Chosen Solution
The display screen on my MacBook has become extremely hard to move over the past few days. I checked the 6 hinge screws attached to the lower case and the 4 screws attached to the display’s frame, and they seem to be set properly. I’m thinking the issue is with the lubrication of the friction hinge, as it requires an equal amount of massive pressure to move it to any position, (I don’t have any way to gauge this pressure, but it is a lot more than what’s normally needed). The amount of pressure needed to move the screen is scary to say the least, it worries me that I might break the screen by just pushing a back a few degrees! It’s also is keeping the screen from staying closed. The torque holding the screen in an open position (~15 degrees) is great enough to keep the screen open even if it is laying upside down with the lower case weighing it down… I replaced the display about a year ago and the battery about 4 months ago (with parts from ifixit). Both repairs went fine, and so far this is the only issue that has come up. I wouldn’t mind having to replace the hinges, the only problem is wire assembly going through each one. On the right hinge this wouldn’t be an issue, but the left has the %#*@ camera wire going through it, routing it all the way around to the top of the display assembly. It doesn’t look like the the camera wire can be threaded through the hinge without cutting one end of it. The other option is to remove the LCD to run a replacement camera up top. So what would be most helpful is either, how can i restore the hinges to their original settings (most ideal option), or how can i replace both hinges without risking damage to the LCD. I haven’t ever used the camera, so sacrificing it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but whats the fun in that? (plus I’m not sure what kind of software consequences this will bring about) As nice as the replacement screen has been, I really don’t want to pay for a brand new one. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Display being held open
me applying pressure to keep it closed (it’s a lot)
the torque from the hinges is enough to overcome the weight of the lower case
Have you tried dripping a bit of WD40 onto the hinge? Take the cap off the WD40 can and spray into it making a puddle. Now use a cotton swab wetting it then wiping the hinge. Often times this will fix a dry hinge. Just do’t get things too wet as you don’t want the WD40 to drip into the display. Well, the good news the display cable hinge is quite easy to replace Retina MacBook Pro 13"/15" Hinge, Left - iDP/eDP cable (12-15). The other cable is a bit harder Retina MacBook Pro 13" Right Hinge, Antenna/iSight cable (12-15) but still not overly difficult. Here’s the guide you’ll need follow to get the display off MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Late 2013 Display Assembly Replacement then you can replace the cables. Review this guide MacBook Pro Retina Display Teardown to see how to disassemble the antenna so you can replace it as well as get behind it to release the iDP cable. Getting the iSight cable out is a bit more work as you need to lift the gasket around the edge of the screen and the frame. You’ll need a heat gun with a variable temp control as you don’t want to melt the rubber. In any case you don’t want to damage the cables! The iSight cable has a thermal sensor in it which will mess-up your systems temperature monitoring (SMC).
WD40 solved brilliantly, only problem is that I’ve perhaps added a bit too much of it and now I’ve run into the opposite issue, the display is flappy. As tightening the hinge, AFAIK, requires the display to be completely disconnected, I feel like I prefer to deal with a loose hinge than disassemble everything. Anyways, better than a stuck display that I was worried to break in half every time I closed it.
