Sony PlayStation 3 – Disassembling procedure – How to remove the case – How to remove the bluray drive

Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3. The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show "VOID" after it has been removed.

Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

Remove the following seven screws:
Six 52 mm Phillips screws
One 30 mm Phillips screw

Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3. Remove the top cover.

Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard. Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket. Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself. Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket. Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3. If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard. Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens Data cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard. Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray drive motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.

Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray IR sensor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard. Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Remove the five 8.4mm phillips screws securing the Blu-ray control board to the Blu-ray drive. Be sure to also remove the metal ground springs from under the screws in the corners.

Carefully lift the daughterboard from the rear edge. Slide the daughterboard out from under the top case. Do not try to remove the daughterboard yet, as it is still connected by a cable on the underside of the board.

Carefully turn the daughterboard over, making sure to not tear the attached cable.

Pull the IR Sensor cable straight away from its socket on the board.
Besure that you are not pulling on the cables as you remove the plug from its socket.
Blu-Ray drive remains. If you are replacing the Blu-ray drive, you must use the same daughterboard that came with your PlayStation 3. The daughterboard is paired to the motherboard, and the Blu-ray drive will not work with a different board.