Josh

Reassembly Hint: My tip is to lay bottom case with the keyboard on the work surface with the rear edge hanging over the front of your work bench. Approach with the screen side of the lid facing the workbench and 90º to it. Lower the screen hinges into place. This makes it much easier to work with and reassemble.

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Use this method to get all 4 screws started and before you do the final tighten, back them off ¼ turn, close up the clamshell and lay it on your work bench screen side down Now make sure the top does not overhang the bottom and are aligned by running your fingers around the perimeter. When you are happy with the alignment, tighten all four screws.

Hope that helps.

My tip is to open the case so the screen is 90º to the base and then lay the MBA down with the keyboard on the work surface with the screen hanging down the front of your work bench. This makes it much easier to work with and reassembly is much easier.

If you follow this tip, go ahead and take all the remaining four hinge screws out now. You can now easily lift off the lid and set it aside. Now skip to step 36.

Reassembly Hint: Use this method to get all 4 screws started and before you do the final tighten, back them off ¼ turn, close up the clamshell and lay it on your work bench screen side down Now make sure the top does not overhang the bottom and are aligned by running your fingers around the perimeter. When you are happy with the alignment, tighten all four screws.

Hope that helps.

My hinge screws were T9, and fit very snugly. If your screwdrivers are not a precision set, such that the T9 is too tight, you can use T8, but it won’t be good for the screw heads.

Note 2: My replacement case came with the microphone installed, so check your case. You might not need to do this step.

As mentioned in the previous step, place it keyboard side down with the edge hanging over a table. This way it's at 90 degrees and it makes it easier to align and get the screws in.

@Pete H, nice tip, thanks. 8-)

My tools are from ifixit, just saying, also.

Correct! The screws on the Mid-2010 are T8. As far as the length goes they were 6.16 mm, 6.13 mm, 6.11 mm and 6.07 mm (measured end to end) and the head thickness was consistent at 0.85 mm on mine, so I,m going to go out on a limb ans say they are the same size. FYI, you can’t tell by eye any difference in size.

It would pay to check on which A1278 sub-model you were working, just to allow for sub-model differences.

In the iFixit shop: iPhone 5s/SE Home Button Bracket - Item code: IF124-042-1