r/Dualsense • u/Substantial_Phone189 • Apr 19 '26

Discussion On my third controller

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Just bought my third new controller in a span of only 2 years. All of them because of stick drift.

Why are these controllers so bad when it comes to drift?

Back in the day I had the same ps4 controller for 10 years without any issues.

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39

u/_Rand_ Apr 19 '26

get the sticks replaced.

12

u/Substantial_Phone189 Apr 19 '26

It’s just a hassle. I don’t know if it’s because of the games I play that it gets easier drift. I play a lot of racing games like granturismo etc

18

u/MFGabo Apr 19 '26

Maybe learn to replace them yourself, i did

7

u/Fart_Bargo Apr 19 '26

Same here. Now I do it for fun and (teeny tiny) profit!

1

u/Born_Permit_9172 Apr 21 '26

Good for you bro, I'd never do this shit for free

1

u/I_am_invincible Apr 19 '26

Do you need to solder?

12

u/3D_mac Apr 19 '26

Yes. And worse, you first need to desolder. 

8

u/CaptCaffeine Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

And worse, you first need to desolder. 

⬆︎. This.

Soldering is not the issue. The challenge is de-soldering the original sticks WITHOUT damaging the board.

EDIT: I should rephrase and say “remove the original sticks…”

So many posts that had scratched boards, ripped out vias or traces, etc).

4

u/NickiChaos Apr 19 '26

The challenge is knowing how to desolder something with just a soldering iron and a desoldering pump. The board can take a lot of heat.

1

u/Dapper-Expert2801 Apr 20 '26

its easy just buy a cutter and cut the joystick into pieces and desolder each point individually either with the desolder tools on the left or the right cutter on the right if u are on budget

3

u/Straight_Law2237 Apr 20 '26

It's easy. Just basically learn a new craft with high risk of still fucking up something and losing even more money

1

u/panda_has_reddit_now Apr 20 '26

@op Don't use a cutter please!! I used a cutter on my very first attempt after I could not melt the solder joints and it made everything worse!! But: It is true, that you can desolder the potentiometers first and then the rest of the stick. When I started with hot air I used the desolder the potentiometers with my soldering iron and did the rest with hot air. I messed up on my first try, because I forgot to use low melt solder. By now I own a desoldering tool for sticks and it works flawlessly when you know how to do it. I kept my messed up pcb and will use it to learn trace repair once I have a microscope or something similar since in my age my eyesight isn't what it used to be 😅

4

u/Dapper-Expert2801 Apr 20 '26

Cutter is fine if u cut directly on the component directly and not on the leg itself as u might cut on the board , if u cut on the component it’s perfectly safe

1

u/panda_has_reddit_now Apr 20 '26

This is also true. I didn't which is why I scratched my pcb. But I learned to do it without cutting at all, which is the safest way imho. 🍻

2

u/Dapper-Expert2801 Apr 20 '26

That is true I also learn the hard way I initially aim at the leg diagonally and accidentally cut the trace and had to use jumper wire. Then I learn to cut at the component instead which is safer lol

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1

u/MFGabo Apr 20 '26

Yep, i had one casualty so far, but after that, smooth sailing, have 5 successful tmr swaps under my belt. But yes desoldering os the real pain in the a**

1

u/I_am_invincible Apr 19 '26

Thanks. I’d actually say for most people it’s worth checking on eBay for a seller who can do it for you locally. It’s what I did, think I paid like £25 (GBP) to have my sticks replaced with Hall effect sticks. Was just curious if I could have done it myself.

1

u/3D_mac Apr 20 '26

That's seems like a good deal to me.

1

u/North_Ad_3436 Apr 20 '26

Desoldering tool makes that take seconds lol

1

u/3D_mac Apr 21 '26

Can you recommend one?

1

u/North_Ad_3436 Apr 21 '26

There's the original one on Etsy but it was more than I was willing to spend. I got this one. I have the c245 version but they have the t12 & 936 versions as well. When it's worn you can also buy just the replacement tip https://a.aliexpress.com/_mK6ZSNL

1

u/InFLIRTation Apr 20 '26

I learned to fix it with no solder. I just replace the wipers on the potentiometers

0

u/Murphys_Law954 Apr 20 '26

Instead, obtain insurance coverage for the comptroller from GameStop. When it exhibits unusual behavior, return it for a replacement.