Scuf 4PS Infinity Pro Teardown and Rebuild: Paddle repair, stick drift fix, etc. (edited livestream)

This is an edit of an almost-complete teardown/rebuild of my Scuf 4ps Infinity Pro controller which I livestreamed because why not? How to repair the paddles, how to repair stick drift, how to restore/replace factory buttons, everything. People liked it so here's a youtube edit. I even made a title card because lol upload times and I got bored.
The only part I completely left out was the triggers. By the time I remembered them, I was just too tired of streaming. So I did another video just for triggers, because I've repaired them on another Scuf and it's not hard. Mostly you just need to know how they wear out and about PC-11 plastic epoxy. That's here:
• Scuf Infinity 4PS Pro ...
I stream on twitch - twitch.tv/solarbirdz - so come say hi ^_^

[@spotaloski]

Nice vid! If you get the ifixit toolkit there is a size 6 tool that looks like a fork or U shape. Use that one into the security screw press hard down and with some force the screw will loosen up :) easy!

[@Nelson4207]

It's fighting me because it hates me and all life 🤣🤣 If I had a dime for everytime I felt that way during electronics tear down or assembly 😆

[@jorgejimenez672]

My ps4 scuff infinity pro of 3 years back O buttons wasn’t able to make contact with the circuit board I guess so I did what you said about switching the little square that makes contact with the board and cleaned it and not it works again!!! Thank you so much. You saved me 150+ cause I was gonna order a BB this time.

[@solarbirdyz]

Yay! Good job, and I'm glad you're back up and running. :D

[@sloppy_gaming4881]

I think my paddle dome must have cracked then cuz the one I used the most doesn’t make a click noise anymore and doesn’t feel like it click’s down properly anymore and of course it happened like a month after the warranty was up 😔

[@SAMW98SO]

My tactile dome for the paddle switch also cracked and stopped working. The metal domes originally come stuck to the board with kapton tape. I removed the tape and the cracked dome and replaced it with a smaller circular dome plate which I took out of a generic tactile switch that I bought from Aliexpress. I then taped it down to the contact on the board and it has been working perfect for quite a while now.

[@solarbirdyz]

Mine did not have the tape. That's interesting - I wonder when they changed that?

[@SAMW98SO]

A small cutting pliers worked well for me when I removed the security screw. Minimal damage too!

[@solarbirdyz]

lol all these people having better luck than I did with the same tools. Mine must've been screwed down extra tight. Good on you, though! Maybe it'll work for someone else, too. ^_^

[@GrimmReaperRL]

If anyone doesn't have any tools that are suggested, if you happen to have pointy tweezers (as in not the normal ones with a flat/squared edge), I just put both ends and squeezed inward and twisted and it came off very easy 👍🏼

[@marcojung2044]

Thx!

[@RedHusk1]

Wow thanks i fixed my stick drift, idk how if it was so broken lol

[@shawnlewis7084]

Thank this help Alot I am Seattle 2🤣🤣🤣

[@Dommy6262]

I've just got this controller and one of my back paddles got a lot less responsive than the other one. I tried a few methods like using a vacuum so suck out any potential stuff that would affect it but it didn't work. I wanna try opening it up but I'm too scared to break the controller and now I'm in a pickle

[@solarbirdyz]

If it's under warranty, return it for warranty repair, absolutely. They'll have parts, for one thing. Much better to let them fix it than try it yourself. If it's not under warranty, I go into a LOT of depth in the video about how to deal with back paddle problems, and how to take the controller apart so you can reach the actual switches. So give the video a watch, see if it helps? If it doesn't, they do have a repair service.

[@maxinqLL]

Does this controller suffer from stick drift after awhile same as the original ones ? Great video by the way and I like how calm you speak , it's very comfortable to hear

[@solarbirdyz]

Well, it can, and this one did indeed suffer from that a bit. But the good news is, it can be repaired! Worst case, those little green caps on the sides of the stick assemblies - the ones that I pop out and clean? They can be swapped out entirely, if you can solder. ^_^

[@davynward4930]

Would really appreciate the help I just got it and was an idiot and tried to turn my trigger stops on but put the adjuster in the wrong spot

[@call_me_sin_]

Would you know how to remove the security screw from the scuf impact? If so please do tell

[@solarbirdyz]

Not specifically, sorry. This is the only one I have. That said, the method I used will work for any security screw really - it just takes some patience.

[@call_me_sin_]

I’ll try again, ty.

