iPod Video 5G — Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thick)
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iPod Video 5G — Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thick)
Used (Apple Original) · Model A1136
$23.90
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We are not selling this part at the moment.
- Used (Apple Original). Tested: installed in a working iPod and checked before it ships.
- 1-year limited warranty · 30-day returns from delivery
- Free pry tool in the box
- Completed repairs aren't refundable. If a part we fitted fails within a year, we repair it again.
Part details
About this part
Overview
Internal rubber drive-support insulators that cushion the hard drive/Microdrive — replace when pads are missing, hardened, or torn. They do not fix storage, electronics, or any exterior fit/finish.
Fitment snapshot
Match thickness, color, generation, and nearby hardware before ordering cosmetic or housing parts.
Product Overview
Choose this hard drive bumpers listing to re-seat and protect the internal hardware it supports on the iPod 5th Generation (Video) when the original rubber supports are missing, hardened, torn, bent, or compressed.
Use the Compatible Variants table below to confirm capacity, color, case, or order-number fitment.
This is an internal support part, so choose it when the original rubber supports are missing, hardened, torn, bent, or compressed — not for an electrical, storage, or cosmetic symptom.
What this part is. A set of blue rubber side bumpers that grip the 1.8-inch drive and hold it steady against the frame, so it does not rattle or shift inside a closed case. They are used factory-original Apple parts, sold at one price in one condition — there is no “new” version here. In the box are the bumpers and one plastic pry tool: no drive, no ribbon cable, no screws, no adhesive, and not the blue foam pad that sits on the face of the drive — transfer that from the old drive.
What this part is not. It carries no signal and no power, so it cures no electrical fault. A clicking drive, a sad face, a blank screen, a dead Hold switch, a charging or sync problem and a failed restore all have their own causes, and a fresh set of bumpers changes none of them — see Symptoms these bumpers do not fix.
Choose Your Option
This part comes in multiple variants. Confirm your iPod's capacity, case depth, and order number before ordering.
Use this linked storage option only for 30GB thin-case iPods and the order numbers shown here.
View this option →For original 60GB/80GB thick iPod Video hard-drive builds. Not used for flash-mod adapter builds.
You're viewing this optionWhat Is Included
Included
Condition: Used factory-original part. Quantity and exclusions: The listed part, set, pair, or configuration above is supplied with exactly one plastic pry tool. No other parts, tools, adhesives, or materials are included unless they are explicitly listed above.
Quick Buying Check
Buy this when
- The bumpers are gone. Lost or left behind during a teardown — the commonest reason owners land here.
- They are perished. Split, torn, hardened, or squashed flat so they no longer grip the drive.
- The drive rattles or shifts, or the case will not sit level, because nothing is holding the drive against the frame.
- You are fitting a 60GB or 80GB drive and the old set did not come across with it.
Diagnose first when
- Use the thick bumper set only for original 60GB/80GB hard-drive builds. Thin 30GB drives use different bumper geometry.
- Confirm the case depth by measurement rather than by the capacity engraved on the back — see Which build do I have. A shell swapped by a previous owner carries the wrong engraving.
- Are 30GB and 60GB bumpers the same? No. The thin and thick sets are made and sold separately, and the thicker drive needs the taller set.
- These bumpers cure no electrical fault. If the iPod clicks, sad-faces, will not charge, will not sync or will not restore, start on the part that does own that symptom.
Fit and specs
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1136 |
| EMC | EMC 2065 |
| Condition | Used — factory original Apple part. Normal cosmetic wear expected. |
Which build do I have — thin or thick?
Measure the depth. Do not read the engraving. Apple published both figures: the 30GB is 0.43 inch deep, and the 60GB and 80GB are 0.55 inch. Stand the iPod on its edge against a ruler, or run calipers across the back — roughly three millimeters separate them, and side by side it is obvious.
The rear shell is the part previous owners replace most often, and a borrowed shell carries the other iPod’s capacity engraving. When the depth and the engraving disagree, the depth governs: case depth decides the drive height, the side bumpers, the backplate, the battery and the headphone-jack and Hold flex. The number stamped on the back decides none of them.
