Installing iPod Classic Front Panel

Installing iPod Classic Front Panel

The colored metal front half or your iPod.

Tools used in this guide : 1.5" Thin Putty Knife , Metal Spudger , Phillips #00 Screwdriver , Spudger , iPod Opening Tools

Parts relevant to this guide : iPod Classic Front Panel

Step 1 — Battery

Apple designed their new iPods to be very difficult to take apart without destroying major components. Because of the metal faceplate, the metal backing, and the 13 (yes, 13) metal clips holding the case together, this is one of the toughest iPods to disassemble. Proceed with caution and the warning that you may significantly damage your iPod beyond its present condition. Also, you may want a few extra pairs of iPod opening tools during installation, as they are easy to ruin when opening the iPod. Have fun!

Before opening your iPod, ensure that the hold switch is in the locked position.

Step 2

Opening this iPod is challenging. Don't get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened. One thing to notice is the angle of the plastic iPod opening tool's tip while inserting it into the iPod. Ideally, the angle should be as vertical as possible while still clearing the edge of the rear panel.

Insert a plastic iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back of the iPod.

Step 3

Insert another plastic iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back of the iPod, leaving at least 1.5 inches of space between the two tools.

Step 4

At an angle, carefully insert a putty knife about 1/8 inch into the seam between the two opening tools.

There are thin metal rails running along the inside of the rear panel, so take great care when inserting the putty knife.

Once the putty knife has cleared the lip of the rear panel, pivot the putty knife so that it is vertical, and carefully (but firmly) wiggle it straight down into the gap between the iPod opening tools.

Step 5

Push with your fingers on the rear panel behind the putty knife to minimize bending. Slowly flex the putty knife, as shown in the picture, to ensure that most of the metal tabs on this side of the iPod are disengaged.

The theory behind this method is, rather than attempting to not bend the rear panel at all, to bend it in a favorable manner that allows you to easily restore it later. Therefore, any bend in the sides of the rear panel should be drawing the lip of the rear panel away from the iPod, rather than pushing out on the curved surface. This method also disengages as many of the side clips as possible.

Step 6

Remove the putty knife from the iPod and reinsert it closer to the corner of the iPod, using the same wiggle method as before.

If at all possible, do not bend the corner of the rear panel.

Step 7

Near the headphone jack, insert an iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back of the iPod.

You may find it easier to carefully flex the putty knife downward in order to create more of a gap for the iPod opening tool, but be sure not to bend the corner of the rear panel!

Step 8

Near the center of the display, carefully insert a metal spudger into the gap created by the iPod opening tool.

It is easy to create a noticeable bump in the rear panel here that is difficult to repair. When prying the tab free, try to have the metal spudger pivot on the edge of the rear panel rather than bending the rear panel outward.

Using the metal spudger, disengage the single clip on the top of the iPod.

Step 9

Near the other top corner, insert an iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back of the iPod

Step 10

On the other side, insert an iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back of the iPod.

You may find it easier to angle the iPod opening tool stuck in the top corner in order to create a sufficient gap.

Step 11

Remove the iPod opening tool from the top corner and insert it into the seam between the front and back of the iPod, leaving at least 1.5 inches of space between the two tools (as done on the other side).

Step 12

At an angle, carefully insert a putty knife about 1/8 inch into the seam between the two opening tools.

Again, there are thin metal rails running along the inside of the rear panel, so take great care when inserting the putty knife.

Once the putty knife has cleared the lip of the rear panel, angle the putty knife so that it is vertical, and carefully (but firmly) wiggle it straight down into the iPod via the gap between the iPod opening tools.

Push with your fingers on the rear panel behind the putty knife to minimize bending. Ever so slightly flex the putty knife to ensure that most of the metal tabs on this side of the iPod are disengaged.

Step 13

The metal clips near the corners are notorious for tenaciously gripping the front panel. It is necessary to disengage these clips in order to open the iPod.

Carefully insert a metal spudger into the area near the stubborn metal clip.

Step 14

Gently wiggle the metal spudger down so that it is all the way in the rear panel.

Step 15

Gently begin to disengage the clip from the front panel.

It is easy to create a noticeable bump in the rear panel here that is difficult to repair. When prying the tab free, try to have the metal spudger pivot on the edge of the rear panel rather than bending the rear panel outward.

Step 16

Continue to push up on the front panel with the metal spudger until the metal clip releases.

Step 17

There are two ribbon cables connecting the rear panel to the rest of the iPod. In the following step, be careful not to damage these ribbon cables.

Grasp the front panel assembly with one hand and the rear panel with the other.

Take a deep breath!

Gently (GENTLY) disengage the remaining clips on the rear panel by pulling the tops of the front and rear panels away from each other (think of the bottom of the iPod as a hinge), taking great care not to damage the ribbon cables holding the two halves together.

Step 18

Use a spudger to slide up the connector holding the orange battery ribbon in place. You only need to lift the locking bar up about 2 mm to free the cable.

Slide the orange battery ribbon out of its connector.

Step 19

Place the rear panel next to the iPod, being careful not to strain the orange headphone jack cable.

Step 20

Lift the hard drive up with one hand so you can access the headphone jack ribbon beneath.