[@mclovingtjuk8974]

Heya, great video! So from what I understand, the two tiny thing cables are for the remap function of the L3 and r3, aside from that they pose no function. I also think, that the main board the sticks come on is interchangeable with the standard DS4 controller, since all that gold ribbon cable sandwich situation is doing is taking the inputs from the front face buttons to the paddles. I have a very sick right stick atm, drift slight but also random jitter movement, my thoughts are to take a DS4 and swap the main boards out, thoughts?

[@solarbirdyz]

I don't know that they're identical, but it's ... honestly entirely possible they are. So you may be able to do that - and if nothing else, if you're handy with a soldering iron, you might as well give it a go! But if it _doesn't_ work - and I have some doubts, just saying - then what I _can_ say is that it sounds like the green potentiometer caps on the right stick are both in dire need of cleaning, which I show how to do, or possibly out and out replacement. If it's the latter, they can be replaced _individually_, which would obviously solve a lot of problems. Either way, good luck!

[@auchd2234]

Hello, nice video, i'll try to fix joystick drift on mine. Are the R2 L2 Buttons the same as an official DS4? i need replace R2 but can't find the scuff ones to buy.

[@solarbirdyz]

They are _not_. I have a separate video on using plastic epoxy paste to rebuild damage on one of the triggers of a different Scuf; it held up very well and I'm sure you'd be able to do the same sort of thing. (I've used the same material to repair a vacuum cleaner attachment that gets heavy use and it hasn't failed either. PC-11, it's good stuff.)

[@richardburedi]

do you think it's possible to change the face plate?

[@solarbirdyz]

If you can get a replacement, sure. If you mean "with a standard PS4 faceplate," then... I haven't tried. They seem very similar!

[@zacharyferris3195]

What size Phillips were you using to remove the 3 screws on the back?

[@solarbirdyz]

Standard Philips nr. 0, very common small screwdriver. Even a very, very basic mini- or micro-driver kit will have it.

[@pierrechatrian7602]

where did you buy the toolbox???

[@solarbirdyz]

The multibit plastic toolbox kit comes from iFixit, and it's absolutely great, I can't recommend it enough! The outer box that contains all the other tools with the clip, I bought at the local druggist - and they're pretty common here? So hopefully you can find one too.

[@cyber_derp7410]

I'm looking for a replacement part for the conductive silicon pads for the buttons. Do you know if standard PS4 controller pads will work? My X button is worn out.

[@solarbirdyz]

While I haven't tried it, I very strongly suspect so, because I later put in replacement buttons intended for a stock Sony PS4 controller and they fit perfectly, and the button pad system looks identical.

[@b0x3d_fn44]

Hey, my R2 button can't work any suggestions?

[@solarbirdyz]

I did a follow-up video on the triggers, which I _meant_ to take apart while I was working on this video and forgot. Go watch that one, you'll see how they work, maybe get some ideas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaSaqZuXrpl5pas

[@iqsins-7692]

Where I can buy the Orange ribbon cable?

[@solarbirdyz]

I have no idea, sorry. If that's damaged... I'd watch eBay for a while, see if you find someone selling a broken/parts-or-repair controller of the same model, and hope you can salvage it from there.

[@itzjennifer0748]

i tried to replace the charging port on my scuff with my old controllers and now my scuffs buttons are out of sync i dont know whats wrong.

[@solarbirdyz]

I'm unclear on a lot of parts of this. What did you do _exactly_, and _exactly_ what does buttons being "out of sync" mean?

[@itzjennifer0748]

@@solarbirdyz my scufs charging port was broken so i swapped it with my old controller’s charging port (it connected alot better) and when i loaded up mw2. O was square. Triangle was square

[@solarbirdyz]

I'm genuinely at a loss. Particularly if you only changed the USB connector. Um... what I'd do is open it back up and look every place you can for some sort of short-circuit involving the button pad or the USB port or anything _near_ the USB port. That's the best guess I've got. Good luck.

[@davynward4930]

Are u still active

[@icelandude3427]

I'm having stick drifts issues with my infinity controller. What can I do please help

[@solarbirdyz]

If you're talking hardware repair for it? 49 minutes 20 seconds in is where you want to scroll to in the video.

[@icelandude3427]

@@solarbirdyz thx your awesome.

[@shadycrunch]

Am I screwed if the green and red wires connecting the two faces of the controller come undone

[@solarbirdyz]

You can solder them back, just strip off a little insulation and connect the wires back to their connection points. If you don't know how to solder there are a lot of good videos on that, you can definitely do it. You just need to know how.