The surer test, once the iPod is open, is the drive. The thin build carries a 5 mm drive; the thick build an 8 mm one. Bumpers follow the drive that is in the iPod now — if a previous owner already changed it, the drive in your hand decides the set, not the capacity on the back.
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA147LL/A | 60GB | Black | thick | Yes | — |
| MA003LL/A | 60GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| MA450LL/A | 80GB | Black | thick | Yes | — |
| MA448LL/A | 80GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| MA146LL/A | 30GB | Black | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
| MA446LL/A | 30GB | Black | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
| MA452LL/A | 30GB | U2 Special | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
| MA664LL/A | 30GB | U2 Special | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
| MA002LL/A | 30GB | White | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
| MA444LL/A | 30GB | White | thin (0.43 in) | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set Use Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thin) instead. |
Install and repair
Install Overview
Before You Start
Turn Hold off, then reset: toggle Hold on and off and hold Menu + Select — Select is the center button — for 6 to 10 seconds, until the Apple logo. Confirm the model and variant before opening the iPod.
Treat case opening as the highest handling risk. Work around the seams gently and stop if the shell, clips, or internal stack resist.
Do not pull the halves apart or side-load board sockets. Reseat nearby ribbons and connectors before blaming a replacement part.
Confirm thickness, color, screw points, and nearby hardware alignment before pressing the case fully closed.
If the display shows pressure marks, dark spots, bowing, or lifting after repair or battery replacement, stop reassembly and inspect internal fit before treating the display alone as failed.
If the symptom appeared after opening the iPod or replacing a part, inspect and reseat nearby ribbon cables and connectors before assuming the replacement part is bad.
Verify the exact generation, capacity/thickness variant, connector, and part listing before ordering; similar-looking iPod parts are not always interchangeable.
Disassembly Guide
Disassembly guide summary: iPod 5th Generation (Video) Side Bumpers Replacement.
Show all 12 installation steps
Before opening the iPod, confirm that the hold switch is locked. With the iPod screen-side down and facing you, the slider should sit all the way to the right.
Do not get discouraged if the iPod takes several opening attempts; work slowly until the case releases. Release the first bottom retainer clip with the plastic opening tool. Point the tool edge toward the metal rear case to avoid scratching the plastic front.
Use these retaining clip locations: four along each side, one on top, and two along the bottom. This helps avoid frustration and reduces the chance of scratching the plastic cover.
Each side of the iPod has four retaining clips. Use a plastic opening tool to separate the plastic front from the metal rear case. Slide the plastic opening tool into the iPod's left side with the tool edge pointed toward the metal rear case. A small guitar pick can help with opening. Place it in the seam and slide it around the case to release the clips more smoothly. Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the plastic opening tool and moving it to the left. Keep working this way until the entire side of the iPod is loose. Then slide a plastic opening tool to the right of the Hold button. Work very carefully while inserting the tool because the display is fragile.
Gently glide the plastic opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to release the retaining clips. The other sides of the iPod should now release easily. If they do not, work plastic opening tools along the right side the same way you did on the left side. In this step, separate the front of the device from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters). The iPod casing is now open, but do not fully separate the two halves yet. Two ribbon cables still connect the back panel to the remaining iPod assembly.
With angled tweezers or a plastic opening tool, slide the brown connector latch upward where it secures the orange battery ribbon cable. Pull from both sides of the latch. Lift it only about 1-2 mm to release the cable; do not lift farther or remove it, or the white connector may come with it. Do not raise the assembly very far; lifting too high could pull the battery connector out of the logic board. Move the brown connector straight upward. It is fragile and can break if shifted to the side. Hooks at the bottom hold the cable in place. If an arm breaks, reinstalling the battery cable becomes difficult; put the cable in the slot and press the brown holder into place to stop the cable from slipping out. Take the cable out of the connector.
At this stage there should be one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front housing to the back. At this stage, replace the blue rubber bumpers in their original orientation, confirm they support the drive evenly, and begin reassembly. Continue into deeper case separation only when a separate, identified repair requires it; that extra cable removal adds damage risk.
Raise the hard drive so the headphone jack ribbon connector is exposed. If the hard drive bumpers come loose, put them back with the notch seated in its original orientation.
With the plastic opening tool, gently raise the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab can rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable. With your fingers, draw out the headphone jack ribbon cable.
