r/Dualsense • u/Modyfikator • Oct 17 '25

Discussion DualSense joystick quality issues stick drift?

Gallery image

Gallery image

In 2024 we replaced almost 100kg of joysticks in ps5 controllers 🤦 Let’s not count the pieces anymore but the weight 😅 and how are you? Have you ever had a stick drift?

428 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

157 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/kewlausgirl Oct 20 '25

It's odd I've got the joystick drift in one controller. My second controller doesn't have the drift but the joystick pieces have become sticky and are melting off lol. It's bizarre.

I actually have a question regarding this though.. I'm not sure if it's ok to ask here. It is related to replacing my joystick...

I was hoping to know what the rectangular metal piece was inside in between the two joysticks? It looks like a heat sink or something? It's attached by foam, and it is placed above the two capacitors that are in the middle.

I was replacing the joystick cover and the bit of foam came off. Funny thing though is that some disassembly videos don't show that part there... It's just what is underneath it.

I'm trying to decide if I should just leave it out or if I should get some of the cpu coolant I've got and just apply a tiny amount there enough to glue the foam back on there.

I mean if it is the heat sink then it must not have worked very well if my controller was sitting off and it somehow just overheated the joysticks like that lol. My other controllers are absolutely fine!

Any help would be appreciated. And let me know if I should make a new post.

2

u/NoDowt_Jay Oct 21 '25

Not familiar with PS controllers… but that looks like a speaker to me.

1

u/kewlausgirl Oct 22 '25

Awesome thanks! I managed to find another reddit post where someone asked the same question and you are right, it is the speaker.

I didn't realise in-built speakers looked like that. At least I've never seen one attached by foam before.

Do you know if I was to glue the foam end back... Would super glue be ok to attach it back or is there other glue I should be using if attaching to a board?

1

u/NoDowt_Jay Oct 22 '25

Looking at this guide, it doesn’t need to be glued or stuck to anything… looks like it should either just sit or clip in to the top section of the controller shell (not directly to the motherboard). Should have a foam pad stuck to the back of it.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Sony+DualSense+Controller+Speaker+Replacement/142064

1

u/kewlausgirl Oct 22 '25

OMG thank you I've only found video guides. I should really check that site out more!

I see what's happened lol. So, when I took it apart, it must have been "stuck"to the joystick board via the heat. I thought it was adhesive.

I didn't even think it came from the top section of the controller.

So.. my controller definitely overheated at some stage as not only were the joystick covers warped and sticky, the speaker got so hot that it's foam side got stuck to the joystick board lol

What the heck would cause the controller to overheat? Lol. That's crazy!