[@davynward4930]

I messed up my right trigger and need to learn how to fix it

[@solarbirdyz]

But how is it broken? Did you tear the adjuster completely out of the trigger? That's going to be really hard to fix, and without a 3D printer or something I'm not sure what you'd do. Getting a replacement would involve either sending it to Scuf for repair or watching on eBay or something for a broken/parts-or-repair-only Scuf of the same model for a good price, then looting that one for parts. That's what I did for one part that I needed on mine. Sorry, best advice I've got :/

[@lewispreece8386]

Hi I'm trying to put my ribbon cable back in and im trying to take the paddle board off yours comes off really easy !put mine feels as if its glued and will break was yours like this the first time you took it off ??

[@solarbirdyz]

Mine has been taken apart a couple of times before this video and the first time is almost always more difficult. So it might just be that.

[@adimpower441]

can i buy somewehre these silver doms (paddelswitches)??

[@solarbirdyz]

Yes! A couple of other commenters have come up with replacement parts you can get third party. Poke around in other comments and you'll find them. I ordered one of the more expensive ones to verify it was real and it absolutely looks good to me. It's a 3¢ part for $10 or whatever it was but that's a heck of a lot cheaper than anything else!

[@deluxe_re510]

In my brand-new ps4 infinity pro controller one of the silver domes for the paddle buttons have been bent... What do i do buy new dome or what?

[@solarbirdyz]

Brand new... and you've opened it? Oh dear. Anything still under warranty shouldn't be opened but should be returned. I'd talk to Scuf, see what they're willing to do. If they're not willing to take it because you opened it, then yes - check other comments, people have posted where you can get the domes for replacement. It's more expensive than it _should_ be, arguably, but it'll do the job!

[@fearfullvoid]

My dome thing is cracked aswell and I have to press is harder than usual its extremely irritating.

[@solarbirdyz]

It is! Fortunately a couple of other commenters have come up with replacement parts you can get third party. Poke around and you'll find them. I ordered one of the more expensive ones to verify it was real and it absolutely looks good to me. It's a 3¢ part for $10 or whatever it was but that's a heck of a lot cheaper than anything else!

[@batman8073]

The face buttons on my controller wont work, but the paddles mapped to them work... I can use square but for triangle/circle/X I have to use paddles. Anyway to fix this?

[@solarbirdyz]

Depends upon why the front buttons aren't working. The first thing I would do is take it apart, and look at the board that the button contacts push against. (This is, like, the _only_ thing I didn't show at all, big oof. But it's on the main assembly, when you pull off enough parts to get down to the back of the buttons.) Make sure those contacts are clean. If they _are_ clean, then it's possible the silicon pads that close the switches - I do show those, it's the membrane you pull off to get to the plastic buttons - may need to be coated with a new layer of conductive coating. Fortunately, you can buy that and it's not hard to apply. It's kind of spendy but not compared to new parts.

[@LWray20]

Could you possibly tell me why mine won’t charge ? I’m not sure on how to fix it and if you could help that would be great!

[@solarbirdyz]

That's almost certainly the battery itself giving up on you. It happens, they have a lifespan. The good news is that they're a standard battery - pretty sure the same as the standard PS4, like 99.9% sure - and you just need to pop it out and replace it with the same kind. It's even plug-in, so you don't have to solder or anything. The big grey rectangular plastic bit that I take out pretty early on in the video, once the controller is open? That's the battery.

[@tonyyeyo884]

Hey buddy.. love your video. I had a major issue with my infinity4ps pro.. I didnt add remapping chip.. and now they wanna charge me to change the buttons .. Cause left paddle they put x instead of O. And right paddle the other way around... I wanted to know if its possible to change wires place to change the x and o with each other?? Thanks

[@solarbirdyz]

Ummm... not unless it's wired differently for the versions without remapping. I don't have an unremappable version, so I don't know for sure. But if it's set up the same way as the kind I have, then there's not really any wire-moving that'll do it that I can see. Sorry!

[@tonyyeyo884]

@@solarbirdyz so if u dont order emr.. it's impossible to remap them? Or like switch them? If u find a way. I will gladly pay for it.. or sub to channel to help out.. it's just because they cost so expensive and since I'm living in montreal.. so send pay ect.. its gonna cost an arm.. so if theres any way of doing please help.out .. thanks again

[@iDarksideGG]

Is it possible to connect the back of my Scuf Infinity 4PS Pro with the Paddles attatched to a regular PS4 controller?

