Finally figured out why my joysticks kept drifting after a few months

I used to just swap out the whole joystick module every time drift started. Cost me like $15 each time and took 20 minutes. Then last month I read a post about cleaning the potentiometers with contact cleaner first. Tried it on my old Xbox controller now it works like new. Has anyone else had luck just cleaning instead of replacing?

2 comments

2 Comments

gonzalez.rowan7d ago

$15 each time adds up quick, doesn't it. I've had hit or miss results with contact cleaner on Switch Pro controllers, but mostly miss. Are you using any specific brand of cleaner or just the generic electronics stuff?

gavinh267d ago

Man oh man, tell me about it! I've been through at least four Switch Pro controllers since launch and probably spent more on contact cleaner than on the controllers themselves. I tried that CRC brand everyone talks about, the red can, and it kind of worked for a week before the drifting came back worse than before. I also grabbed this cheap generic stuff from a dollar store once just to see, and it left this weird sticky residue that made the buttons feel all mushy. Honestly, I think sometimes it's just the controller's design itself, like the stick module wears out no matter what you spray on it.