Thinkpads Forum

I'm experiencing strange palmrest flex on my recently purchased used T400. Namely, it occurs on all the half closest to user (and to laptop edge that contains mic/headphones ports), and is as large as about 0.5 or 1mm up/down. Also, there is some lighter (maybe 0.1mm), but more noticeable (as if it cracked/shifted someway) palmrest flex just above HDD cover,
All four palmrest screws seems to be tightened enough; all latches seems to be closed.
Is this normal for T400? Do you experience the same?
Thank you in advance.

Yeah. If it looks anything like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrerGDrMYlE
It's normal.

If you inspect it closely when you're pushing down, you'll notice that it's actually the rubber feet that give way and cause the chassis to appear to flex. Notice how the rubber foot closest to the HDD area is inset a fair bit? This gets the chassis to shift diagonally, making the effect more pronounced. All in all, the chassis is very sturdy; it's been able to withstand many drops and impacts without significant damage.

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Yeah. If it looks anything like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrerGDrMYlE
It's normal.

I'm sorry, but i currently have no possibility to look on YouTube, will check it tomorrow.

If you inspect it closely when you're pushing down, you'll notice that it's actually the rubber feet that give way and cause the chassis to appear to flex.

If only it had been the rubber foot... no, i'm talking about the flex of palmrest relative to the bottom of chassis. That is, there is about 1.5mm on bottom chassis of edge closest to user, not covered by palmrest; and when palmrest flexes, these 1.5mm are turning into 0.5-1mm.
Please, forgive me my terrible English, i don't know how else could i describe this problem.

Is this in the near-right side? This is where the hard drive is.

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Is this in the near-right side? This is where the hard drive is.

Area of large (0.5-1mm) flex i've said in the previous comment is marked by green rectangle. It is similar to keyboard flex in area of Esc/F1/F2 on my X200s (as i understand, this is common X200/X200s flaw for some sorts of keyboard).
Also, there is a little (~0.1mm) flex in area marked by blue rectangle, it is little, but as noticeable as large one, and while it flexes, it makes some cracking or shifting sound (as opposed to silent flex marked by green rectangle). It is right above the screw which holds HDD cover.

Oh a T410, not a T400. I'm not sure then; I don't have extensive first-hand experience with one of those. Maybe someone else on the forum with a T410 could comment?

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Oh a T410, not a T400. I'm not sure then; I don't have extensive first-hand experience with one of those. Maybe someone else on the forum with a T410 could comment?

I've just took the first thinkpad picture i've found on lenovo site the laptop in question is T400, not T410.

PS: Wow, i've just noticed that T410 lid latch is similar to that of X200, and is on the case, not on the lid as T400 latch. Cool.

So, i've removed HDD with HDD cover, removed the palmrest and then again put the palmrest to T400 according to hardware maintenance manual (in my first trial, i've put it not from upside down, as shown in HMM, but from downside up, and there again was the same flex; in my second trial, i did exactly as HMM says). Then, i've put back HDD with HDD cover.
So, the flex in blue-marked area is gone; the flex in green-marked area is significantly smaller than it was, but still noticeable.
My X200s doesn't have this problem, there is not a hint of flex between the palmrest and bottom of chassis, as if it was a single piece (which it isn't)

So, do you experience the same problem with your T400?

For me, the HDD area does go down a bit as does the area above the UltraBay. It seems to be one of the particuliarities about this particular model.

Tightening screws doesn't seem to do too much, nor does reseating the components. It's still a solid laptop overall, and has survived many tough experiences in my hands.

Colonel O'Neill wrote:For me, the HDD area does go down a bit as does the area above the UltraBay. It seems to be one of the particuliarities about this particular model.

Tightening hinges doesn't seem to do too much, nor does reseating the components. It's still a solid laptop overall, and has survived many tough experiences in my hands.

And what about the green area on my above picture?
It is really uncomfortable to type with such a flex...

That's weird, I don't get any noticeable amounts of flex in that area while typing. It's only when I push down on a very specific part on the right side that gets the right side to drop a mm or so.

