APPLE IMAC INTEL 27 – HOW TO DISASSEMBLE - APPLE IMAC INTEL 27 – HOW TO REPLACE THE SPEAKERS – HOW TO REPLACE THE AIRPORT BLUETOOTH CARD

Apple iMac Intel 27 – How to disassemble - Apple iMac Intel 27 – How to replace the Speakers – How to Replace the Airport Bluetooth card

Apple iMac Intel 27

DISASSEMBLING PROCEDURE 

Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear case.
The hub on the iMac Opening Tool will keep you from pushing the wheel in too far. If using a different tool, insert no more than 3/8" into the display. You risk severing antenna cables and causing serious damage.

Use the tool like a pizza cutter - roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.

Be sure to always push with the handle behind the cutting wheel. If you pull, the wheel might get pulled out of the handle.
Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

Continue wheeling the tool up around the top left corner.

Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

Continue along the top of the display.
You may want to run the tool back and forth through what you've already cut a few times, to ensure you get as much of the adhesive separated as possible.

Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.

At this point, you'll want to run the tool back around the entire display, to ensure you cut as much adhesive as possible.

While the opening tool did the lion's share of the work, the display will still be slightly adhered to the case. A plastic card will be necessary to free up the last of this adhesive.
Set the iMac face-up on a table.
Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, insert a plastic card between the display and frame.
Be careful not to insert it more than 3/8", or you may damage internal components.

Gently twist the plastic card to open the space between the display and frame.

Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much - you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

Be sure to stop cutting before the iSight camera in this step, or you may damage it.

Slide the card toward the center of the display, to cut any remaining adhesive.

Put the card into the corner again and let it stay there to keep the adhesive from resettling.

Insert a second card into the gap between the display and frame in the top left corner.

Gently twist the card, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.

As with the other side, move slowly to allow the adhesive to break, and be careful not to over stress the display glass.

Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

Insert the card back into the top left corner.

Only lift the display a few inches - it is still attached to the iMac by data and power cables.

With the cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards to increase the gap between display and case.
If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the adhesive in the problem area.
Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.

While holding the display up with one hand, use the other to unplug the display power cable.

Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connections, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

Flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.

Disconnect the display data cable.
This is a delicate connection that can easily be broken. Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket, toward the top of the iMac.

Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.

At this point there is still a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the display, that will hold the display to the frame like a hinge. You can loosen this adhesive by working the display up and down a few times.

If necessary, a plastic card can be used to cut any remaining sections of the bottom adhesive strip.

Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply (boxed in red).

Be very careful handling the display - it's big, heavy, and made of glass.

Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.
It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.

With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs can be completed with the iMac laying down, but are faster and easier with an iMac service wedge.
Remove two 10.0 mm T10 screws.

SPEAKERS REMOVAL 

Gently rock the right speaker slightly to the right, to allow access to its cable's connection on the logic board.

Use a spudger to loosen the right speaker cable's connector from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the connector to the right to remove it from its socket.

Lift the speaker straight up and remove it from the iMac.

AirPort/Bluetooth Card

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect each of the four antenna connectors from the AirPort/Bluetooth card.
Note the original positions for each connector when reconnecting the cables—from left to right on the card, the antennas are connected in the following order:
Leftmost
Top
Upper right
Lower right

Remove two 3.7 mm T5 screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth card to the logic board.

To avoid damaging its socket, do not push the end of the AirPort/Bluetooth Card away from the logic board excessively.

Push the end of the AirPort/Bluetooth Card slightly toward the rear case and pull it straight out of its socket on the logic board.
When reinstalling the card, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.