MacBook :: How To Lubricate Stiff/creaking Unibody Hinge
Feb 16, 2009
I got my Unibody MacBook the first day they were available, and since late December, the hinge has gotten stiffer and stiffer, making a cracking noise when I move it after it stays in one position for a few seconds.
I took it to the Genius Bar (covered under AppleCare) but the people there wouldn't do anything about it, saying it's within normal spec and classifying it as a "user perception issue." (The slightly condescending sound of that phrase is for another post.)
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Nov 11, 2009
On my 13" MacBook Pro, the hinge makes a cracking noise on the right side of the computer (near the power button) when the screen is positioned all the way back.
The entire hinge also makes a loud popping noise when I adjust the screen position. The screen seems very tight, and it takes a little bit of effort to move the screen, and when the screen is moved it makes the loud popping noise.
This is probably going to make some of you guys cringe, but sometimes putting pressure down on the top of the case close to where the black hinge meets to unibody enclosure seems to stop the popping noises. Putting downwards pressure on the hinge, or flipping the computer over and putting pressure on it that way, also seems to alter how much popping noise there is.
If I mess around a bit with applying pressure on different parts of the computer around the hinge, I can usually eliminate the noise. But, the cracking noise when I put the screen all the way back is still there.
It's not interfering with the operation of the computer, it's just incredibly annoying and this is only a four month old machine which shouldn't be creaking and cracking already.
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Jun 10, 2009
Build-quality wise the unibodies are really as perfect as I've ever experienced any machine to be. Simply amazing. BUT, the black plastic hinge cover is cheap and creaks as soon as I grab the computer or open the display. I opened her up to see if there was anything I could do to reinforce it or something, but I didn't want to mess with it.
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Feb 15, 2007
Build-quality wise the unibodies are really as perfect as I've ever experienced any machine to be. Simply amazing. BUT, the black plastic hinge cover is cheap and creaks as soon as I grab the computer or open the display. I opened her up to see if there was anything I could do to reinforce it or something, but I didn't want to mess with it.
Quite a few seem to have this 'issue' and I thought maybe somebody has figured out a solution?Such a shame on an otherwise perfect machine. I would have preferred the same kind of rubbery plastic that was on the old generation MBP
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Sep 28, 2009
Macbook Pro is fairly new, and the hinge on both side is already making squeaking noise when I open my screen. It gets a bit annoying, I open it from the center top of the screen, not by the side. Is this a problem that I should be taking to the Apple Store? Or this can be fixed easily?
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Jun 28, 2010
Spoke to someone in Apple CR.. They're convinced that a very creaky hinge is within specification? Surely if an issue isn't widespread, it's not acceptable and should be fixed...
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Jul 14, 2009
Can the owners of anti-glare models check their bezels to see if they are warping?ine is bulging out at the bottom of the screen, right by that area that gets burning hot when you are plugged in or are on the 9600m gt--right where is says "Macbook Pro".I noticed that the hinge started to develop a creaking sound when I opened and closed the lid. So I investigated to see if there were any cracks in the hinge. What I found was that if you look at the space between the bezel and the screen, there is a slight (very slight) bulge right by the wording "Macbook pro". If you press down on it, it moves--unlike the rest of the bezel.
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Dec 12, 2009
Mine is bulging out at the bottom of the screen, right by that area that gets burning hot when you are plugged in or are on the 9600m gt--right where is says "Macbook Pro".
I noticed that the hinge started to develop a creaking sound when I opened and closed the lid. So I investigated to see if there were any cracks in the hinge. What I found was that if you look at the space between the bezel and the screen, there is a slight (very slight) bulge right by the wording "Macbook pro". If you press down on it, it moves--unlike the rest of the bezel.
Anyone else notice this? I am pretty sure it is caused by the heat in that area. That is a really poor design.
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Jan 23, 2010
For some odd reason, I have been experiencing some creaking when I move the display of my Unibody 15.5" Macbook Pro. At all. It just is very annoying, as it has a distinct plastiky sound to it, and it was not there to begin with. I don't know if this matters, but I have a Speck clear case that I used, but then I took it off because it seemed to be twisting the display a bit. Is this creaking a known issue with the Unibodies, or is it just because of the Speck case? I have never dropped my computer, and it has never been mistreated. It just leads its life on my desk or in my laptop bag.
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Jan 28, 2009
My new week old unibody macbook hinge is so tight that when i open it, the rest of the macbook slides back a bit.
I have seen radtech's glide kit to adjust the tightness of the hinge of the old macbooks and powerbooks but nothing has been mentioned of the unibody.
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Feb 15, 2009
My Mac is only 2.5 months old, yet when I open and close it, I get these sporadic, clicking-like noises, almost as though the plastic hinge is coming into contact with the actual notebook, generating friction. I'm not quite certain what to make of it. Sometimes, it opens and closes smoothly and silently, yet more often than not, it makes the aforementioned noises, and I'm just wondering if this should be cause for concern. Has the plastic expanded from the heat? Could it be a loose spring?
