Fixing PS3 Controller Drift: Replacing the Left Stick Without Calibration Software

[@nizzymo]

The sensors don't go bad on those modules because they're hall effect, but the spring absolutely does.

[@AdyWorkshop]

Yes those hall effect are immortal :)) But the plastic bits and the spring goes and that's where you get the drift on ps3 controllers

[@nizzymo]

​​​​@@AdyWorkshopCould you point me to where I can find 4 pin modules? I saw that you replaced yours in the video. I have a 4 pin controller I want to fix.

[@AdyWorkshop]

@@nizzymo Difficult!!! I will give you the link from where i got them but know that they are not new! So my opinion is don't get only 2 get like 4 at least to be able to come up with 2 good ones.... a.aliexpress.com/_EvGcsn6 --- i am still looking for a better source of these ones..... (the plastic stick internals are going on these ones not the sensors themselves... i find these the hardest to fix...but i do like them a lot....) If by any chance you find some good one leave a link here also!!

[@nizzymo]

@@AdyWorkshop have you had any spring issues with the replacement modules yet? Since, you've had them for 3 months.

[@nizzymo]

@@AdyWorkshop There probably isn't going to be that many good, longlasting sellers for genuine working modules, because the modules are so proprietary. It might just be better to get a 3 pin controller and put hall effects in once the supply runs out. They're getting most of the modules from salvaged controllers.

[@ivey77426]

Those are Hall Effect sticks, they are not prone to drift. And even if you encounter in on DS3 is due to completely different reason than on all other gamepads popular today. In terms of reliability those ps3 analogs surpass DS4 and DS5, Switch and Xbox controllers.

[@AdyWorkshop]

Exactly! The sensors themselves will never actually go bad. That’s why I kept the sensor body. What did wear out on this one (and a few others I’ve fixed that were heavily used) was the plastic inside the stick. It stopped centering properly-it would lean to one side depending on the movement. Like, if you moved left, it would stay slightly left, causing drift since it wouldn't return to dead center. This made it necessary to replace the mechanical part of the stick. But once you do that and put the magnets back, the center will be a bit off. However, it's always a fixed offset. If you can get that value close to 0, you’ve got a solid stick that will last for years, at least until the plastic wears out again. But that's the hard part as you don't have a calibration tool for this one - so you need to match it somehow to go closest to 0. Anyway i do like to save them from the dump :D

[@apotekarenossnotna8380]

Has it been confirmed that these are hall effect sensors? On another but similar video to this I read that the DS3 uses some kind of MR sensors in their sticks that are not the same as hall effect. I can post the comment here if you are interested.

[@WhiteboyRick96]

I wish someone would make replacement analog housing for 4 pin ps3 controllers.

[@AdyWorkshop]

Yes....and a calibration tool for that PS 3 especially the hall effect ones - so we can change and calibrate - center and range -- that would be so nice!!!

[@mattb9664]

Does anyone know whether each PS3 controller has a unique calibration for the original set of Alps thumbsticks it came with? I just swapped over complete 4 pin thumbstick to a younger, and there is just a touch of drift that I can't correct. I also tried inserting a silk pin into the pinholes and tried dragging the sensor ring, but that doesn't seem to work or change anything. Just needs a nudge to correct both X and Y axis to the center.

[@AdyWorkshop]

yes that's the issue! from factory they put the sensors and than they zero it to make it centered ( which tells the board that some x offset and some y offset actually means center - every sensor is unique and is slight off from production -- doing that the board is bound to the offsets of those sensors -- so the only way is to be lucky and try sensors until you get one with the same offset (close i mean)

[@ImanImani-q8u]

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