[Tutorial] How to swap iPhone Housing - iFoneHaX Network

Saduger · 02-29-2008, 11:13 PM

there are a handful of sites that show how to take the iphone apart, but nowhere actually shows how to remove all the delicate pieces from the rear housing. i've swapped housings on a number of different phones, but have never run into one as complicated and delicate as the iphone. so that everyone doesn't ruin their new toy, i'll try to walk you through the process here. i'm going to jump right into the housing assuming that you've already taken it off. if you don't know how to do that, google search and read one of the half dozen sites that show you how.
Parts you will need:
new housing
super tiny philips screwdriver. the one i found at Ace hardware didn't even have a number on it. all i know is that '0' was not small enough.
small flat head screwdriver
adhesive remover
super glue/adhesive
pen/paper
patience!!!!

once you get the back off you'll be looking at this:

note the location of screws and where things are glued to. i would suggest labeling all the tiny screws so you know exactly where they go because they are NOT all the same size. i took a lot of pictures throughout the process so i could reference exactly where everything went when i was ready to put it all back together.

once you remove all the screws and electronic components you'll be left with the metal skeleton of the oringal housing. quite honestly, this is the hardest part about the swap.

the skeleton is glued on by some crazy hard cement type glue. i couldn't seem to find anything to take it off so i finally went to Home Depot and picked up the strongest adhesive remover i could fine. this one removes concrete and flooring so i thought it'd do the trick!

next pour the solvent on the skeleton ensuring you get it in all the cracks. let it sit for about 20 -30 minutes after it's done it's job and using the smallest flat blade screwdirver you have slowly pry away the skeleton. be careful as these parts are extremely brittle. i cracked quite a few parts of it before i got this solvent and realized the 'proper' way to do it.
when you're finished you're left with this:

actually, i think there are a few pieces missing from that pic, but you get the idea.

the housing will then be stripped bare with nothing left on it

as you can see, before i went the super strong solvent route, i tried prying the crap out of the parts which bent a number of points of my original housing. no turning back now!

once everything is taken apart, cleaned, and dried, it's time to put it back together. i refrenced the photos i took earlier to ensure everything was put back in the proper place. i used superglue, but you could really use anything you wanted to hold everything in place. if you've gotten this far, you should realize how to put it back together

then it's simply a matter of putting the housing back on the phone and...
BAM! an all black iphone

for the sim card cover i sprayed SEM trim black paint so it matched the housing.

just a few of the many... out with the old, in with the new

Be Careful when doing this! Read Step by Step and make sure you really want to do this before you start...

Guide from mdwsta4

Omer · 03-01-2008, 03:52 PM

That's crazy. but doesn't it void warrenty?

Saduger · 03-01-2008, 04:00 PM

Yes it probably will void the warranty, because you are taking apart pieces of the iPhone.
But if you have jailbreaked it you have already vioded the warranty

Omer · 03-01-2008, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Saduger

Yes it probably will void the warranty, because you are taking apart pieces of the iPhone.
But if you have jailbreaked it you have already vioded the warranty

not really. That's why you have restore mode

Saduger · 03-02-2008, 02:49 PM

Restore mode

Yeah I guess thats true

fat x nub · 03-02-2008, 06:50 PM

im gunna send mine into colorware and have them do it for me

Saduger · 03-02-2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by fat x nub

im gunna send mine into colorware and have them do it for me

That is the smarter decision, but does it not cost more?

Pirate · 03-02-2008, 08:26 PM

CW only charges $99 that might be a more ideal idea

fat x nub · 03-03-2008, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by Pirate

CW only charges $99 that might be a more ideal idea

exactly...i would defiantly rather spend $99 than break the housing on my iPhone

CompChopper · 03-03-2008, 10:27 PM

The epoxy Apple uses is some pretty strong stuff. We use a heatgun for our plated iphones. I'm curious how your plastic buttons faired against the stripper you used. Did you have to paint them as well after using that stripper on them?

We are usually able to get all parts off without ruining or breaking any of the parts. The only questionable part,whether you're heating or stripping the parts off, is the plastic buttons.