How To: N85 Slider wobble Fix

**Moz** · 02-19-2009, 12:17 PM

I will start by saying I didn't think of this fix. I saw a sketchy video on it by Bernov.

Now, after suffering from slight right side wobble on the top section of the phone. I had a go at this fix.

This fix, doesn't actually touch the sliders. As they are enclosed in their own case, it is a real pain to actually get to them and open them up.

So what I've effectively done here, is fill a void. Under the bottom right section of the phone it suffered from wobble. By filling the void and letting the slider surround be padded out against the top half the slider stops all wobble.

So here is how I did it :

Step 1: Remove battery and rear cover. Remove the top to screws and middle two. T6 Driver needed for the top two, and T4 for the middle two. You can then remove the rear camera & LED exterior Case.

Step 2: Detach the OLED Display Ribbon cable from the board. You can do this with a flat blade driver and gently prise it from one end. It pretty much comes out when one end if lifted.

Step 3. Remove and isolate the top half of the slider. This holds the complete top half of the slider phone. If you look on the right hand side, there is a long peice of thin metal, vertically fitted. This is what we're focussing on.

Step 4 : Prepare some material the exact same length of the peice of metal. Depending on what tape you're going to use you'll need the tape and the filling to be about as thick as a credit card. I used insulation tape, which is fairly thick. So I cut two pieces of paper the same size for a filling. Card would probably be fine as well. The tape needs to be about 3/4's as wide as the paper is long. It's a good idea to fix the paper securely onto the tape first.

Step 5: Slide this under the small metal part. Ensure the paper width is flush, a little excess is OK. But no more than mine.

Step 6: Line the paper up so it's directly under the metal piece and the tape is square at both sides.

Step 7 : Fold one side over first, and ensure this is firmly bonded with the metal, and the folding corer is as tight to the metal as possible. Repeat this on the other side.

Step 8 : Once the other side is folded, it should look something like mine. Tight at both ends, flat and smooth. It may be an idea to use some black tape ( I'll come to this later ). Once you're happy with the tape fixed on, re assemble the top slider of the phone, but don't screw it back together yet.

Step 9 : Ensure before you screw it together, that the phone is sitting level and your happy with the bulking out. Mine sits perfectly level, and isn't visible in normal light conditions.

Step 10 : You're Done. You can see it's visible from this angle. I have the phone on Macro Setting and full flash. So you can see it's bulked out the void between the slider housing and the top casing. This is where it might be a good idea to use black tape, but you're being a bit pedantic if you're really bothered after peering in with a light.

Final Images:

Tips: As long as your tape is flush, this has no impact on the running of the slider. It's rigid and strong, if your tape isn't flush or secured down then it may cause the slider to not open fully, or catch. Although this is unlikely.

Be careful when removing the OLED Ribbon cable connector, and ensure it's square and flat when re attaching.

This fix only worked on my N85 which has right hand side bottom wobble. This was when the slider was open, or closed. This has now been fixed.

Opening up your phone may void your warranty, so please bare this in mind if you're intending to do this.

Overall process took me around 20 minutes. This includes picture taking times.

Tools : T6 & T4 drivers. And a flat blade screw driver of medium size.

**Micky** · 02-19-2009, 01:09 PM

Great HOW2 Ian, well done you brave soul.! Black tape for perfectionists like myself would have to be used if I were ever to do this.

**Moz** · 02-19-2009, 01:18 PM

Aye, I didn't think about it at the time. But I am not fussed really. I suppose I could always get a black pen and colour it in. ( Hmmmmm now I am thinking....)

In all honest the thing is easier to disassemble than the N95 when I fixed the slider.

Only 4 screens and a ribbon cable hold the two parts together.

Thanks.

**ETP** · 02-22-2009, 01:04 PM

Got to love this forum, eh!

**gibsg99** · 02-22-2009, 02:56 PM

This is a great post. My N85 has a slight wobble on the bottom-right side, so I'll have to give this a shot. Just a quick question: after you remove the ribbon cable, how do you reattach it? (Sorry, I'm not completely mechanically inclined)

**kyle** · 02-22-2009, 03:49 PM

Think I might have to invest in some new torx screwdrivers, It took some time before I was willing to open my N95 up and my N85 seems alot more delicate, think I'll have to apply this fix.

