Question about swapping joysticks vs just cleaning them

I had a DualShock 4 with terrible drift, and I was stuck between swapping the joystick modules or just cleaning the pots with contact cleaner. I went with the swap because I figured it would last longer, got a set of ALPS modules from a local shop for about $12. After desoldering the old ones and putting in the new ones, the controller feels brand new, no drift after two weeks of heavy use. Has anyone else found that cleaning just delays the problem or does it actually fix it for good?

2 comments

2 Comments

joel_mason225d ago

Feel you man, that drift is a nightmare.

rowanw315d ago

feels brand new, no drift after two weeks" - dude that's two weeks. come back in six months and let us know if it's still going. I've cleaned pots that worked fine for months and then crapped out again, so it's really just a crapshoot either way. swapping probably gives you better odds if you don't mess up the soldering, but I wouldn't call it a permanent fix.