How easy is it to replace Macbook palmrest.

[bigrell486]

I've bought a refurbished macbook about 2 years ago and this thing has been slowly self-destructing. I opted not to purchase Apple care on it because I didn't want to pay the extra money but now I'm wishing I did.
Just after the 1 year warranty expired, the ethernet port on my Macbook stopped working. Then I began to notice that the palm rest was beginning to chip away just from closing the lid. I didn't think much of it until the sides near the ports began to chip away aswell and on top of that, The palm rest are now a nice shade of yellow.

Anyway, I just want to know if it will be easier and less expensive to replace the palm rest myself, or to just have Apple do it.

 

[techound1]

Do it yourself! Anybody at RIT better be able to!

$40 will get you a quality keyboard/palmrest/trackpad on ebay; less than $10 will get you tools and manuals (you can do it with a credit card if you want). Beware the ifixit.com free instructions for the work, though, because they neglect to mention you need to take 4 more screws out (any assemblies with hairline cracks around the part under the wrists are the result of folks using the instructions with this omission).

 

[bigrell486]

Do it yourself! Anybody at RIT better be able to!

$40 will get you a quality keyboard/palmrest/trackpad on ebay; less than $10 will get you tools and manuals (you can do it with a credit card if you want).

Now you say $40 will get me quality, is this to say that these are not official macbook replacements but worthy substitutes?

Edit: I'm checking ebay right now, I'll see for myself.

 

[techound1]

They're mostly working pulls. So, yes, they are genuine Apple. They also have a few miles on them.

 

[bigrell486]

Beware the ifixit.com free instructions for the work, though, because they neglect to mention you need to take 4 more screws out (any assemblies with hairline cracks around the part under the wrists are the result of folks using the instructions with this omission).

If I should avoid ifixit, then where can I find complete instructions?

 

[techound1]

If I should avoid ifixit, then where can I find complete instructions?

ifixit is the big free site that I'm aware of. I don't know what else might be out there for free but it might be worth it to spend a minute or two on a google search. Alternatively, you can purchase the apple manuals on ebay - several sellers offer a cd full of them for around $10 shipped. You can get free access to the same with the purchase of spudgers through techound1.com (either on the site or via ebay) [full disclosure: yep, that's my store]

 

[bigrell486]

I went to the Apple store today. And they replaced my palm rest for free out of warranty, they even gave me a new battery.

Just posting to inform anyone else in my situation.