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Sep 1, 2009
Last night I noticed about 8 little hairline cracks on the bottom side of my unibody hinge when I turned it in the light just right. They are small, but they are definitely cracks in the hinge. I'm rather irritated since the machine is essentially a desktop replacement and has only ever traveled to work with me 10-20 times, if that. The machine is absolutely pristine otherwise. If I make an appointment at the Genius Bar to have this replaced, what can I expect them to replace? Do they have to replace the entire display/clamshell/hinge/lid as one piece? I REALLY don't like the idea of them replacing the whole entire thing because the one I have is great with no bowing and the display is fantastic, and I have a feeling I'll end up with something lesser if I send it off. Also I am worried they will somehow blame it on me since Apple seems to be pretty crappy about warrantying hinge issues...
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Dec 22, 2008
I am trying to anodize my alluminum Macbook unibody that I just got and I have begun disassembling it. In order to anodize or electroplate the aluminum, it must be stripped down to pure metal. No cable, wires, boards, nothing. THe bottom half of the computer with the motherboard and keyboard I have succesfully gutted. The top half, however, I am having no such luck with. I need to remove the hinge/lcd/display assembly from the aluminum back cover. I have searched everywhere online and can find nothing. Ifixit does not go that far. The youtube video by this other company shows the Macbook Pro display and hinge magically come off, but they do not share how [URL].
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Jun 15, 2009
my 15inch umbp that i got in april is now creaking quite loudly when i lift up the lid to turn it on and again when i close it, is this normal or is it going to get worse
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Jan 16, 2010
My new 13.3" Unibody MacBook Pro has been great up until now. I've had it since September and it's worked without a charm. For some reason, as I went to close the hinge (slowly) today, it made an extremely sharp cracking sound, as if the screen had broken off. I had mini-heart attack on the inside, thinking that the screen of my MacBook Pro had just broken. I quickly opened the screen to see that nothing was damaged. I went to close it again and I went past the point that the cracking noise happened at (it sounds like it gets caught). As I kept closing it, the cracking noise happened about 3 more times. No noises come from it as I open the MacBook Pro, but when I slowly close it, it cracks (really loudly).
I've been closing the lid really quickly now, and no cracking sounds occur when I do that. Do you think it's a loose screw or something like that? Should I take it into an Apple Store to see if they can fix it? This laptop is like my baby. I somewhat temporarily alleviated the issue by pushing a piece of paper through the hinge and out the back of the laptop an pulling it back and forth. The hinge worked well for about 5 times, then started cracking again. Now that I think about it, it might be caused because it's been on for about 11 hours. I've never worked it this hard before. I'll try again after I go to sleep, and see if the problem has gone away. the problem is a little better now. There are still tension points (there are less though), but they don't crack very often as I go past them.
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Sep 8, 2006
I got my Unibody MacBook the first day they were available, and since late December, the hinge has gotten stiffer and stiffer, making a cracking noise when I move it after it stays in one position for a few seconds.
I took it to the Genius Bar (covered under AppleCare) but the people there wouldn't do anything about it, saying it's within normal spec and classifying it as a "user perception issue." (The slightly condescending sound of that phrase is for another post.)
Has anyone attempted to lubricate the hinge in their laptop themselves? I removed all of the bottom paneling and looked at the hinge, but didn't see how to separate it from the case easily. Would it be a bad idea to try to squirt a little silicone lubricant into the hinge to see if that helps the issue? Is there another trick I could try.My mom has a Unibody Pro with a hinge that glides nice and smoothly and it's annoying mine is no longer working properly like this.
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Jun 23, 2010
The trackpad on my 2009 Macbook has suddenly gone stiff, I can move the cursor around however the button is stuck down and can only highlight text and will not let me click. A small drop of water hit against the pad 5 minutes before this happened so i don't know if this has anything to do with it.
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Oct 9, 2009
The left side of the mouse clicker on my macbook is hard to push, and doesn't work well sometimes. It's out of warranty does anyone know what this will cost to fix?
I took out the battery and cleaned, and cleaned the whole macbook, nothing really.
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Nov 28, 2010
just read some threads about wobbing and creaking... Is that the same problem or is it two different kinds of problems?I'v just got my 1 replacement of my ultimate 13" it only creaks a little, but i cant decide if i should send it in for another replacement and maybe get one with screen issue etc. or can anyone confirm that a screwdriver actually solves the problem!?
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Mar 25, 2012
My MacBook Air has had a annoying creaking noise since shortly after it's purchase. I have had it for approximately two months and it continues to get worse. In goggling the internet I discovered I am not the only one suffering this problem. Has anyone had any success in redding their MBA of this problem permanently?