The front and rear case halves should now be fully separated.
With a small plastic opening tool, release the black hinge clamping the hard drive ribbon cable. Rotate the tab upward 90 degrees toward the logic board to free the ribbon cable. With your forefinger, hold the ribbon cable in place; detach the drive from the ribbon cable. Confirm that the hard drive rubber side bumpers are installed on the drive. If needed, transfer the blue foam padding from the hard drive to the replacement drive.
Fit the bumper with the corner sidewall on the drive side that meets the hard-drive bracket, and the two smaller edge bumpers on the opposite side with a gap between them. Seat both sides snugly so the drive cannot shift.
Product-specific placement, reassembly, and check
- Prepare and access. Confirm the exact model and listing fit first. Use the existing steps as a disassembly guide, gather the specified tools, disconnect power where applicable, and keep screws and cable positions organized.
- Place Hard Drive Rubber Insulators (Thick). Place the matching support pieces around the drive in the same orientation as the originals; do not substitute thin and thick case parts.
- Reassemble without force. Reverse only the access steps needed for this repair, keep cables clear of case edges and screw posts, and close clips in stages.
- Validate before final closure. Before final closure, confirm the storage stack sits level, nearby ribbons are clear, and nothing rattles or requires pressure to close.
Stop condition: Stop if a connector, latch, screw, clip, housing edge, or the replacement part resists normal alignment. Recheck model fit, orientation, cable routing, and trapped hardware instead of forcing it.
After This Repair
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Seat the support pieces | Confirm the rubber supports sit evenly and do not lift, twist, or leave the internal stack loose. |
| Check for pressure or rattle | Before final closure, make sure nearby ribbons are not pinched and the internal stack does not rattle. |
Troubleshooting
Do Not Buy / Problems This Part Does Not Fix
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| You have Thin 30GB iPod Video chassis - use the thin bumper set | Use the thin bumper set. |
| Flash-mod or SD adapter builds - use the adapter foam or thermal pads instead | Use the adapter foam or thermal pads instead. |
| You have an iPod Classic 6G/7G A1238 unless the SKU explicitly cross-lists that model | The iPod Classic (A1238) is a different family with its own parts — neither 5G bumper listing is cross-listed for it. |
| Dock-area rubber spacers - those are smaller separate pieces near the dock connector | Use the correct fitment listing instead. |
| Storage symptoms should be checked against the hard drive, hard-drive cable, flash adapter, battery load, and board connector before ordering bumpers | Start with the hard drive, flash storage, or drive cable check. |
| Exterior case or trim damage belongs on the faceplate, backplate, or housing check rather than the internal drive-support check | Use the matching exact-model faceplate, backplate, or housing listing after identifying the damaged exterior part. |
| The only problem is an internal electronic symptom with no physical damage to this part | Start with the relevant power, storage, audio, display, or control diagnosis instead of a housing part. |
| The replacement would not match the case depth, color, or capacity family you are repairing | Confirm the exact model, capacity, connector, and case variant before ordering. |
Symptoms these bumpers do not fix
These are rubber supports. They hold the drive still; they carry no signal and no power, so they cure no electrical fault. Every symptom below sends people to this page and none of them is answered by a fresh set of bumpers.
| What you are seeing | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| The iPod appears locked, or the Hold switch does not match what the iPod does | The Hold slider rides on the headphone-jack assembly — headphone jack & Hold switch (thick — 60/80GB) for this build, or the thin — 30GB assembly if the case depth says otherwise. |
| A control is dead, intermittent, or only partly responsive | That is the click wheel and its ribbon, or the center button — start on the click-wheel page for your color in the parts collection. |
| Blank screen, white or black display, missing backlight, or lines on the screen | LCD screen (5G) or LCD screen (Enhanced) for your build. A pressure mark, a dark patch or a panel that lifts or bows is the battery swelling behind the display, not a support part — battery (thick — 60/80GB). |
| Charging, USB recognition, sync, or dock behavior is intermittent or missing | That is the soldered 30-pin port on the logic board, not an internal support — start with the cable and battery checks, then the logic-board page for your build. |
| Clicking or grinding, a sad face, a folder icon, a red X, or a restore that fails | Storage: Replacement Hard Drive (60GB) or (80GB), then the ribbon — hard drive cable (Toshiba) or (Hitachi), matched to the make of the drive fitted. |
Fitting a different drive? Height decides the parts: identify the starting case, the actual drive height and the clearance you have before ordering bumpers, a backplate, a jack flex or a battery — and check the drive, its cable and the battery before treating cushions as the fix.