Are all of the rubber feet present on your laptop?

Colonel O'Neill wrote:That's weird, I don't get any noticeable amounts of flex in that area while typing. It's only when I push down on a very specific part on the right side that gets the right side to drop a mm or so.

Are all of the rubber feet present on your laptop?

Yes, there are all of the rubber feets, but, as i have said before, palmrest flexes relative to not the desk but rather lower part of chassis. It has nothing to do with the rubber feets, it is as if there were no screws connecting palmrest to the base (and actually there are four such screws, all tightened).
It seems, that after all, i've just got a defective laptop... i wonder whether replacing the palmrest with brand new FRU will help; and i doubt it falls under warranty.

Make sure the palmrest aligns properly, and squeeze (not push) the palmrest onto the chassis. For me, when I don't install the palmrest properly, it makes a loud click when the hooks engage. If the palmrest lifts up and off of the chassis relatively easily, inspect the lower palmrest edge; the hooks that normally attach it to the chassis may have snapped off.

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Make sure the palmrest aligns properly,

It seems so.

and squeeze (not push) the palmrest onto the chassis.

Sorry, my English is terrible, could you please explain the difference between "squeeze" and "push"?

For me, when I don't install the palmrest properly, it makes a loud click when the hooks engage.

I understand what you mean, but for all these days after reseating the palmrest i was unable to get that click sound, which makes me believe that either i'm doing something wrong with it or the latches are already closed.
Also, it still makes that click in blue area. So, it flexes a bit in a blue area, and i'm able to push it above hdd cover screw and get that click, and flex in a blue area is gone for a while, but then it may reappear.

If the palmrest lifts up and off of the chassis relatively easily,

It is not as easily. It is more like palmrest is connected to the base, but there is some freedom in how it moves (about 0.5-1mm), and some spring which forces the palmrest to go to the upper available position until someone will press it. That metal protrusions under the touchpad may serve as these springs; the question is why there is that freedom in palmrest position.

Squeeze as in apply force from both sides of the palmrest. Pushing would be only applying force in one direction.

Your English is excellent, so don't worry about it.

It shouldn't click if the palmrest is installed properly; it only happens to me when I forget and install the palmrest starting with the top.

Potentially, your keyboard may be misaligned; have you tried taking the keyboard off too?

Ultimately, I think the hooks on your palmrest may be broken. Look at it; there'll be little plastic tabs that normally snap into position onto the chassis. If they're broken, then you might have to get a new palmrest.

I'll try and get pictures/diagrams.

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Squeeze as in apply force from both sides of the palmrest. Pushing would be only applying force in one direction.

Then i did that squeeze, and after that i discovered that palmrest flexes relatively to the base.

Your English is excellent, so don't worry about it.

Don't praise me, at least in this thread i'm speaking highly thickly

It shouldn't click if the palmrest is installed properly; it only happens to me when I forget and install the palmrest starting with the top.

Shouldn't we install it starting with the top, according to HMM?

Potentially, your keyboard may be misaligned; have you tried taking the keyboard off too?

Not yet, but there is no keyboard flex. Will try to reinstall it later.

Ultimately, I think the hooks on your palmrest may be broken. Look at it; there'll be little plastic tabs that normally snap into position onto the chassis. If they're broken, then you might have to get a new palmrest.

I've already thought of it, but last time i looked it seemed that all latches are okay.

my T400's palmrest don't flex at all. What is the manufacturer date for your T400? it should be in the format xx/xx

Also that you picture you used should be either the T400s or T410s, because the T4x0s palmrest is separate to the keyboard/speaker bezel. While the T410/T510/W510 have one piece palmrest/speaker bezel.

lead_org wrote:What is the manufacturer date for your T400? it should be in the format xx/xx

It says "P/n:45N6128 2009-09-21R MADE IN CHINA"

Also that you picture you used should be either the T400s or T410s, because the T4x0s palmrest is separate to the keyboard/speaker bezel. While the T410/T510/W510 have one piece palmrest/speaker bezel.

I've just picked up a random picture on lenovo website