**Moz** · 02-22-2009, 05:31 PM

The cable just pushes back on again. Very easy to do. I can just say that the n95 was more difficult to open and repair.

**david c** · 02-25-2009, 08:34 PM

Great post.You explained the process perfectly.
Why don't Nokia make these phones with tight sliders?
I think everyone would be happy if Nokia used sticky tape if this meant they had tight slidders and no squeaks!!!

**kyle** · 02-26-2009, 04:25 PM

Erm I'm trying to do this fix, and I have got the first 4 screws out, but how do i then take the screen out?

EDIT applied the fix but the slide was too firm so I decided against it, however upon putting the phone back together my battery cover has become loose like many people mentioned, I never had this problem before, think it may be to do with the tightness of the screws

**Moz** · 02-26-2009, 05:27 PM

Hi Kyle, Ensure you're undoing the two T4 screws in the middle. This then released the front slider from the main board.

You don't take the screen out. Just unplug the cable from the rear of the front slider to the main board.

**kyle** · 02-26-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by IJM

Hi Kyle, Ensure you're undoing the two T4 screws in the middle. This then released the front slider from the main board.

You don't take the screen out. Just unplug the cable from the rear of the front slider to the main board.

Yea I managed to do it, i only unscrewed the screws with the red box around them in your picture, cant fix this battery cover though

**Moz** · 02-26-2009, 05:36 PM

You know what works under the battery cover, tissue.

I have some kitchen roll just folded up to fill the gap between the battery and the battery cover. It stops that awful rattle.

**Micky** · 02-26-2009, 05:49 PM

Its crazy when you have to resort to these measures to get your prized possession to your liking. I hope Nokia are taking note.!

**Moz** · 02-26-2009, 06:08 PM

Ha doubt it.

Crazy indeed, but I am really loving mine now. I still want an N79, but the level of depreciation on this device doesn't make it worth selling.

**mrpuppy** · 02-26-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by IJM

You know what works under the battery cover, tissue.

I have some kitchen roll just folded up to fill the gap between the battery and the battery cover. It stops that awful rattle.

Your best bet is to do a bit more "professional" of a fix. Go to your local hardware store and get some sticky insulation foam tape. This is usually sold for attaching windows and doors to keep air-flow out. My Home Depot had it in as small as 3/4 an inch, but that is still way too big for battery door repairs.

I simply take the tape, cut two to four strips depending on how bad the battery door is, and then trim about half of the foam off with a razor blade to make them a bit more manageable. Then just stick these to the inside of your battery door around areas that have squeaks or gaps and you're done. Solid fix that won't slide or look like grandma's purse when you open it up

Nice work on that slider fix. I'm glad someone found a good starting point to fix one of this phone's more annoying complaints. Still, the slider never bothered me as much as just the overall loose feel of all the other parts... Like, mainly the battery door.

**DOLwm** · 03-04-2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by mrpuppy

Nice work on that slider fix. I'm glad someone found a good starting point to fix one of this phone's more annoying complaints. Still, the slider never bothered me as much as just the overall loose feel of all the other parts... Like, mainly the battery door.

THE BATTERY DOOR? IT 'S SUPPOSE TO BE LOOSE? ****, i thought i could change it cause mine can slide with a little push of my fingers.

**quiverpigeon** · 04-15-2009, 09:01 AM

Hi,
This is fantastic and I'm very tempted to try it as my n85 has the exact same wobble you describe here.
I was just wondering though.. Mine has a terrible loud rattle when it vibrates, whether open or closed. Did yours suffer from this before this fix, and if so is it better now? This rattle bothers me a lot more than the wobble to be honest, but seems like the problems are at least related.
Many thanks!
Q

**Moz** · 04-15-2009, 03:48 PM

It did suffer from it before. Most N85's do, it helped a little but not a great deal.

**jagg11** · 05-10-2009, 02:57 AM

I'm gona say that although you call this a quick fix, I think replacing the slider mech is the way to go. I replaced mine and it's tight and proper now, they also offer one in the cherry black if you decide you want to change the whole look of your N85 without having to deal with getting a new phone. For the amount of work the slider is the way, if you have enough skill to do the sticky tape thing the slider is just as easy. I am changing mine to black or a hybrid of the both here in the next week or so I will update and submit pics on how this went.

