From the bench
PS5 controller: TMR Hall Effect sticks
We took out the original joysticks and fitted TMR Hall Effect sticks, then finished it with the custom look the customer wanted.
Controller Stick Drift Repair in Charlotte, NC
Stick drift comes from worn analog stick potentiometers, especially on Switch Joy-Cons but affecting all controllers over time. The shop replaces the analog stick module entirely for a lasting fix, usually same day.
Starts at $69exact after free check
Same dayturnaround
90 dayswarranty
The short answer
We fix stick drift by replacing the worn analog stick module, not just cleaning it, and we can fit TMR Hall Effect sticks that don't wear the same way. Most controllers are done the same day. The diagnostic is free, the exact price for your controller is shown on this page, and the fix is covered for 90 days.
Signs you need this repair
Camera or character moves on its own
You let go of the stick and the view keeps creeping in one direction. That's the textbook drift symptom.
Menus scroll by themselves
The cursor jumps or keeps scrolling on the home screen with nobody touching the controller.
Aim pulls off target
Fine aiming feels like it's fighting you, especially when you make small corrections.
Dead spots in the stick's range
Parts of the circle don't register, or the stick suddenly jumps from slow to full speed.
Input in the wrong direction
Pushing up registers as up-left, or a direction you didn't press shows up in a tester.
Stick click (L3/R3) stops working
The click switch sits inside the same stick module, so it often fails alongside drift.
What usually causes it
Worn potentiometers
Most stock sticks read position with small carbon tracks and a sliding wiper. Every movement wears the track a little, and eventually the stick reports movement at rest.
Dust and debris
Grit works in around the base of the stick and adds to the wear. Cleaning can help for a while, but it doesn't repair a worn track.
Drops and impacts
A dropped controller can crack the stick housing or bend the internal gimbal, so the stick no longer centers properly.
Heavy play
Competitive shooters and long sessions put more cycles on the sticks, so drift shows up sooner.
How we fix it
- 1Confirm the drift
We put the controller on a tester and map both sticks across their full range. That shows exactly which stick and which axis is off, and whether anything else on the controller needs attention.
- 2Open the controller
Shells, battery and ribbons come apart in the right order. On a DualSense that includes the adaptive trigger assemblies and the haptic motors, which have to go back exactly as they came out.
- 3Remove the worn stick
DualSense, DualShock 4 and Xbox controllers have their sticks soldered to the board, so we desolder the module cleanly without lifting pads. Joy-Con sticks connect by ribbon cable and swap out without soldering.
- 4Fit the new module
A new stick module goes in, either a standard replacement or a TMR Hall Effect stick if you chose the upgrade. Joints are inspected under magnification.
- 5Calibrate and test
We check center, full range and stick click, then recalibrate where the system allows it, like the Switch's built-in stick calibration. Then we play with it, because a tester doesn't catch everything.
Standard stick or TMR Hall Effect
The stick you pick decides how long the fix lasts. Both options are a full module replacement, not a cleaning.
Standard potentiometer stick
Works and feels like the original. It's a reliable fix, but it uses the same wiper design, so it will wear again over time.
TMR Hall Effect stick
Reads position with a magnet and a magnetic sensor instead of a rubbing contact, so there's nothing to wear into drift. It's the longer-lasting choice for heavy players. We'll confirm it's available for your controller at the counter.
Both sticks at once
If one stick is drifting, the other has had the same use. Doing both while the controller is open saves you a second visit later.
How long it takes
Stick drift repair is a same-day job. Drop your controller off and pick it up later that day. A controller with other damage, like a broken charging port, cracked trigger or liquid exposure, can need more bench time, and we'll tell you up front if so.
Models we repair
PS5 DualSensePS4XboxNintendo Switch Joy-ConAftermarket/pro controllers (SCUF/Elite-style)
From our bench
DRIFTFixed
From the bench
PS5 controller: stick drift and worn thumbsticks
In for stick drift, with both thumbstick caps worn through. We replaced the sticks and the caps.
From the bench
Custom controllers
Custom controller builds from our bench: a modded Xbox Series controller board and a PS5 controller fitted with back paddles.