Info:
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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Dec 8, 2010
I really wan't to know if there are anyone out there who can swear that their new MBA (13") doesn't creak AT ALL? I mean some ppl says that their MBA dosen't say anything at all! Is that really true? Or is it just because you (owners of non-creaking MBA) don't notice or is it because you don't think it is a problem?
I would also like to hear if any of you have made the creaking go away (for good) by tighten the buttomplate?
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Apr 19, 2009
it's been just over a week now with my refurbished Rev B and I'm noticing the casing is creaky along the edges/seams. Everything is tight and it's not the display. Is this a Rev B thing? My Rev A was super solid and didn't make any noises. I know the internals of the Rev A vs. Rev B were drastically changed and I wonder if that has anything to do with it. It's not bad, I just noticed it and was curious... maybe it's a refurb thing?
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Feb 27, 2012
I just got a Early 2011 Macbook Pro 15" i7 that has a broken scissor for the "x" key (I still have the black "x" key itself. Would the scissors from an late 2007 Macbook Pro 15" be compatible (I've got an old dead keyboard for it that had coffee spilled on it)?
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Jul 1, 2009
my 15inch umbp that i got in april is now creaking quite loudly when i lift up the lid to turn it on and again when i close it, is this normal or is it going to get worse
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Oct 23, 2010
I bought a 13" Macbook Air yesterday. I had a 2009 MBP before and have been waiting on the refresh to get this. The machine is great. Quick, responsive, light, But one thing Ive noticed is that when handling the machine it makes creaking noises.Sounds like the body is flexing. I took it into the genius bar and the guy took it in the back, said he heard it and then said that it is normal even for the previous gen because of the thin body design.
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Dec 24, 2007
I bought a 13" Macbook Air yesterday. I had a 2009 MBP before and have been waiting on the refresh to get this. The machine is great. Quick, responsive, light, But one thing Ive noticed is that when handling the machine it makes creaking noises. Sounds like the body is flexing. I took it into the genius bar and the guy took it in the back, said he heard it and then said that it is normal even for the previous gen because of the thin body design.
SOOO, my question is , does anyone elses 2010 MBA do this as well? I tried the display in the store but it is too loud in there to hear it.
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Aug 12, 2006
For some odd reason, I have been experiencing some creaking when I move the display of my Unibody 15.5" Macbook Pro. At all. It just is very annoying, as it has a distinct plastiky sound to it, and it was not there to begin with. I don't know if this matters, but I have a Speck clear case that I used, but then I took it off because it seemed to be twisting the display a bit. Is this creaking a known issue with the Unibodies, or is it just because of the Speck case? I have never dropped my computer, and it has never been mistreated. It just leads its life on my desk or in my laptop bag. Any ideas?
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Aug 5, 2008
After playing with my friend's MacBook, and having a long hard think, I'm definitely of the opinion that the hinge on my MacBook is far too loose. It can still support itself, but I get major wobble upon opening, it even wobbles when I type (not ferociously).
I don't get any sort of resiliance when I try to open or close it, I literally have to be careful as so not to slam it, it's like I'm closing thin air.
It just doesn't feel sturdy enough for a notebook which needs everyday carting around and use.
Also when the MB is closed the top lid (with the screen) slides a bit this way and that over the base. Only a few millimeters, but enough to notice.
The problem is, I'm most likely only going to get one opportunity to get to see an genius.
The MB is covered by AppleCare and so forth, but will the genius open the thing up right there and then and give whatever needs tightening a good tighten?
Have any of you experienced this issue before and was it solved, and if so how? (Time, in-store or send off job, etc etc).
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Oct 24, 2010
I just unboxed this beauty. This is my first mac ever and I love it so far. However one thing I noticed straight out of the box was how loose the hinges are. The screen tilts if I move the macbook air to a 90 degree angle. I've own quite a few laptops but this is the first one with a loose hinge straight out of the box. Is this normal or should I be meeting with a nerd?
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Dec 7, 2010
On another post...I indicated that I bought a MacBook Pro 13 inch laptop loaded up with all the goodies and decided to cancel my order due in part to possibly saving by installing my own SSD and RAM. I did not really mention the main reason that I cancelled my order....
I did not mention that I went to a local Best Buy and checked out the 13 inch MacBook Pro on display. I was kind of shocked to note the amount of wiggle that was present on the display screen of the 13 inch. I read another thread about the screen becoming loose and wobbly on the 13 inch MBP after time.
Does this occur on the 15 and 17 inch models as well?
I have a 3-4 year old 15 inch MBP and the screen is still solid as a rock. I hate to spend dollars on a lesser quality product so I thought I would ask if this screen weakness comes with all of the newer MacBook Pro models.
(I did not check out the 15 or 17 inch models at Best Buy...but I intend to go back and see if they are weak also). I want to buy a 15 inch MBP...so I hope that they are solid as a rock as my older MBP.
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