**Moz** · 06-01-2009, 05:55 PM

Any update on this Jagg?

**jagg11** · 06-02-2009, 01:34 AM

I just got it in the mail and was waiting on a back up phone so that I can hopefuly take and post some pics, I got the Kit on ebay from overseas and for the most part it's pretty good quality obviously not OEM Nokia but it has all the logos just a bit more assembly than some of the more expensive kits I saw. the only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the quality of the shutter for the camera. it has all the proper markings just doesn't quite have the spring action that my factory one does, I located black sliders but I think instead of wasting the 15.00 that I spent to spend 35.00 I think the color offset of the black and the copper will look good. I am hoping to have it completely done in the next few days pending all goes well(work,recording and such). Sorry guys bare with me.

**jagg11** · 06-05-2009, 03:41 AM

This is no means for the faint of heart!!! If you have the money to spend BUY THE OEM KITS OFF OF EBAY OR REPUTABLE SUPPLIER!!! there are a couple kits on the bay for about 45 us and look to be oem those are the one to go after. the kit I have is decent, has all the parts with the exception of an antenna on the batt door or a usable camera housing, the little electric strips not there. you also have to transfer all your oem nokia parts ie, your vibrator, the speakers 3.5 jack, not a biggie, those pop out easily, the little copper or brass spring pins not so easy. more updates to come, it's been along night and only half done. I'll try and post pics but seing as how i'm using a substandard camera phone, not my N85 they might not be of the best quality.

**David891** · 06-05-2009, 11:43 AM

I wanted to do this mod so opened my phone, but then I saw a better solution for the wobble problem.

What I did was put the slider in the 3rd stand (where you have the mp3 controls) and attached some glue on the sides:

Only if you put the slider in mp3 controls, you still have the wobble.
Other 2 sliding stands dont have the wobble, and if the phone is vibrating it doesnt make a loud rattle noise anymore.

You dont need to open up your phone for this method, and you can only see there is glue on the phone if it is in mp3 controls stand.

The glue I used caused a lot of air bubbles, so that is what you see in the image. I think there are better glue's to do this.
Make sure the glue you are using gets hard after drying, dont use one that stays flexibel.

Just put thin layers on it and let it dry, until you are happy with it. (lot of glue and slider will struggle more to open, thin layer of glue and the wobble will not be completely gone).

Sorry for my bad english!

**Moz** · 06-05-2009, 09:15 PM

Not really sold with that idea, now it looks a mess.

**jagg11** · 06-06-2009, 01:30 AM

Me neither, I understand ingenuity, but cutting corners or doing a shoddy repair to say it's fixed isn't fixed. I admire the tape idea it's a solid repair before they had parts now they have parts. If you're not savy enough to pull the phone apart there are also many places now that I would say do a better job than nokia to repair them, seing as how nokia doesn't have parts they have send the phone in.

**David891** · 06-06-2009, 08:30 AM

I first wanted to do the tape mod, but when I opened my phone, I saw my wobble was way worse on top of the slider than at the pointed area where to tape (i have european phone model). Dont know if the tape idea would work for me so I did this method.

You can see the glue only in 3rd slide position, as I metioned before, which I dont use often (mp3 controls are on d-pad as well).
Anyone know how much spare parts cost? Cause I know it would be better as my temporary method.

**jagg11** · 06-06-2009, 11:16 PM

It's 15 dollars US look at a place called CNN
Nokia N85 OEM sliding mechanism- Nokia, BenQ-Siemens, Apple, Alcatel, Microsoft, HTC, Panasonic, 3G, SonyEricsson
here's the link it's just as easy as taking the phone apart. 4 more screws and re adhere the screen.

**David891** · 06-07-2009, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by jagg11

It's 15 dollars US look at a place called CNN
Nokia N85 OEM sliding mechanism- Nokia, BenQ-Siemens, Apple, Alcatel, Microsoft, HTC, Panasonic, 3G, SonyEricsson
here's the link it's just as easy as taking the phone apart. 4 more screws and re adhere the screen.

I expected it to be some higher price.
I think im going to buy it if i am able to get the glue off my phone

Maybe i will wait few days cause the dollar is getting cheaper every day

**David891** · 06-07-2009, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by jagg11

It's 15 dollars US look at a place called CNN
Nokia N85 OEM sliding mechanism- Nokia, BenQ-Siemens, Apple, Alcatel, Microsoft, HTC, Panasonic, 3G, SonyEricsson
here's the link it's just as easy as taking the phone apart. 4 more screws and re adhere the screen.

