EXTREMELY LOOSE "hinge"

[MRPEREZ67]

Hi, I've had the epic since 4g was officially launched in nyc . Since than I have exchanged it twice due to loose hinges aka "OREO" effect... is there any way to tigten the hinge on the epic. I really love my phone but I hate that wobble feel to it. Samsung could have taken a few pointers from htc when it comes to slide phone hinges(mda, tilt, htc pro, pro 2 even my touch slide feel better at sliding). Please help !!!!

 

[Cyber Warrior]

If you turn the phone over so the camera is at the top, on the right hand side near the hinges you will see a cut out, or what looks to be a cutout. There is a little notch in these cutouts. take a toothpick or eyeglass screwdriver and pop them out. under those covers there is a little screw. tighten it if you can.

 

[Balzak]

Good question. Mine woobles but I knew that going into it. As a former Pre owner...I guess Im conditioned. Its my understanding that sliders with a spring tend to wooble more than others. I dont if the HTC models you mentioned have springs or not. It is frustrating that wobbles may have been overlooked by Samsung. Hopefully there is a way. If not the pro's far outweigh the cons IMO with this phone.

 

[MRPEREZ67]

@cyber do you mean with the back cover off and the phone closed ?
@mike you're right, I also new that the epic would eventually loosen up, but it is very loose now.

 

[Mike77]

Mine is alot looser then I would like. With keyboard out you can feel the screen wobbling.

 

[Mike77]

If you turn the phone over so the camera is at the top, on the right hand side near the hinges you will see a cut out, or what looks to be a cutout. There is a little notch in these cutouts. take a toothpick or eyeglass screwdriver and pop them out. under those covers there is a little screw. tighten it if you can.

Could you provide some more info? Slider closed or open, facing front or back? I am not seeing what you speak of. Thanks.

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Can't find any videos or diagrams of taking the phone apart. Its instructions I found online. Seems its a design flaw in the building of the phone. You can take it to a repair shop and have the springs changed and screws tightened but who knows how long that will last for. Its most likely going to keep loosening up from everyday use. If you had the phone for under a year its covered under the warranty and you can swap it out for a new device. Again though its most likely going to keep happening after a while.
Here's a link to an online repair shop if you can't figure out how to fix it yourself.
Cell Phone Repair Services Houston | LCD Screen Repair | Unlocking | Data Transfer and More
I would just take it back to sprint and hope that you get a replacement device with a stronger hinge.

 

[BrianFX]

If you had the phone for under a year its covered under the warranty and you can swap it out for a new device.

Through Sprint without TEP, or directly with Samsung in that case?

 

[dwaynewilliams#WN]

It's difficult to find a slider that is solid. The only device that I have used that had a slider that was really awesome want the Droid 2. Everything else I have used or seen has been flimsy.

 

[jrz5024]

Could you provide some more info? Slider closed or open, facing front or back? I am not seeing what you speak of. Thanks.

+1. I don't see what he's talking about either.

 

[cwlackey]

YouTube - Sprint Samsung Epic 4G Galaxy S SPH-D700 Take Apart | Tear Down Video.mpg
This is a video of it being taken apart. I have noticed that there could be a few crews that could make the screen tighter when loosened. I am to afraid to take mine apart but if some isn't to afraid to mess around and see what happens then let me know please.