Thinkpads Forum

Hi all! I have been working on a T400 since April. It has been a slow process due to finances and time but I have assembled the parts I need. There is one problem that I have and that is with a hard drive caddy and the rubber guides. I had ordered a set from ebay ~2 months ago while I was away from home. I tried the caddy and rubber guide when I returned home and found that it does not fit well. The HD will not slide in with both rubber guides but will semi-work with one rubber rail. At this point I have the hard drive in with one rubber rail but I am afraid that some sort of torsional force may cause a break in the SATA connector sooner or later. Rather than go through a lengthy process with the seller I decided to come here and buy from people who I trust

Does anyone have a caddy w/rubber guides specifically for a T400 they could sell me? Thanks!

The caddies are the same as for T60/T61 etc.
The metal tray itself is identical to what you use in a T2x/T3x/T4x/R5x, they only apply some 'pulling flap' to it.
Use a piece of masking tape and stick that on in a similar way, cheap and cheerful, and works just as good.
The rubber rails come in different versions:
- soft rubber rails, (gray or black) as supplied with the laptop ex factory or with OEM caddies
- hard rubber rails, (usually black) as supplied with most knock-off caddies.
You probably have the hard rails, which are slightly thicker than the soft ones.
Try it with only 2 screws (at the 'flap' end), and if you are really desperate, use a tiny bit of lubricant on the outside of those rails.
Good luck.

Does the drive fit with just the two rubber rails (minus the caddy) -- and can someone say whether this is a safe way to install the drive? I think I have some of my drives installed with just rubber rails

Without the caddy it is more difficult to remove the HD, but HD + rails alone is a good option.

I sanded the rubber rails slightly and then they'd go in, snug but still removable. Had a set of gray ones that seemed thinner. The size of the screw-heads holding the drive in the caddy also seems to make a difference.

The gray rails are for the X61 and maybe others. They feel very thin.

Brad

If you have some silicone spray lube, apply some on the outside of the rubber rails and it will probably allow the drive to slide in. You might also try putting them in some hot water to soften them up a bit, but either the harder or softer variety should work in a T400, but if you want a pair of rails or a caddy and rails, send me a PM and we can discuss it, I have several different kinds.

RealBlackStuff wrote:hard rubber rails, (usually black) as supplied with most knock-off caddies.

Yes you just described the type of rubber rails I was sent. I am hoping someone on the forum has the soft and pliable rails instead of the vulcanized Goodyear type!

RRHODY wrote:size of the screw-heads holding the drive in the caddy also seems to make a difference

I thought of this also. Now I am not sure if the screws are the problem also. At this point it might be possible I was sent mismatching rails and screws!

TuuS wrote: if you want a pair of rails or a caddy and rails, send me a PM and we can discuss it, I have several different kinds

Awesome! PM sent

Thanks to forum member Tuus I have two rubber rails that work with the caddy and hard drive. The problem was the ones I originally had purchased from ebay were knockoffs and too thick! The pair that I purchased from Tuus are think and feel less stiff than the ebay pair. Thanks to all who chimed in!

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