DIY Google Pixel Fold Base vibration motor Replacement Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 63 Steps
This repair guide was created by our awesome team at Salvation Repair. While we’re not officially backed by any big names, we’re here to help you every step of the way! For more info on our repair guides, check it out here.
Get ready to tackle your repair with a smile! This guide is your trusty sidekick for swapping out the base vibration motor in your Pixel Fold. While it’s not officially backed by any big brands, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Need a little extra support? If you find yourself in a pinch, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 2
You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be cautious, as too much heat can harm the screens and/or internal batteries.
– Gently set your phone down on a nice, clean, and smooth surface with the back glass facing up—let’s keep it cozy!
– Grab an iOpener, give it a good heat-up, and press it against the bottom edge of the back glass for a solid two minutes. It’s like a warm hug for your phone!
Tools Used
Step 3
Get ready for the next three steps where we introduce the Anti-Clamp, our nifty little tool designed to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, feel free to skip ahead three steps for a different approach.
For a detailed walkthrough on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Just a heads up: ensure the suction cup on the inner screen isn’t making contact with the bezel, or it might not stick as well as it should.
If your phone’s surface is feeling a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, don’t worry! You can use tape to create a more textured surface. And if the glass is cracked, packing tape can help the suction cups stick better.
– Give that blue handle a gentle tug back to release the Anti-Clamp’s arms—easy peasy!
– Fully open your phone like a book and slide the Anti-Clamp arms over the left edge of the back glass, just below the big ‘G’ logo.
– Place the suction cups close to the bottom edge of your phone—one on the front and one on the back, like a cozy hug.
– Squeeze those cups together to create a solid grip on the area you want to work on. You’ve got this!
Step 4
– Grab a sturdy object like a box or a stack of books and slide it under your phone to keep it nice and level while nestled between the Anti-Clamp’s arms.
– Give the blue handle a good tug forward to secure those arms in place.
– Now, twist that handle clockwise a full 360 degrees or until you see those suction cups starting to stretch a bit.
– Make sure those suction cups are keeping it real and aligned with each other. If they start to wander off, just detach them and realign the arms like a pro.
Step 5
Take it easy and only twist a quarter turn at a time. Give it a minute to breathe between each turn. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic for you!
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t quite making that gap you need, don’t worry! Just heat up the area a bit more and give the handle a cheerful quarter turn.
– Gently slide an opening pick into the little gap beneath that back glass. You’ve got this!
– Feel free to skip this next step—it’s all good!
Step 6
If your back glass is sporting some serious cracks, try giving it a little TLC with a layer of clear packing tape. It might just help the suction cup stick like a charm! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also opt for some super strong tape instead of that suction cup. And if all else fails, a little superglue might just do the trick to attach that suction cup to your shattered back glass.
Now, depending on how seasoned your phone is, this might be a bit of a challenge. If you’re running into trouble, don’t hesitate to warm up the edges a bit more and give it another go!
– Start by placing a suction cup on the back glass, positioning it as close to the center of the bottom edge as you can manage.
– With a firm and steady grip, gently pull up on the suction cup to create a little gap between the back glass and the frame. You’ve got this!
– Now, slide an opening pick into that gap you’ve just made. Easy peasy!
Step 7
Keep that opening pick no deeper than 3.5 mm when you’re working on separating the back glass adhesive! Going too deep might lead to some unexpected internal component damage, and we definitely want to avoid that. Stay safe and keep it light, champ!
– Gently glide the opening pick back and forth along the bottom edge to break free the adhesive. It’s like a little dance for your device!
– Once you’ve got that adhesive moving, tuck the opening pick into the bottom left corner and keep it there for the next step.
Step 8
– Warm up that left edge of the back glass with a heated iOpener for a couple of minutes. Think of it like giving your phone a little spa treatment!
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Step 10
– Grab a second opening pick and slide it into the bottom left corner like a pro.
– Gently glide that opening pick upwards toward the top left corner, breaking free from the adhesive’s grip.
– Keep that opening pick in the top left corner, holding the fort while we move on to the next steps.
Step 11
– Warm up that back glass by placing a heated iOpener along the top edge for a cozy two minutes. You’re just getting the glass ready for some serious TLC!
Tools Used
Step 12
– Let’s get this party started! Slide your opening pick around the top left corner and gently separate the adhesive. You’re doing great!
Step 13
– Pop in a third opening pick at the top left corner like a pro!
– Gently slide that pick towards the top right corner to break free the adhesive bond.
Step 14
– Heat things up a bit by applying a warmed iOpener to the right edge of that back glass for two solid minutes. Just let the heat do its magic!
Tools Used
Step 15
Hey! That corner is super sensitive. Don’t be afraid to use some heat and be extra careful around it. You got this!
– This is your first move, so make it count! Gently angle that pick like you’re carving a straight line in the back glass, then rotate it around that top right corner. Separating that adhesive is all about persistence and maybe a little dance move. You can totally do this! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 16
– Pop in the fourth opening pick at the top right corner.
– Glide the pick towards the bottom right corner to loosen that adhesive.
Step 17
Hey, watch out! That corner is super delicate. Use plenty of heat and be extra careful around it. You got this! 😎
– Position your pick so it’s nice and flat against the back glass. You’re doing great!
– Gently move the opening pick around the bottom right corner to break free the adhesive. Keep it up!
Step 18
Hold your horses on yanking off that back glass! It’s still hanging on by a cable, so let’s keep it attached for now.
Alright, we’ve made it this far! The back glass should now be free from the frame. If you’re still feeling a bit of resistance around the edges, grab an opening pick to gently persuade any stubborn adhesive to let go.
– Lift the left edge of the back glass and gracefully swing it over to the right side of your phone.
– Now, gently set the back glass aside on the right to keep things moving smoothly.
Step 19
Alright, friend! Throughout this repair, keep a close eye on those tiny screws and make sure they go back where they belong. You don’t want to end up with a loosey-goosey device, now do you?
And hey, the Pixel Fold uses some fancy Torx Plus screws. But don’t sweat it! Standard Torx bits will work just fine. Use the same size or a bit larger (T3 or T4 Torx with those 3IP Torx Plus screws). Just make sure you apply steady pressure, downwards like a boss, so you don’t strip anything.
– Grab your trusty Torx Plus 3IP driver and carefully unscrew those two 2.8 mm-long screws that are keeping that middle bracket in place. You’ve got this!
Step 20
– Grab those tweezers or just use your fingers to gently nudge the middle bracket towards the left edge of the phone and pop that clip free.
– Now, go ahead and take out the middle bracket.
– When it’s time to put everything back together, make sure to tuck the middle bracket clip back into its cozy spot in the frame before lining up those screw holes.
Tools Used
Step 21
Okay, let’s get this connector back in its groove! It’s like a little puzzle piece. First, get those sides lined up, then gently press down on one side till you hear a click. Repeat on the other side. Don’t go pressing in the middle—you could bend those pins and that’s no fun for anyone. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
– Gently use the tip of a spudger to lift and disconnect the back glass cable from the motherboard. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 22
– Let’s get that back glass off! Carefully peel it away to reveal the inner workings of your device.
