[Nexus 7 General] Summerfly:
The washer fix resolved the screen lift issue for many, however I've noticed that something doesn't quite add up. Using the washer fix mysteriously resolves(or partially) the issue of a springy/spongy left screen and the creaks and popping noise. The theory was that the screws was too long and tightened too far with the ends of the screws pushing the glass screen out and pulling the plastic silver bezel back.

There isn't a reason to why the springy screen or strange noises was fixed and neither a reason to what the cause was. Besides resolving those issues some people found it hard to push the back cover back on and still have bulging back covers and also bulging silver bezel. You might get away with this issue by putting washers on the two centre screws and taking out the washer on the top part of the screen. I believe this worked because the height of the screws gets elevated with the washers and pushes against the back cover and denting and marking it in some cases. If you managed pop the cover back on the increased pressure from the screws makes the plastic tabs pull on the silver bezel and warping it (maybe).

I thought maybe the culpit of the screen lift might not simply be long screws. But I didn't understand how the washers fixed it. After looking at iFixit teardown pictures I saw something else that could push down on the LCD unit and onto the screen. On the second picture of step 12 I can see large cut outs in the metal frame and on the back side of the motherboard I can see taped components. I thought it might be possible that the taping left creases and air bubbles on the pcb and the bulging of the taped components looks like it can press on to the LCD unit directly underneath. The cause of the popping noise and sponginess came clear to me now. The popping noise comes from the tape being pressed against it (it could be glue from the screen/bezel too) and the sponginess is probably the PCB bending :eek:.

I think what the washers did was lifting both the metal frame and the pcb up and the taped components underneath didn't press against the LCD unit anymore. This created screw elevation for some people and back covers can't fit back easily as I mentioned.

I didn't want any screen lift, bulging back cover/bezel. I thought maybe I can lift the pcb up without putting washers in and I thought of just wedging the pcb against the metal frame right next to the screws. I

don't recommend

anyone to just try jamming stuff underneath the pcb without checking out the pictures and have a plan first. There are components underneath and please don't push anything too far in. I've tried putting plastic blister underneath the pcb in between 4 screws and next to the 4 pin connector. They are just longer rectangles by the way and I trimmed the ends in the same way as the washer method. However the screen still bulges a little around the centre where I can't put wedges because of the ribbon cable. The bulging back cover problem is completely gone however. I think I will try to put one washer for the screw above the ribbon cable, because I can see that the pcb has a screw hole right under the ribbon cable near that screw. This should lift the pcb a little around the centre. However I'm going to put a thinner washer as I don't want the screw to get elevated too much.

Anyone thinks this theory is rubbish, or have something to add?

EDIT: I report success! Instead of typing out the same thing I will show you with pictures. No idea if this fix will last, no guarantees. I still have a little sideways bulge but my N7 is so close to being perfect now. I don't think I will change anything else for now.