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Installing iPhone 4 Dock Connector

Installing iPhone 4 Dock Connector

Step 1 — Rear Panel

Before disassembling your iPhone, be sure it is powered off.

Remove the two 3.6 mm Phillips screws next to the dock connector.

Apple has recently substituted the two Phillips screws with 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws. If your iPhone 4 has 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws instead of Phillips, please refer to the second picture.

Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the dock connector.

During reassembly, we recommend you replace the 5-point screws with equivalent Phillips screws. Our Liberation Kit provides the tools and screws needed to replace the Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws.

The 5-Point Screwdriver should only be used once, as it has the potential to strip the screws.

Step 2

Push the rear panel toward the top edge of the iPhone.

The panel will move about 2 mm.

Step 3

Remove the rear panel from the iPhone.

Step 4 — Battery

Remove the single 2.5 mm Phillips screw securing the battery connector to the logic board.

Step 5

Use an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the battery connector up from the ends closest to the top and bottom edges of the iPhone.

Do not pry against the pressure contact.

Remove the pressure contact from the iPhone.

Step 6

Use the clear plastic pull tab to gently lift the battery out of the iPhone.

Be careful when removing the battery with the plastic pull tab. On some units, Apple uses an excessive amount of glue, making it virtually impossible to remove the battery in this fashion (with the tab possibly tearing due to excessive force).

For batteries that "stick", you could use the iPod opening tool to assist (take extra care whilst doing so).

Remove the battery.

Before reconnecting the battery connector, be sure the pressure contact (shown in red) is properly positioned next to the battery connector.

Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the pressure contact as well as its contact point on the rear panel with a de-greaser such as windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.

Step 7 — Logic Board

Use a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip to eject the SIM card and its holder.

This may require a significant amount of force.

Remove the SIM card and its holder.

Installing iPhone 4 Display Assembly - 1

Step 8

Remove the following two screws:

One 1.2 mm Phillips

One 1.6 mm Phillips

Remove the thin steel dock connector cable cover from the iPhone.

Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the dock connector cable cover with a de-greaser such as windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.

Step 9

Use an iPod opening tool to gently pry the dock cable connector up off the logic board from both short ends of the connector.

Step 10

Carefully peel the dock ribbon cable off the logic board and the lower speaker enclosure.

Step 11

Use an iPod opening tool to pry the lower antenna connector up off its socket on the logic board.

Step 12

Remove the 1.9 mm Phillips screw securing the bottom of the logic board to the inner case.

Step 13

Remove the following five screws securing the connector cover to to the logic board:

One 2.3 mm Phillips

Two 1.6 mm Phillips

One 1.4 mm Phillips

One 4.8 mm Phillips

When re-assembling, start off with replacing the 4.8 mm Philips screw first, then the 2.3 mm. This is to ensure there is no mix-up, and avoid rendering the LCD and digitizer useless.

Installing iPhone 4 Display Assembly - 2

Step 14

Use an iPod opening tool to slightly lift the top edge of the connector cover away from the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to pull the connector cover retaining clips away from the inner frame.

Remove the connector cover from the iPhone.

Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the connector cover with a de-greaser such as Windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues. Do not clean the connectors themselves with Windex.

Step 15

Use an iPod opening tool to carefully lift the rear camera connector up off its socket on the logic board.

Remove the rear camera.

Step 16

Remove the small circular white sticker (warranty sticker and water indicator) covering the screw near the battery pull tab.

Remove the 2.4 mm Phillips screw that was hidden underneath the sticker.

Step 17

Disconnect the following connectors from the top of the logic board:

Digitizer cable

LCD cable

Headphone jack/volume button cable

Top Microphone/sleep button cable

Front camera cable

It is helpful to use the edge of an iPod opening tool to gently lift the connectors up and out of their sockets on the logic board.

Step 18

Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the 4.8 mm standoff near the headphone jack.

Step 19

Carefully remove the logic board from the iPhone, minding any cables that may get caught.

Installing iPhone 4 Display Assembly - 3

Step 20 — Speaker Enclosure Assembly

Remove the single 2.4 mm Phillips screw securing the speaker enclosure to the side of the inner frame.

Step 21

Remove the speaker enclosure from the iPhone.

Before re-fastening the speaker enclosure to the inner frame, be sure the four small EMI fingers rest below the lip of the LCD frame.

Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points between the EMI fingers and the internal frame as well as the brass screw mounting point with a de-greaser such as Windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.

Step 22 — Dock Connector
Use the edge of an iPod opening tool or your fingernail to flip up the home button ribbon cable retaining flap.

Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Use a pair of tweezers to gently pull the home button ribbon cable out of its socket.

Do not excessively strain the home button ribbon cable as you remove it, as it is very thin and fragile.

Step 23

Remove the two 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the dock connector to the inner frame.

Step 24

Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to carefully peel the dock connector assembly and its ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the inner frame.