[@solarbirdyz]

They're superficially very similar, but there are two ribbon connectors and two soldered wires connecting the back of the Scuf to the front of the shell. I can't think of any reason for a standard PS4 controller to have places to connect those, or for the standard PS4 controller to have the plastic support structure it has for the larger one. If you go to the 9m40s point in the video you can see me taking the two halves of the controller apart, and you'll see what I mean.

[@juggletheclown]

hey my scuf r2 button broke and i was think about takeing the back shell off of the scuf and useig it on a ps4 controller so a have scuf paddles on ps4 controller

[@solarbirdyz]

I'm not sure I see the advantage to that? If I were to do anything, I'd be more likely to take compatible parts from the PS4 controller and use them to repair the Scuf, instead. Many of the front panel parts are compatible - not the sticks, no, but you can get replacement sticks for low cost. (Did I talk about that in this stream? I don't remember. Maybe I should.)

[@solarbirdyz]

Oooh wait I see. Because the R2 button. How it is broken? Um... yeah that _is_ a problem, isn't it? hm. hm. okay. the... yeah. the idea you have maybe could work. I haven't tried it that might be possible if the main boards are compatible enough, and I suspect they are. How badly broken is your R2? Have you ever heard of PC-11 plastic epoxy? You can literally sculpt with it - basically you overbuild and then sand down. I've repaired both a Scuf L2 and R2 that way which had failed by just wearing down the spring contact point. I built it back up with PC-11. Worked great.

[@Cause023]

Don't buy the metal replacement snap domes from Uber Micro. It's a ripoff $5 for one dome is absolutely ridiculous. I just went straight to the manufacturer Snaptron and asked for samples of SQ0600N and they sent me about 15 metal snap domes for free. They sell jars of them that I've heard. Also, if my paddle wires broke, do I just solder the red wire to P7 and the green wire to P8?

[@solarbirdyz]

!! how did you find the part number?

[@Cause023]

@@solarbirdyz I think I just found it googling. The part number is the correct size as the SCUF plate as well.

[@Cause023]

@@solarbirdyz but they charged $15 for shipping for the samples.

[@Smavv_]

@@solarbirdyz Reddit

[@Smavv_]

How long did it take for them to get back at you

[@akaAqqua]

How can I get those small metal pieces cause mine has a crack in it and doesn’t make the click noise. At 14:38

[@solarbirdyz]

Thanks to another commenter (Holy Kafir) below, I now know that Uber Micro Repairs stocks them! www.ubermicro.co.uk/product/scuf-compatible-metal-domes-for-rear-paddels/ A second commenter (Samuel Wray) reports that Aliexpress had not exactly the same switch, but one of slightly smaller size that worked in their controller. You can check older comments for the details if you like.

[@bjd5788]

I actidentally pulled up the entire battery connection hwo would I fix that, the bottom connector came straight off

[@solarbirdyz]

ooof, that gets a little more difficult. But it can be done. You just need to solder the connections on the base back to the circuit board. You may have to replace the battery connector with a new one if you ripped those connectors off (which you might well have done), but the good news is that part is pretty standard and you should be able to find an exact replacement on eBay or somewhere like that.

[@bjd5788]

@@solarbirdyz thank you!!

[@lucastrano4782]

Hi, what is the name of the flex gold cable of the 1:12:07 ?

[@solarbirdyz]

I dunno - it's a really weird custom ribbon cable and to get a replacement you're probably best off watching on eBay for a broken/for-parts-only Scuf and salvage it from there. Or just send it in for service since Scuf does have a repair service. Sorry!

[@vdofjhfjfh7630]

Hey man my controller has been broken for awhile now the buttons underneath the paddles don't work and when whenever I want to use the controller I turn it on and it drifts to thr right without me touching it I cant even get into my account because of that. Do you think scuf will take it back in and if they don't could you repair it?

[@solarbirdyz]

I appreciate the vote of confidence! But I don't have parts, so I'm sorry, no. Scuf won't take it back out of warranty (tho' if it's in warranty talk to them) but they at least used to repair broken controllers for a reasonable fee. In your case it sounds like yours has a few separate issues. If it's out of warranty and if you don't mind taking it apart, I'd take it apart and make sure all those ribbon connectors are clean and properly connected. I'd also see if the red and green wires from the front circuit board to the paddle circuit board haven't become disconnected from the front circuit board. And finally I'd make sure that the little metal contact ring that is part of putting the controller into programming mode isn't somehow wedged into some weird position and creating some sort of weird short circuit, because as unlike as it is... what you're seeing is a weird combination of symptoms so I'm wondering if the controller is stuck in some weird mode.

