Replacing the stock hdd in a x220 with ssd

I actually noticed on the lenovo support website that mount method for the hdd is different from the ssd:

Lenovo Support - Hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSD) removal and installation - Thinkpad X220, X220i

the HDD method uses rubber rails to secure the drive while the ssd method uses spacers. So my question is where to buy the mentioned spacer? Thanks.

 

The part number is 04W1717.

 

I tried parts lookup but it says parts not found.

Lenovo Support - Parts lookup

 

Try this site to find the parts you're looking for, though ZaZ already told you the required part number of the SSD spacer.

System service parts - ThinkPad X220, X220i

 

Thanks! But the question remains, where can I buy these specific parts? ebay?

 

This might explain why I almost got my C300 stuck inside my x220t >.> Currently I'm just putting it in with the rubber rails but without the tray (did my own makeshift pulltab out of tape).

 

I found a place online that carries it, and ships worldwide, but $35 for some spacers is ridiculous:

Solid state drive spacers FRU 04W1717 - thinkpadonline Store

 

I'm pretty sure you can order directly from Lenovo by calling up for the specific part [US - 1-866-96-THINK (1-866-968-4465)].

I live in the UK and our parts can be sourced from the IBM site which is convenient but I don't think its applicable to US customers unfortunately.

$35 is quite steep, even our IBM site is quoting just £5.06 ($8.18) including our 20% VAT for them.

 

When you're the only with stock, you can charge as you please. I guess I'd just try to use the rubber rails that came with the hard drive. How different can they be?

 

Hmm.. this kind of kills my plan to replace this myself.

Not good.. not good at all. I thought it was to be an easy task.

/coupas

 

I'm not sure why you'd need to buy any spacers to install an SSD. I pulled the 250gb hard drive that came in my X220 and replaced it with an Intel 320 series using the same metal cage and rubber rails that were on the hard drive.

If the SSD is a 9.5mm drive like the Intel 320 series, just remove the black plastic spacer that comes on the SSD drive. Four screws on the corners, no warranty issues with doing this. Use smaller screws, I used M2x3, when reassembling. Then put the metal cage and rubber rails on and install into the X220.

If the SSD is already 7mm, just put the metal cage and rubber rails from the original hard drive on and it's ready to go.

This worked for me and was very easy. Pulled it in and out several times to swap out the original hard drive to copy files and it was an easy slide-in, slide-out every time.

 

I have to say, I like doing things "the right way"

But its an SSD no internal moving parts, can someone tell me how this matters one way or another?

Currently im rocking my X25-E in my X220 with rubber sleeves that were on the factory HDD. No issues, its not like a SSD creates alot of heat and they might melt or anything, haha.

 

I can't understand the problem. On my T420s (also 7mm thick drive) I took the rubber rails off the HDD, unscrewed the caddy, put the caddy on the Intel 320 SSD, put the rubber rails on it and put it in the computer. Perhaps Lenovo use plastic rails on the SSD to save a few cents because the SSD doesn't need any shock / vibration isolation, but I can't think of any technical reason for rubber rails and SSD to be incompatible.

John

 

Wouldn't it be harder to pull the ssd out if you used rubber rails instead?

 

Perhaps, but it still comes out when I pull the tab. Physically, a 7mm thick SSD is the same as a 7mm thick HDD.

John

 

I don't know why everyone is having problems. My Intel 320 went in with no issues. A 7mm drive is a 7mm drive....

 

My Vortex 3 went in smoothly.

 

You need to unscrew the caddy from the HDD and put it on the SSD. THEN put on the rubber rails. The caddy has the pulltab.

I made the same mistake the first time.