Apple MacBook Pro 15 Model A1707 Teardown and Touch Bar replacement guide.

Tools

This is a guide on replacing a Touch Bar on a MacBook Pro 15 , model number A1707. In order
to change the Touch Bar, we will need to remove the display assembly, the bottom case,
the keyboard, and the touchpad. To make a long story short: we are only keeping the
motherboard, the power button, and the display everything else must go! (And try not to
break the new Touch Bar). For this repair, you will need the following tools: Pentalobe 1.2
screwdriver, Pentalobe 0.8 screwdriver, Torx T3 screwdriver, Torx T5 screwdriver, Torx T7,
screwdriver, Plastic spudger , plastic pick, Tweezers

Remove the bottom cover

To begin, shut down the computer. Flip the laptop over and, using a pentalobe 1.2
screwdriver, remove the six bottom cover screws. The two screws near the hinge are
longer than the other four screws on the front edge. Pry open the front edge of the cover,
unsnapping two mountings underneath using a plastic pick. Turn the laptop around and slide the
cover away from the hinge.

Disconnect the display assembly from the main body

In order to install the replacement Touch Bar, we will need to transfer the motherboard,
the display assembly, the fans, and the fingerprint sensor / power button onto the new
case. Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove two right hinge cover screws and remove the right hinge
cover. Remove two more screws from the left hinge cover and remove the left hinge cover.

Remove two screws securing the touchpad connector shield, then remove the shield. Using a
plastic spudger, disconnect the touchpad.

Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove two screws holding the black plastic cable tensioner
on the right. Remove two more screws holding the black plastic cable tensioner on the
left.

Remove two screws holding the video cable bracket and remove the bracket. Remove two
screws securing the video connector shield and remove the shield. Using a plastic
spudger, gently disconnect the video connector and bend it back. Using a Torx T5
screwdriver, remove four screws holding the LCD driver board.

Using a pentalobe 0.8 screwdriver, begin removing screws holding the Wi-Fi antenna
assembly. On the right side, there are eight screws in total. Proceed with removing the
other eight screws on the left side of the Wi-Fi antenna assembly.

Using a plastic spudger, disconnect the three coaxial antenna connectors. Using a Torx T5
screwdriver, remove the antenna cabling grounding screw. Gently bend back the LCD driver
circuit and, using a plastic spudger, carefully pry up the antenna assembly from its
central positioning slot, pulling it away by about half an inch.

Using a Torx T7 screwdriver, loosen the hinge screws, three on the right side and three
more on the left. Open the display to a 90-degree angle and hang the display off the desk
edge. Remove the three screws from the right hinge, then remove three more screws from
the left hinge. Position the Wi-Fi antenna over the LCD driver circuit and carefully
remove the display assembly off its hinges. Remove the Wi-Fi antenna.

Disconnect the battery

At this point, it's a good idea to disconnect the battery. Lift the black plastic cover
over the battery control circuit. Using a plastic spudger, open the keyboard backlight
connector and carefully pry off the flex cable. Using a Torx T5 screwdriver, unscrew the
wide cap screw securing the main power leads. Pry up the power leads away from the
battery control circuit.

(You can use the replacement part as a reference for all the connectors that need to be
undone: the keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and USB jacks).

Remove the mother board

Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove two screws holding the keyboard connector shield and
remove the shield. Pry open the connector. Remove two screws holding the headphone jack
connector shield and remove the shield. Pry open the connector.

Using a plastic pick, carefully pry open the right speaker connector, then the left
speaker connector.

Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove the screw holding a small shield near the left
hinge and remove the shield. Pry open the connector underneath. Using the same
screwdriver, remove two screws holding another connector shield near the left speaker,
remove the shield, and pry open the connector.

Proceed with removing two more screws securing the right USB connector and pry open the
connector. Remove two screws securing the left USB connector and pry open the connector.

Now that all connectors are disconnected from the motherboard, we can use a Torx T5
screwdriver to start removing the motherboard screws. (The trick to keeping track of
screw positions is to lay the screws on your desk in the exact pattern they were
installed on the computer). Remove the lower right corner screw and set it on the desk.
Remove the lower left corner screw and set it above. Remove the right mid screw, then the
right upper screw. Remove the screw to the left of the right fan. Remove the left mid screw.
Remove the left screw next to the left fan. Remove the upper left fan screw. Remove the
center-right screw next to the battery control circuit. Remove the final center-left screw.
The motherboard is still being held by a small flex cable connector. Peel the protective
tape to expose the connector, carefully open the connector counterlever using a plastic
pick, and pull out the ribbon cable. Separate the silicone gasket from the left fan and
another one from the right fan. Proceed with removing the motherboard: pry open the last
tiny connector in the right bottom corner, remove the motherboard, and set it aside.

Remove the fans and other parts

Next, we need to transfer the fans and a few other components onto the new part.

Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove four screws holding the right fan, then remove four
more screws holding the left fan. Using a plastic pick, unlock the left fan connector
counterlever and the right fan connector counterlever. Carefully remove the left fan,
then the right fan.

Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove two screws holding the left USB connector assembly.
Pull out the USB connector assembly and set it aside. Remove two more screws holding the
right USB connector assembly, pull out the USB connector assembly, and set it aside.

The last part that needs to be transferred is the power button / fingerprint sensor.
Using a Torx T3 screwdriver, remove six screws from the button's backplate and remove
the backplate. Peel back the black tape over the power button cable extension. Gently
unfold the flex cable to the left and carefully unlock the connector counterlever
underneath. Pull out the power button connector and thread it through so that the button
drops out from the bottom. Set the button aside. Carefully pry off the power button cable
extension and set it aside.

