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2008 macbook pro cracked display bezel fix
- Thread starter joecool99
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15" or 17", the 13" doesn't exist for that year.
This happened to my professor at college, though he was ridiculously hard on his computers. Your best bet is to either replace the bezel or attempt to glue it with that body filler. Theoretically, you could get it welded but that wouldn't work very well.
On this model, there is about a 1/2 millimeter room between the bezel and the body when the screen is closed. You could glue it again, and then either use some very strong tape, or better, a thin, long piece of metal, and glue it over the crack, 1/2-1 inch on each side. This should take the stress from the crack, and give more stability to the screen.
is the auto body filler better then epoxy?
the epoxy seems to bonds strong, but the stress cracked it immediately.
different glue with better flexibility.
can you comment on the properties of the auto body filler ?
i'm also considering gluing some metal srip over the spot to distribute the stress. the problem is to find the thin solid piece of metal to do this.
ideas ? preferably something that looks decent, not a piece of cut-out tin
thanks.
the epoxy seems to bonds strong, but the stress cracked it immediately.
different glue with better flexibility.
can you comment on the properties of the auto body filler ?
i'm also considering gluing some metal srip over the spot to distribute the stress. the problem is to find the thin solid piece of metal to do this.
ideas ? preferably something that looks decent, not a piece of cut-out tin
thanks.
The bezel is easily replaced. It is not made of any high quality metal. I used a non-unibody MacBook Pro for 5 years (for work, lots of opening and closing, etc.) and have never had that problem. I've been an Apple tech for about the same period and have never seen one break like that.
a thin (think coke can thin) piece of metal with epoxy to bind to the panel about 1/2" or better either side of the crack. Be sure to rough up the area between the metal and the bezel.
It'll be unsightly, but it'll work. I'd put a piece of silver tape over the thing after all's dry.
It'll be unsightly, but it'll work. I'd put a piece of silver tape over the thing after all's dry.
fix for cracked bezel
I used rubber cement and a small piece of aluminum (you can buy this in a roll at any home depot like store, typically used for roofing flashing) to reinforce the crack.
The advantage of rubber cement is that it is a little flexible which distributes the strain. Just be sure to read the direction on the rubber cement, it is not applied like glue.
Running on 6 months without issue or worsening.
I used rubber cement and a small piece of aluminum (you can buy this in a roll at any home depot like store, typically used for roofing flashing) to reinforce the crack.
The advantage of rubber cement is that it is a little flexible which distributes the strain. Just be sure to read the direction on the rubber cement, it is not applied like glue.
Running on 6 months without issue or worsening.
Attachments
Thank you @jazzysh - great fix!
Thank you @jazzysh for your post on how to fix this problem. This was the second time a MBP's bezel cracked on me and this time I thought I would try and fix it following your post and picture. I found that the corner threaded pieces inside the outer lid casing which receives the lower corner screws also had come loose, so I also applied some rubber cement to them which seemed to help the overall hold. While I had everything disassembled, I also doused the hinges with some WD40, which eased the tension of the lid opening and closing. It's only been a week, but I'm very happy with the mend. I pray it holds for a good while longer.
Thank you @jazzysh for your post on how to fix this problem. This was the second time a MBP's bezel cracked on me and this time I thought I would try and fix it following your post and picture. I found that the corner threaded pieces inside the outer lid casing which receives the lower corner screws also had come loose, so I also applied some rubber cement to them which seemed to help the overall hold. While I had everything disassembled, I also doused the hinges with some WD40, which eased the tension of the lid opening and closing. It's only been a week, but I'm very happy with the mend. I pray it holds for a good while longer.
Attachments
Banishing bezel blues
After lots of searching I finally found this thread and it's the one that actually helped. Thanks for the creative fix ideas.
I have a beloved pre-unibody 2008 MacBook Pro and this year those dreaded cracks developed in the bezel - all the way through on the left side and part way on the right.
My wrinkle on your fix was to epoxy dimes over the cracks. That seems to have firmed things up and solved the problem, but of course time will tell. Be very careful if you try this because there is barely enough space to accommodate the dimes when you close the lid.
My first thought was to use single edge razor blades but I wondered what airport security would make of that.
Anyway, thanks for the good ideas. I'm attaching two photos of my repair.
After lots of searching I finally found this thread and it's the one that actually helped. Thanks for the creative fix ideas.
I have a beloved pre-unibody 2008 MacBook Pro and this year those dreaded cracks developed in the bezel - all the way through on the left side and part way on the right.
My wrinkle on your fix was to epoxy dimes over the cracks. That seems to have firmed things up and solved the problem, but of course time will tell. Be very careful if you try this because there is barely enough space to accommodate the dimes when you close the lid.
My first thought was to use single edge razor blades but I wondered what airport security would make of that.
Anyway, thanks for the good ideas. I'm attaching two photos of my repair.
Mac Book Pro 15'' Bezel Fix
I have a MBP 15'' and the left and right corners of the screen have been cracked for at least a year or 2. The bottom part of the screen was coming detached even further so I finally decided to fix it.
Step 1: First, I used super glue to carefully glue all the parts of the screen that were coming unglued. This helped align the cracked corners and held them in place.
Step 2: I then cut two thin strips of metal, hammered and rolled them flat.
Sept 3: Scour the corners of the screen with a file/sandpaper and the two strips of metal you cut to size.
Step 4: Next, I used Guerrilla Epoxy and clamped the strips of metal on.
Step 5: Let it dry, clean up with final finish steel wool, and wipe clean.
Looks good and strong hold.
Good Luck.
I have a MBP 15'' and the left and right corners of the screen have been cracked for at least a year or 2. The bottom part of the screen was coming detached even further so I finally decided to fix it.
Step 1: First, I used super glue to carefully glue all the parts of the screen that were coming unglued. This helped align the cracked corners and held them in place.
Step 2: I then cut two thin strips of metal, hammered and rolled them flat.
Sept 3: Scour the corners of the screen with a file/sandpaper and the two strips of metal you cut to size.
Step 4: Next, I used Guerrilla Epoxy and clamped the strips of metal on.
Step 5: Let it dry, clean up with final finish steel wool, and wipe clean.
Looks good and strong hold.
Good Luck.