Worth Knowing
- Owner-verified failure mode: installing a thick-case part in a thin 30GB case compresses the LCD panel against the internals — dark pressure marks or permanent panel damage. Thin and thick batteries, headphone jacks, backplates, and side bumpers are NOT interchangeable between case variants.
What Owners Report
These are anecdotal owner reports, not guarantees or authoritative proof that a particular part will fix a symptom. This one is here because it is the question buyers of a support part actually arrive with: what fits what.
5G, Enhanced, thin, thick — what fits what during upgrades and rebuilds
Owners describe it as: not knowing whether 30GB parts fit a 60/80GB build, whether a thick iPod can become thin after a flash conversion, whether another iPod family's case can be borrowed, and how big the storage can go.
Two axes. Family: the 2005 original and the 2006 Enhanced share these parts. Build: the 30GB is the thin case, the 60/80GB the thick one — backplate depth, battery, headphone-jack and Hold flex and drive bumpers follow the build, not the family. The later iPod Classic is a different family with its own pages.
Capacity. The adapter maker's guidance is a suggestion by build, not a tested ceiling: around 128GB to 256GB on a 30GB Video, 256GB to 512GB on the 60/80GB. On stock Apple firmware, format preparation, card quality and the restore host matter more than the headline number. We name only the capacities we build and test.
Caution. Match the battery to the case you end up with: a thick cell closed into a thin case does not sit properly and presses on the display. Reported by 6 owners.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right internal support part?
Match the model generation, 60GB/80GB thick-case depth, drive geometry, and exact internal location. These bumpers are not selected by color or finish.
Will this fix internal electronics symptoms?
No. This is an internal support part that cushions or holds hardware in place. Diagnose power, storage, audio, screen, and control faults separately.
Do I need bumpers for a flash mod?
Start with the flash-mod route for SD-card or flash-storage upgrade intent. Use these bumpers only to support the matching original hard-drive configuration; a flash adapter may require its own specified support or padding.
Does this include the foam padding?
No. This listing is the blue rubber side bumpers only. The blue foam pad that sits on the face of the drive is a separate piece: when you swap a drive, peel it off the old one and transfer it, as the installation steps below describe. Owners report a replacement drive working without it, but it is worth carrying over when you have it.
Do bumpers fix clicking or a sad iPod?
No. Clicking or grinding, a sad-face icon, a red X and a folder icon all mean the iPod cannot use its storage — the drive, its ribbon cable, or the software on it. Bumpers hold the drive still; they are not in that path. Rule the battery out first (a worn cell that cannot deliver spin-up current makes a healthy drive read as failed), then the ribbon, then the drive. Loose or missing bumpers are worth fixing while you are inside, but they are not the cause.
Is this an iPod Classic?
Apple's 'Classic' branding started with the 6th Generation (2007). This is the iPod 5th Generation (Video) / iPod with Video family, model A1136. Apple's official name for this model is iPod (Video) / iPod with Video.
Search terms
Some buyers search for "1.8 inch ZIF HDD rubber bumpers", "hard drive spacers", "hard drive cushion", "iPod Video hard drive bumpers", "detached", "bumpers lost during teardown", "drive not seated snugly", "iPod Classic 5th Generation", or "Are 30GB and 60GB bumpers the same"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Why people land on this part
Also searched as: ipod video 5th generation thick hard drive bumpers, iPod 5th Generation Video Hard Drive Rubber Insulators, iPod 5th Generation Video drive bracket supports, iPod 5th Generation Video rubber drive supports, ipod fifth generation video thick hard drive rubber insulators, iPod Video 60/80GB Rubber Bumpers, HDD bumpers.
Questions people ask
- upgrading hard drive from 30GB to 80GB?
- Do bumpers fix clicking or sad iPod
- Does this include foam padding.
Free diagnostic
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