Compare old and new replacement parts

Compare the original part to the new one, and if every required component appears to be
transferred, place the new part on the desk. Now we will reassemble everything back
together in reverse order.

Transfer fans and other parts parts on to the new replacement part

Thread through the power button cable from underneath. Replace the power button cable
extension and, using tweezers, reconnect the power button to the extension (it may need to
be repositioned to connect properly). Once the cable is fully inserted, stick the extension
and power button cables in their appropriate locations. Lock the connector counterlever
using a plastic pick.

Replace the power button backplate and secure it with six Torx T3 screws: silver screws
go in the corners connecting to the body; two black screws go in the center connecting to
the button itself. Fold back the cable extension to the left and fold over the protective
tape.

Replace the right USB connector assembly and secure it with two Torx T3 screws. Replace
the left USB connector assembly and secure it with two Torx T3 screws.

Replace the left fan by aligning its cable with the reciprocal connector; slide in the
cable and lock the connector counterlever. Replace the right fan by aligning its cable with
the reciprocal connector; slide in the cable and lock the connector counterlever.

Replace the silver Torx T3 screw in the upper hole of the left bottom corner of the left
fan. Replace three black Torx T3 screws in the appropriate holes on the left fan. (Some of
the holes are for the motherboard screws, so make sure to place the fan screws in the
correct positions according to your layout).

Replace the silver Torx T3 screw in the upper hole of the right bottom corner of the right
fan. Replace three black Torx T3 screws in the appropriate holes on the right fan.

Transfer the mother board

Prepare the area for motherboard reinstallation: bend out all connectors along the
perimeter and smooth down the fan connectors.

Carefully lower the motherboard into position, making sure that every connector that goes
over the board is not caught underneath it. Reconnect the power button in the bottom right
corner.

Replace the center-left Torx T3 screw, then the center-right Torx T3 screw. Replace the
Torx T5 screw at the top of the left fan, the mid-left Torx T5 screw, and the Torx T5 screw
at the bottom of the left fan. Replace the Torx T5 screw at the bottom-left of the right
fan, the Torx T5 screw at the top of the right fan, the screw at the bottom of the right
fan, and the screw at the left bottom corner of the board. Replace the final Torx T5 screw
at the right bottom corner of the board.

Reconnect the connectors

Gently reconnect the right speaker connector, the left speaker connector, and the
connector at the bottom of the left speaker.

Reconnect the left USB connector, then the right USB connector. Secure the left USB
connector with two Torx T3 screws and the right USB connector with two Torx T3 screws.

Replace the connector shield over the connector at the bottom of the left speaker and
secure it with two Torx T3 screws. Reconnect the small ribbon cable to the left of the
left fan and secure the connector counterlever.

Reconnect the small connector at the bottom-left corner, cover it with its appropriate
connector shield, and secure it with one Torx T3 screw. Reconnect another connector at
the bottom-right corner, cover it with the appropriate connector shield, and secure it
with two Torx T3 screws.

Reconnect the larger connector near the battery control circuit, cover it with the
appropriate connector shield, and secure it with two Torx T3 screws

Install the display assembly

At this point, the display assembly can be reinstalled. Slide the main body to the edge of
the table. Bend out the LCD driver board and the cable tensioners towards the backside of
the display assembly, then lower the display onto its hinges.

Replace two Torx T7 screws in the center hole of each hinge, but do not tighten them yet.
Close the display assembly. Place the body flat on the table and, using both hands, ensure
that all four corners of the body sit flush with the corners of the display. Replace two
Torx T7 screws in the left hinge and two Torx T7 screws in the right hinge, then tighten
each of the hinge screws securely.

Reposition the display cable tensioners in their respective spots and align the LCD driver
board into position. Thread the Wi-Fi antenna assembly cable through, place the assembly
over the center position slot, and press firmly to clip the assembly back in place.

Reconnect the three coaxial antenna cables onto the mainboard. Secure the antenna cable
and grounding pad with a Torx T3 screw. Replace the eight pentalobe 0.8 screws on the left
side of the Wi-Fi antenna assembly and the eight pentalobe 0.8 screws on the right side.

Replace four Torx T5 screws securing the LCD driver board. Reconnect the video connector
and secure it with two Torx T3 screws. Replace the video cable bracket and secure it with
two Torx T3 screws. Secure the right cable tensioner with two Torx T3 screws, and secure
the left cable tensioner with two Torx T3 screws.

Replace the right hinge cover and secure it with two screws. Replace the left hinge cover
and secure it with two more Torx T3 screws.

Bend down the main power leads towards the battery control circuit and secure them with
the wide cap Torx T5 screw. Carefully slide the little flex cable over the battery control
circuit and into its connector, then lock the connector counterlever. Replace the black
plastic cover over the battery control circuit.

Reconnect the touchpad connector and smooth down its flex cable. Replace the connector
shield and secure it with two Torx T3 screws.

Replace the bottom cover

Place the bottom cover a quarter inch above the hinge edge and slide it into place. Snap in
the two mid mounting points underneath. Replace the two longer pentalobe 1.2 screws near the
hinges (one on the left bottom corner, the other on the right). Replace the four pentalobe
1.2 screws on the front edge.

Flip the laptop over, open it up, cross your fingers and toes, and press the power button!
If the screen turns on to show a low-battery icon, reconnect the power cord—the laptop
should boot up on its own.

The new Touch Bar is working, and we're done!