Including shipment that means 21 dollars. Think I try to get the glue off, and if that is still possible I will order this some day. (think Im going to wait till dollar drops even more in value so it is cheaper for me).

But 1 question. Are you garanteed to get a good working sliding mechanism without any kind of wobble in it?
And is it easy to replace the mechanism? opening the phone for the tape mod was not very hard for me.

**jagg11** · 06-08-2009, 04:34 PM

I don't know what guarantee you expect, but I have found them for as much as 40US and this one works great it's been over 2 months with no wobble and my OEM Nokia one failed within a couple of weeks, its a good product and the guys at CNN have great customer service. The whole point I'm tying to make is that it is a mod to do the tape not a repair even stated in the mod it doesn't take away all aspects of the wobble.

**David891** · 06-08-2009, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by jagg11

I don't know what guarantee you expect, but I have found them for as much as 40US and this one works great it's been over 2 months with no wobble and my OEM Nokia one failed within a couple of weeks, its a good product and the guys at CNN have great customer service. The whole point I'm tying to make is that it is a mod to do the tape not a repair even stated in the mod it doesn't take away all aspects of the wobble.

I mean the description on that site is saying: Nokia N85 OEM sliding mechanism.
So I thought, if that is OEM, why wouldnt it have the wobble.

**jagg11** · 06-08-2009, 10:36 PM

If you read enough of the posts on here you will see that not everybody was plagued with the wobble. I personally think this is the only reason these parts surfaced is because of the wobble. maybe they are a second run and it got fixed who honestly knows.

**watari** · 06-28-2009, 08:52 PM

wow thanks a lot IJM. this post is sure helpfull. gives me a relief that side to side wobble is fixable. but may i ask how the ribbon is attached to the bottom slider. you said that you lift it with a blade. how was it attached in the first place? was it glued or has a slot?

**Moz** · 06-28-2009, 08:58 PM

It slots in mate. It's a small connecter that lifts straight out with slight pressure all round.

**watari** · 07-05-2009, 07:49 AM

why do you need to put the paper inside the tape? whats it for?

**Moz** · 07-05-2009, 09:52 AM

This is to pad it out, You need to fill the gap to stop the wobble.

**watari** · 07-06-2009, 03:33 AM

but i noticed that the paper was placed underneath the metal bar. shouldnt the padding be on top so as to hold the bottom of the top slider? hmm just wondering sir

**watari** · 07-07-2009, 12:05 PM

hello to everyone. just wanted to ask/know how much RAM does n85 have? and what is NAND memory. is it the same as RAM? anyone?

**Moz** · 07-07-2009, 12:07 PM

watari , Please post this in the relevant section, this thread isn't the right place for such question.

**mipepim** · 07-29-2009, 01:38 PM

Perfect fix made by me
ImageShack Gallery

**mipepim** · 07-29-2009, 07:05 PM

Perfect fix made by me in less then 60 sec. Atention, little piece must be under the green button, dont do this on another side you can damage flat kabel!

**Geoffrey** · 10-14-2009, 06:41 PM

Hi guys,
Seems everybody struggles with the slider issue. I have send my N85 3 times to nokia for this common problem.
First time no fix, only renewed the keyboard. Second time they changed the slider mechanism and this felt great. But due software issues I had to send it once again towards Nokia. Now they gave me a new N85.
Loose slider issue starts all over again.
I contacted Nokia Care and they answered me that there is no service bulletin for problems with the loose slider. So there will be no warranty for that.

Strange, because when they repaired my phone the second time, there was no (zero) free play and the phone felt perfect.
Anyone know something more about this? If not, than the only solution will be the one that "mipepim" made.

**Geoffrey** · 10-18-2009, 08:47 PM

Question for the technicals here.
As written before I received a new N85. The only bummer I have is the wobbly, cheap feeling slider.
I've been contacted by Nokia after emailing about this issue. They told me that it's difficult to change the slidermecanic because it's attached to the motherboard.
It is possible to damage the motherboard if the slider gets unscrewed from the motherboard.
Is this true?

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