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Stick drift easy fix

Gamer79

Predicts the worst decade for Sony starting 2022
This will not work in all cases but in the majority.

I had 3 controllers with bad stick drift and this fixed them all. - 2:quest controller and an older 8bitdo pro controller.

The stuff is called wd40 specialist contact cleaner. I got a bottle for $8 at Amazon. I sprayed this cleaner using the red nozzle all the way around the edge of each controllers joystick assembly. I did not take them apart just sprayed a couple of big gusshes around each joystick.

They all work like new now. Sharing the knowledge!
 
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simpatico

Member
Oh man contact cleaner is great. It's basically aerosolized isopropyl. No worries about drying it off since it just evaporates in seconds. I use it to clean my EDC knives and lights all the time. Great for windows switches in car doors too!
 
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Mayar

Member
As a person who plays a lot of fighting games, and constantly broke the sticks, because they use graphite sensors that crumble from friction. I recommend simply replacing them with electromagnetic sticks, they have no friction (Hall Joystick), they are available for all consoles. I modified my DualSense (replaced both sticks) 2 years ago and everything still works fine. If you have no experience with micro soldering, it is better to look for a master.
 
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D

Deleted member 848825

Unconfirmed Member
I find silicone grease is best for keeping sticks lubed and movement smooth, especially across the neutral position. But I only use it on sticks which feel a bit rough/tired when moving across the neutral point. Once I get drift (which I've very rarely ever had) then I usually accept the pads tired and bin it.
 

IAmRei

Member
Cool, i use WD40 for my mini 4wd and fence lock back before, been years to not using it anymore. Will keep in mind. Thanks for sharing
 

Gamer79

Predicts the worst decade for Sony starting 2022
Cool, i use WD40 for my mini 4wd and fence lock back before, been years to not using it anymore. Will keep in mind. Thanks for sharing
This is not standard wd40 you use for hinges. The contact cleaner is made for motherboards and electronics.
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
My Series controller bit lost Bluetooth connectivity in just over a year of ownership.

Switched to 8bitdo for Hall Effect sticks (there’s so many controllers on the market with them now), and I’m not looking back.
 

Mayar

Member
The best fix is to avoid any controller without hall effect sticks. Seriously, why aren't all controllers hall effect these days? Not even premium $200 Xbox Elite or Asus controllers have this
Why? People are running to buy new ones, good business. The percentage of people who modify or repair them is small.Page of history - in the times of PS3 the first models were equipped with joysticks with hall effect, I have a PS3 from the start of sales, the very first revision with 2 sixaxis, both still work and have never been repaired :messenger_grinning:
 

Gamezone

Gold Member
Why? People are running to buy new ones, good business. The percentage of people who modify or repair them is small.Page of history - in the times of PS3 the first models were equipped with joysticks with hall effect, I have a PS3 from the start of sales, the very first revision with 2 sixaxis, both still work and have never been repaired :messenger_grinning:

In Norway we have 5 years of warranty on electronics by law. I usually have to replace my Xbox controllers within 5 years, and the store doesn't even bother to repair them. They just hand me a new controller.
 

Mayar

Member
In Norway we have 5 years of warranty on electronics by law. I usually have to replace my Xbox controllers within 5 years, and the store doesn't even bother to repair them. They just hand me a new controller.
Well, what can I say, it's good to live in Norway. The usual Xbox warranty is 1 year from the date of purchase, the probability that the joystick will die after a year of intensive play is almost 100%, just when the warranty ends :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 

Gamezone

Gold Member
Well, what can I say, it's good to live in Norway. The usual Xbox warranty is 1 year from the date of purchase, the probability that the joystick will die after a year of intensive play is almost 100%, just when the warranty ends :messenger_tears_of_joy:
Jupp. I just bought my son a new monitor for Christmas, and about to turn in his 4.5 year old broken ass monitor tomorrow for a new one.
 

ReyBrujo

Member
Yep, that's what you usually use for power tool triggers that get quite dusty, unfortunately it's just a temporary fix because you aren't actually cleaning it, any debris or hair or stuff like that will stay there and will eventually go back there. Best thing is to just disarm it although some controllers are much easier to disarm (like the joycons since they don't even have clips).

In Norway we have 5 years of warranty on electronics by law. I usually have to replace my Xbox controllers within 5 years, and the store doesn't even bother to repair them. They just hand me a new controller.
E-waste ftw!
 
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ChoosableOne

ChoosableAll
Some suggest using compressed air. I once fixed a DS4 with my own sexy breath but not everyone has that.

Season 3 Nbc GIF by The Office
 
This will not work in all cases but in the majority.

I had 3 controllers with bad stick drift and this fixed them all. - 2:quest controller and an older 8bitdo pro controller.

The stuff is called wd40 specialist contact cleaner. I got a bottle for $8 at Amazon. I sprayed this cleaner using the red nozzle all the way around the edge of each controllers joystick assembly. I did not take them apart just sprayed a couple of big gusshes around each joystick.

They all work like new now. Sharing the knowledge!
showme-show.gif
 

marquimvfs

Member
This will not work in all cases but in the majority.

I had 3 controllers with bad stick drift and this fixed them all. - 2:quest controller and an older 8bitdo pro controller.

The stuff is called wd40 specialist contact cleaner. I got a bottle for $8 at Amazon. I sprayed this cleaner using the red nozzle all the way around the edge of each controllers joystick assembly. I did not take them apart just sprayed a couple of big gusshes around each joystick.

They all work like new now. Sharing the knowledge!
As an technician myself, I endorse what you've said. But you need to really disassemble the joystick and apply the spray over the graphite trace of the potentiometer.
The catch is, sometimes the drift is caused by some strange body over the graphite trace, like some dirt or the potentiometer lubricant. But, and that's the most common defect that causes the drift, sometimes the graphite trace can wear itself and cause bad contact over a specific region of the trace. If that's the case, the spray won't solve the problem, you need to change the potentiometer's module, that is relatively cheap and easy.
 
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saintjules

Gold Member
I must have had some real good luck over the years with gaming. I only ever had the problem once with one of my Dualsense controllers. Happened when playing Bloodborne of all games funnily enough.
 

Gamer79

Predicts the worst decade for Sony starting 2022
Yep, that's what you usually use for power tool triggers that get quite dusty, unfortunately it's just a temporary fix because you aren't actually cleaning it, any debris or hair or stuff like that will stay there and will eventually go back there. Best thing is to just disarm it although some controllers are much easier to disarm (like the joycons since they don't even have clips).


E-waste ftw!
Nah I will just spray it occasion as needed
 

marquimvfs

Member
Throw away all non hall effect controllers. Easy fix.
Not when the solution is so cheap and easy. Also, some replacement joysticks are worse than the original ones, even with hall effect analogs. You could replace both analogs from 2 dualsenses for less than 20 bucks, if you're on USA and know how to solder (piece of cake).
If you do this replace it with hall effect sensors instead of regular potentiometers. Best way to solve the drift problem.
Yeah, if they're available were you live, is a no brainer.
 
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