-2009, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imoklo38

Awesome, thanks for the tips! I have that exact Snap on soldering gun.

It works great, just make sure you set it to the lowest possible temp setting.....those tabs are TINY. When you melt them down, you can melt a tiny bit of the frame around the holes they go through so that they bond together. A little dab of crazy glue on each one just adds strength.

Here is a sucktastic pic to tide you guys over until I can take a better one. I forgot to mention that I also replaced the bottom cover with a blank one.

chinh8310 · #7 12-04-2009, 04:17 AM

Looks like there's a gap at the top.. Any pics of the top part and where light bleeds from

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GibMcFragger · Thread Author #8 12-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Just like the original frame, there is a slight gap. There is no light bleed though, The only light bleed is from the same places it bled on the stock frame. Anyways. Who cares? Its a phone, not a $15k Rolex.

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