I noticed this 8300 series was missing from the FAQ, so here it is.

First, you will need both a T-5 and T-6 driver.

Remove the battery cover, and the two T-5 screws at the top.



Next, remove the bottom piece. This may require some GENTLE prying from the hole that is located somewhat underneath it. Be very careful with this step, try and pull the piece away. The brown ribbon underneath is the antenna, and if this is damaged then you will have 0 reception.



Next, gently pull back the side pieces. Note that these are still attached at the bottom, you simply want to loosen the clips. This step may not be necessary, but I have found that it lets the front come off more easily.



Then, gently remove the front plate. There may be a seal between the front faceplate and the LCD that will want to stick to LCD. You may need to replace this seal if it doesn't come off in one piece. Once this step is done the keyboard will be lose and may just fall out, depending on how you are holding the device.



Now, remove the 2 bottom screws using a T-6 driver.



Next, remove the 2 center screws, using your T-6 driver.



This will separate the back and center pieces.



At this point you can access the LCD and all internal workings of the device. Simply reverse the directions to reassemble. I have noticed that the side pieces should go on TOP on the metal around the LCD for the best fit, even though it looks at first like they should go between the metal and the circuit board.

If removal of the lcd is necessary (for example: you got the device wet and want to alcohol wash the circuit board) the lcd display is delicate and is stuck to the circuit board pretty good. it's recommended to use a credit card between the display and the circuit board to gently pry the display off of the circuit board.


Do this in a clean environment, and it is recommended to wear gloves, as fingerprints on the screen are quite the pain to remove.

Nice resource. Thanks for doing this.

It is nice to know this. Maybe it should be a sticky.
Oh man, I hope I won't have to take mine (8310) apart unless someone comes out with a 3G upgrade.

You are welcome. I had to take mine apart to replace the handset speaker, as mine somehow got blown and was very rattly. Luckily Steve over at HorizonWirelessOnline.com - Horizon Wireless, The World’s Cellular Repair Center ß hooked me up with a new one, but I figured since this was missing from the FAQ I would take pics as I went along.

Wirelessly posted (By Super Blackberry)

Hey Nick, the top tabs from the sides where the screws go into the face plate, do they go in between the metal lcd plate or on top? When I replaced the face plate on mine it looked like they went between the metal and the board.

At first I thought they went between as well, but it sure fits a lot better with the plastic on top of the metal as far as a good seal. I have edited the OP to reflect this

Great guide Nick, 2 thumbs up!!!

Nice guide, yea! Thanks.

i am having a hell of a hard time at the step where you remove the front faceplate. I was successful all the way up to this point. ANy idea what is preventing me from pulling the front face off? I don't want to yank it, but it seems that it does not want to come off.

Let me know if there is a trick to this. I followed the instructions to a "T" and have pulled back the side pieces. It almost looks like the entire unit wants to come with the plate.

Let me know

Yes, there IS a trick that is not mentioned. The faceplate has a seal on it that sticks pretty good to the lcd display. I have disassembled two of these and on one the seal came off in one piece and still attached to the front face plate. On the other the foam seal tore and I had to replace it. This is the hardest BB to disassemble of all the models I've tried.

Sorry guys, the 8330 that I used for this guide doesn't have that. While there is a thin foam seal, it is VERY securely attached to the front plate and did not stick at all to the LCD. I will edit the guide to include this, thanks.

Thanks for letting us know. But care to let us know what the trick is to get it off without an issue?

Should I be sliding in a screwdriver and trying to remove the seal from the faceplate and the LCD? I don't really want to play around with the LCD, so any helpful tips would be appreciated. What I really want to try and do is access the keyboard and see if there is something underneath it that is causing it not to function for specific keys.

I vote for a sticky!

nice guide.... scary tho. hope i never havta do that to mine, just cleaning the trackball was too much for me! haha

Haha, I know the feeling. Luckily this is a Verizon paid device, so I figured worst case I mess it up, and I am not out of pocket anything. Made it a little easier.

Wirelessly posted

Hey if this gets out of your hands and you come to a spot where you messed up I suggest send it to horizon.

Either way your gutsy!

I already had to have Horizon send me some new screws, I busted a T-5 screw putting it back together. They are tops for sure.

Sticky? Please.

did you use a camera to take these pics?

They were taken with an 8130.

Good info, will need this to replace a broken screen on a Curve

You left out a lot of detail. The faceplate is harder to take off and a bit tricky.
Also the photos could have been much better. Way too fuzzy.
I don't know how this made a sticky?


Been there done that.
Crimsom Red faceplate install procedure for Blackberry Curve

I changed the housing on my 8310 using these instructions as a guide and now I get no signal and network info is no longer listed on the phone settings. I cannot identify any damage, but replaced the midboard on the off chance that I damaged the antenna. Still no luck. Any ideas or fixes? Thanks.

I am starting to get dust in the upper right top of my screen. Do you think that the seal needs replacing? If yes, then where do I get a new seal? If AT&T would get off their butt, I would just get a Bold.

Thanks for the info. I may need it one day or just want to take apart my 8330

When taking off the faceplate - did it seem that replacing the keypad would be a lot of work? Or is it as simple as replacing keypads on say - an old Nokia candybar? (Once the faceplate has been removed, of course)

How hard is it to move everything if you want to change housing colors? I want to go from silver to black, but I would need to change my antenna and keyboard as well. TIA.

nice guide

help... help
My Berry just got wet! the lower part of the keyboard and the mic.

I need help getting the bottom piece off!

never mind.... its off now
i just hope i didnt do any damage to the antenna

Awesome guide! Thanks.....

Guys my sim card holder broke so I purchased a replacement.
Will I be able to easily get to the solder contacts on the other side of the board so I can replace the socket?

thanks, rob

This is a GREAT guide! I also found a video of it on youtube, and I've replaced my red AT&T housing with a nice pink housing. It was as easy as the old Nokia or Motorola v series, really. Tools are almost the same, too. Maybe that is normal with cell phones, I actually don't usually run around taking my phones apart, contrary to my Sig Other's belief! HEHEHE. I will try to post a picture of it!

Nick

Wanted to check how to repair/replace faulty handset speaker for my 8320. Any help here would be very appreciated. Thanks

You should really take it apart at some point so you can clean out the dust. It helps.

thanks this was useful last night

nice writeup, going to try this when i get home

nice but I would like better pictures

indeed. very good. Opened my casing over 10 times with this set of instructions (to modify my light)