T42 Display Hinge Replacement...anybody done it?

[Matt]

My trusty T42 was recently subjected to a fall from an airline overhead compartment that cracked the left display hinge from its base.

I've been looking through the HMM and replacing the hinges looks to be surgery of a more severe degree than I'm comfortable with as you basically have to complete disassemble the display panel.

Has anybody done a hinge replacement? Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

Am I better off just swapping out the entire display assembly?

Or *gasp* sending it in to Lenovo for repair? Given how much overall disassembly is required, I can't help but guess that this will be an expensive repair job.

Any advice is most appreciated!

[zdriver]

It is not difficult to do, just requires patience & care not to damage your sxga working lcd panel.
The best option, assuming the base is intact where the lid mounts to it (all the damage is in the lid assembly) is to purchase a complete 14" lid assembly minus the lcd panel and do the swap.
2nd option would be to purchase the parts and have someone locally do it if you are not comfortable with the disassenbly and reassembly proceedure.
3rd option would be to ship the lid assembly to a forum member that has the parts and have them do the swap and ship it back.
The complete lcd swap & the lenovo option are cost prohibitive.

[BobA]

It is not difficult to do, just requires patience & care not to damage your sxga working lcd panel.
The best option, assuming the base is intact where the lid mounts to it (all the damage is in the lid assembly) is to purchase a complete 14" lid assembly minus the lcd panel and do the swap.
2nd option would be to purchase the parts and have someone locally do it if you are not comfortable with the disassenbly and reassembly proceedure.
3rd option would be to ship the lid assembly to a forum member that has the parts and have them do the swap and ship it back.
The complete lcd swap & the lenovo option are cost prohibitive.

Good options. I would add: Buy the hinge and replace it yourself. It's not hard (I've done it a lot) if you like to take things apart (and put them back together). One caution is that you would need to make sure you have spare screw covers (small black plastics that stick over the screw holes).

If you want to go that way, I may have a hinge I would give you for shipping cost .. but I need to check if it's the left one I have or the right one. I know I have a lone hinge without the partner.

[Robbyrobot]

I had to replace the left hinge on a T40 (broken during shipping) and that went well, but was quite a job because of the numerous screws you have to remove to replace the hinge. However, it is possible and not particularly difficult if you have the required patience. Based on my experience, I would replace the hinge rather than the entire display.

[smidgley]

Where in Utah are you located, Matt?