I also have the same issue. It's faulty temp sensor in the trackpad. I just replaced the logic board and realized that it wasn't the board to begin with but the sensor. I had two other customer laptops with the same exact issue (very slow, fans running high, SMC error in the diagnostics). Apparently the way the liquid spills, it hits the trackpad area.
“The upper screw goes through the metal bracket then through this plastic spacer.”
doesn’t the screw go first through the shield, then the speaker, then the spacer then the bracket? The wording here is confusing.
the other guides call the same screws 7mm and 5mm. please say which one is correct
are you sure it's long, short, long. From what it looks like, it's long, long, short.
Did you try pulling them back with pliers? Are the hinges stuck?