[Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE] Concordium:
Hey guys, I wanted to share with you my little kickstand mod I did on my black LTEvo. I know that the lighter kickstand can be purchased with the white chassis online. However, I have no need for an extra chassis and I am the kind of person that likes to take on challenges of doing things myself. So this is for all of you DIY'ers out there like me.

*****Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any results that occur as a result of this How-to. All actions, and subsequent rewards/consequences, are undertaken at your own risk. I'm not responsible, in any way, if your phone: becomes damaged, unusable, explodes, elopes with your girlfriend, or joins the Decepticons.

Having said that......let's begin!!

Tools & Materials:

T5 Screwdriver

#000 Screwdriver

Dremel optional

Dremel bit (Medium & fine grit sandpaper) optional

600-800 grit wet/dry sand paper

Needle Nose Pliers x 2

Precision Tweezers (ESD not required)

Lighted magnifying glass with stand optional

Safe pry tool

I have included linked pictures to give visuals for most of the included steps.

Section 1: Disassemble the phone

Please see this video on disassembling the phone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxMxgnMmm60

****Note: There is no need to completely disassemble the phone as shown in the video. All we need to do is get to the kickstand and get it removed. Once you reach that portion of the video then pause the video and come back to this walkthrough.

Section 2: Disassemble the kickstand

1 - Using the needle nose pliers firmly grasp one side of the hinge that holds the kickstand together.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20112643.jpg

2 - Using the other pair of needle nose pliers firmly grab the other side of the kickstand hinge. Slowly unscrew the hinge nut from the screw.

***Remember, lefty loosey, righty tighty!! This step, for me, was the most difficult because the pliers kept slipping off of either side of the hinge. Furthermore, you can only loosen the screw a tiny bit at a time before you have to let go, reposition the pliers, and again turn a tiny bit more.

3 - Once you have the hinge nut removed you can now pull the hinge apart and separate the pieces of the kickstand.

4 - Remove tiny metal insert from the base of kickstand hinge housing.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20112034.jpg

5 - Remove the tiny metal insert from the leg of the kickstand (where it met the hinge). This must be done or else it will end up flying out while you're sanding and you will never be able to find it.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20111754.jpg

Section 3:

1 - Now take your medium grit sandpaper (I used a dremel) and carefully, and very meticulously (which is why I used a dremel), sand down the red finish from the kickstand. This will be the most tedious and time consuming part of the project because you have to get the sandpaper into very tiny crevices to get all of the red out while maintaining a clean sand pattern so that the finished product looks attractive. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't rush this step at all unless you don't mind it looking like crap.

2 - Once you have finished sanding all of the red finish off of the kickstand take your fine grit sandpaper and go over the kickstand again. This will help smooth and even out the surface of the kickstand and will give it a nice professional looking finish.

3 - optional Using a buffing bit take your dremel and buff the entire surface of the kickstand. That, in tandem with the fine grit sandpaper, should help give it a nice shiney and even finish.

Section 4:

Reassemble the kickstand:

1 - Place the tiny metal insert back into the leg of the kickstand. Make sure that the teeth of the insert are facing out.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20111754.jpg

2 - Place leg of kickstand in "closed" position on top of kickstand frame so that it fits flush and the hinge holes line up.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20111905.jpg

3 - Push screw of hinge through all parts.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20112007.jpg

4 - Place tiny metal insert back into the hinge housing with the teeth facing inward toward the hinge.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20112109.jpg

5 - Place plastic washers, metal washer, and hinge nut over hinge screw.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f238/Concordium/2012-11-20112518.jpg

6 - Using needle nose pliers tighten the hinge screw. Be careful not to tighten it too much or you will not be able to open your kickstand. Give the nut a few turns and then attempt to open the kickstand. If it is too tight then loosen the nut a little. If it is too loose then continue tightening until desired tension has been reached.

Section 5:

Reassemble the phone:

Revisit the video from section one for directions on how to reattach the kickstand to the chassis and reassemble the rest of your phone.

Section 6:

Finished product!! I'm interested to see pictures of anyone else that decides to attempt this modification!!

Update:

Just modded my camera lens as well!

****DISCLAIMER: Same as above

Materials:

600+ Grit wet/dry sandpaper

Fingernails or Safe Pry Tool

1 - Remove top back cover from phone.

2 - Look on inside of back cover.

3 - Using a safe pry tool or fingernails, GENTLY pry up the camera lens from within the inside of the back cover. Make sure not to break the snapping tabs that secure it onto the cover.

4 - Cut a 2"x2" section of sand paper and fold it into a 1" square.

5 - Hold the sandpaper at a 45 degree angle against the red ring you are sanding.

6 - Sand away all traces of red.

7 - Place camera lens back into the inside of rear cover. Make sure to align the snap holes that secure it into place so that it snaps in properly.

8 - Place back cover back onto phone.

9 - Enjoy your new clean look!

Unfortunately, I did not have any 600+ grit sandpaper to use when I did mine. So I had to use a coarser grit and the final product didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to. 600+ grit will work very well for this application as well as the kickstand.