Use a spudger to flip up the plastic tab holding the headphone jack ribbon in place. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

Slide the orange headphone jack ribbon out of its connector.

The rear panel is now free from the iPod.

Step 21

Now to repair the damage caused by liberating the internal parts of the iPod Classic! It is highly likely that at least one of the metal clips in the lower case has been bent upward. These clips must all be pointing downward in order to reinstall the rear panel.

Step 22

Take the broad, flat side of the metal spudger and push the clip down, taking care not to tear the thin metal rail from the rear panel.

Be careful not to damage any of the headphone jack parts while shaping these clips!

Step 23

On a clean, hard surface, lay the rear panel on its side. Carefully but firmly push down on it, rolling the entire lip side back into its proper spot.

It may be necessary to do this multiple times in order to achieve optimal straightness on the sides. It is better to have the edges of the case pushed in slightly too far rather than not far enough, because the reseating of the front panel will bend the rear panel into its correct alignment.

Now that the rear panel is back to a beautiful condition, you can move on to repairing the iPod!

Step 24

Rotate the hard drive out of the framework and place it so that the connector is facing up.

Use a spudger to flip up the plastic tab holding the orange hard drive ribbon in place. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

Step 25

Slide the orange hard drive ribbon cable directly out of its connector.

If you are replacing the hard drive in your iPod and it did not come with the rubber mounting brackets and foam padding, transfer these items from your old drive to the replacement drive.

Step 26 — Front Panel

Remove the three Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework.

Step 27

Rotate the iPod 180 degrees and remove the three Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework on the other side.

Step 28

Carefully work around the edges of the iPod to separate the front panel from the gray metal framework.

You may meet some resistance, as there is a mild adhesive used to help hold the two pieces together.

Step 29

Lift the framework (including the attached screen, logic board, and click wheel) away from the front panel.

Make sure that the click wheel button is in place before reinstalling the framework in the front panel.

Step 30

The front panel is now free from the iPod.

Installing iPod 5th Generation (Video) Front Panel

Installing iPod 5th Generation (Video) Front Panel

Instructions on how to remove the iPod Video's front panel.

Tools used in this guide : Phillips #00 Screwdriver , iPod Opening Tools

Parts relevant to this guide : iPod Video Front Panel (Black) , iPod Video Front Panel (White)

Step 1 — Case

Before opening your iPod, ensure that the hold switch is in the locked position. The slider should be all the way to the right if your iPod is facing you.

Step 2

Opening the iPod can be challenging. Do not get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened.

Free the first retainer clip on the bottom of the iPod using the large iPod opening tool. The tool's edge should point towards the metal back case to prevent scratching the plastic front.

Step 3

There are five retaining clips on each side of the iPod. The large iPod opening tool will be used to separate the plastic front from the metal back of the iPod.

Insert the large iPod opening tool into the left side of the iPod, with the edge of the tool pointing towards the metal back.

Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the large iPod opening tool and moving it to the left.

Continue doing so until the entire side of the iPod is loose.

You can then insert the small iPod opening tool near the Hold button. Be very careful while inserting the tool, as the display is very fragile.

Step 4

Gently glide the small iPod opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to free the retaining clips.

The other sides of the iPod should now easily come loose. If they do not, use iPod opening tools on the right side of the iPod in the same way as on the left side of the iPod.

Separate the front of the iPod from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters).

The iPod casing is now open, but don't completely separate the two halves just yet. Two ribbon cables are still connecting the back panel to the rest of the iPod.

Step 5

Use a small iPod opening tool to slide up the brown connector holding the orange battery ribbon cable in place. You only need to lift the brown connector up about 1-2mm to free the cable.

Make sure to slide the brown connector directly upwards. The connector is frail and will break if it is accidentally shifted to the side.

Remove the cable from the connector.

Step 6

You should now have one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front case to the back.

At this point you are able to remove and replace the blue rubber bumpers, or continue with separating the case.

Step 7

Lift up the hard drive to expose the headphone jack ribbon connector (indicated by the yellow box).

If the hard drive bumpers come loose, make sure to put them back with the notch as shown in the picture.

Step 8

With the small iPod opening tool, gently lift the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

Using your fingers, pull out the headphone jack ribbon cable.

Step 9

The front and back of the iPod should now be completely separated.

Step 10 — Hard Drive

Use a small iPod opening tool to release the black hinge holding the hard drive ribbon cable. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees towards the logic board, releasing the ribbon cable.

Use your forefinger to hold the ribbon cable in place; disconnect the drive from the ribbon cable.

Make sure the hard drive rubber side bumpers are attached to the drive being installed. Use the hard drive rubber side bumper installation guide to accomplish this task.

If necessary, the blue foam padding on the hard drive might also need to be transferred to the replacement drive.

Step 11 — Front Panel

Remove the three black Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework.

Rotate the iPod laterally 180 degrees and remove the three black Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework on the other side.

Step 12

You may meet some resistance near the center of the iPod as there is a mild adhesive used to help hold the two pieces together.

Carefully work around the edge of the iPod to separate the front panel from the gray metal framework.

Lift the framework (including the attached display, logic board, and click wheel) away from the front panel.

Make sure that the click wheel button is in place before reinstalling the framework in the front panel.

Step 13

The front panel should now be free from the rest of the iPod.