can anyone offer me some help? I somehow got dirt or sand stuck inside the trackball area. now it is extremely difficult to scroll down. It makes like a scratchy/crunchy noise when i try to scroll down. Is there a way to clean the scroll ball out? would i have to somehow disassemble the phone? has anyone else had this problem?

There was a mod a while back for the 8100 that could help you get started with taking apart the 8800 (no Guarantee).
http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...eassembly.html

If I were you I would probably start at the store you bought your phone from or maybe try contacting RIM.

Try a can of that compressed air. =)

I clean my Pearl with it about once per week. Just to be safe I turn it off. =)

gently with your fingernail, remove the ring around the trackball and remove it to clean it.

It works for me....

A combo of this and the compressed air may be the best think you can do. While your cleaning the dirt I would sugest taking a q tip or a cotton swab with some alchol to the ball to clean any finger oils or small dirt deposits.