4.9★ on Google
What customers say
★★★★★
Got my controller fixed for its drift and under 2 hours even with them being busy I have came to them for phone screens laptops and controllers they do it all truly a great spotBen Banks · Controller repair · Google review
★★★★★
Very cool store with very cool people! The workers were friendly and helpful with my repair, and I ended up buying a PS4 controller for much cheaper than i could find it online. …Jarod Brown · Controller repair · Google review
★★★★★
Great place! Il never take my devices anywhere else they fixed my controllers and my phone screen! Shout out to Arzum fixed it in 40 mins! Highly recommend!Brent Lyons · Controller repair · Google review
Real customer reviews from Google and Yelp, quoted word for word. … marks where a longer review was shortened.
covered. everything
Protect your controller and everything else at home
Covered Everything protects your phone plus up to 25 more devices, like consoles, laptops and tablets, for $19.99 a month. Set it up when you collect your repair.
How Covered works1
Every repair
90-day warranty
On parts and workmanship.
2
This controller and your household
Covered Everything
$99 per claim on this controller, $50 on your phone. Cancel anytime.
When something breaks
Fixed here, on our bench
Bring it in and we handle the claim with you.
Before you bring it in
- Charge the controller so we can test it right away.
- Tell us which stick drifts and in which games you notice it most.
- For Joy-Cons, bring both if both act up, and run the Switch's stick calibration first so you know it isn't just a calibration issue.
- Remove any thumb grips or stick covers.
- Bring the charging cable if the controller has trouble charging too.
Repair or replace?
A new first-party controller is pricey, and a new one has the same wear-prone stock sticks you're replacing. Repairing with a TMR Hall Effect stick often leaves you with a controller that holds up better than new. Replacement makes sense when the controller has several problems at once, like a cracked shell, a dead battery and drift, or for an inexpensive third-party pad where the repair costs close to a new one. Pro-style controllers like the Xbox Elite are almost always worth repairing.
Thinking of fixing it yourself?
Drift kits are easy to buy. On Joy-Cons, a careful person with the right tri-wing screwdriver can swap a stick, though the ribbon connectors are tiny and easy to break. DualSense, DualShock 4 and Xbox controllers are a different job: the stick is soldered through the board with several pins, and pulling it without proper desoldering tools lifts pads and traces. Spraying contact cleaner or blowing air under the stick can quiet drift for a while, but it comes back because the track is worn. If you've opened a controller and something tore, bring all the pieces in.
After your repair
- Store controllers where they won't get stepped on or knocked off a table. Drops are hard on sticks.
- Keep them off dusty floors and away from snack crumbs.
- If the new stick ever feels off-center, run the system calibration where available before assuming a fault.
- Drift back within 90 days? Bring it in under the warranty.
Questions people ask
Can you fix Nintendo Switch Joy-Con drift?
Yes. We replace the stick module in the Joy-Con and calibrate it with the Switch. A Switch Lite has its sticks built into the console, so drift there means opening the whole system, which we also do.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a controller?
For first-party controllers, repair usually comes in under the cost of a new one, and you can upgrade to a stick that won't drift the same way. The exact price for your controller is shown on this page.
What is a TMR Hall Effect stick?
It's a stick that uses a magnet and a TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) sensor to read position. Nothing rubs against anything, so the wear that causes drift on stock sticks doesn't happen.
How long does controller drift repair take?
Same day. Leave it with us and pick it up later that day.
Which controllers do you repair?
PS5 DualSense, PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox controllers, Nintendo Joy-Cons, and pro or aftermarket controllers like Xbox Elite and SCUF-style pads.
Can't you just clean the stick?
Cleaning can hide drift for a while, but it doesn't fix the worn track inside the stick. We replace the module so the fix lasts.
Will my controller still pair and work the same?
Yes. Replacing the stick doesn't change pairing, haptics or triggers. We test all of those before you pick it up.
Can you fix the other stick or buttons while it's open?
Yes. Stick click, shoulder buttons, triggers and charging ports can be handled at the same visit. Ask when you drop it off.
Can I mail controllers in?
Yes. Mail-in works from anywhere in the US, and we send it back with free insured return shipping.
Related repairs
Nationwide
Mail-in repair from anywhere in the U.S.
Free diagnostic when it arrives. Free insured shipping back.
- 1Tell us your model and the problem
- 2Ship it insured. We diagnose it within a day
- 3Approve the price. Fixed and back in 7–10 days