[@vdofjhfjfh7630]

@@solarbirdyz yeah I dont need any parts so I would appreciate if you could take a look at it. I live in canada so how would you want me to ship it. If you have a instagram it would be better if we could talk there

[@bloodrich2948]

My left paddle stopped working completely. Like no response or reprogramming at all. Do you know how I would go about fixing it (sending it in isn’t a option unfortunately) nice video. I subbed

[@solarbirdyz]

Definitely take it apart and check on condition of the silver metal dome switch under the left paddle. What's most likely happening is that it's simply not closing the electrical contact anymore. At 14m12s (kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3XJqZKleNeEpM0) I go into extensive discussion about how the switches that the paddles operate work, physically, and how to do several kinds of repair to them. It's possible even that you might have to solder a new contact point, which I don't _show_ how to do but do explain it a bit. (And you can see where I had to do that myself.)

[@bloodrich2948]

Well the paddle was working fine - however I took the controller apart to fix the triggers. I fixed the triggers just fine - put the controller back together... and that’s when the left paddle stopped working. Do you still think that could have happen. Or could I have maybe pulled like too hard on a wire (which I was very careful not to do).

[@bloodrich2948]

Also I apologize for replying so late! Thank you again so much

[@solarbirdyz]

@@bloodrich2948 Well... assuming you didn't take apart the paddle switch board assembly... I guess you might've? But I'd have to see it to know. Fortunately, the contact points have some size so are not hard to solder back into place.

[@abrahaml4733]

What is the other Ribbon that’s going into the charging port area?

[@abrahaml4733]

I tried taking my scuff apart and it ripped and idk what to do now

[@solarbirdyz]

oof - ribbon cables are always fragile and you have to be _so_ careful. I don't have a particular source for them - for the parts I've had to replace, I just kept checking on eBay for a cheap "broken/for parts" Scuf until I found one.

[@GUMNUT.]

Thanks for the teardown! Do you know if it's possible to swap paddle mapping? Or would I need to take it apart and re-solder those two thin wires?

[@solarbirdyz]

You're welcome! But... swap paddle mapping? If you mean reversing jump and crouch, you can do that without even using software, much less hardware changes. Functionality for that is built in - you can remap the paddles to do anything you like. How to do it is described in the manual, which I'm sure must be online somewhere - you need a magnet (the little Scuf magnet is good or you can use any magnet really) to put it into programmable mode and that's it.

[@tonyyeyo884]

I didnt order the emr option with it.. I tried putting a magnet it dosnt work.. so is it possible to switch the wires .. to change o and x

[@solarbirdyz]

@@tonyyeyo884 I don't think so. Certainly not in mine, and I doubt yours has different interfacing with the logic board. (Although I suppose it could be different. Not having a non-programmable one, I can't tell you for sure. But that would be more expensive and seems accordingly unlikely.) It's _possible_ that ... okay, in my video, where I pull up the paddle board, you can see a large metal ring in the centre of the controller, right? It's very visible at 23:30 in the video, where I'm putting the square metal paddle switch domes back into place, you can see it between the two dome switches. Does yours have that metal ring? Hold the answer to that question mind for a moment. If you look down below that, at the paddle control board, in the middle of that board, you'll see two columns of rectangular metal context, one left centre, one right centre. What that ring does is connect those left and right columns together, or disconnect them, as needed. If your board has those connectors, but your controller does _not_ have the metal ring, you _might_ be able to make your controller programmable just by finding the right size steel metal washer and putting in your own. Like I said, I don't know this for sure, but it sure seems to me like it's worth a look.

[@tonyyeyo884]

@@solarbirdyz so wait ur saying if I dont have that metal circle thing.. I can put my own there and close it and use emr?.. but isnt there smt eazy to do . To just change buttons

[@solarbirdyz]

@@tonyyeyo884 I'm thinking that _might_ work, if you have all the other parts I described in your unit. But I don't know for sure. And that's also about the easiest mod I can imagine to make it work - certainly easier than moving any wires would be. But the thing is, "just moving wires around" isn't really an option. The "wires" you would have to move are circuit board traces, not actual wires, and that's... doable? But a MUCH harder thing to do.

[@Lux-on9nw]

Would you fix a scuff controller if you would get paid ?

[@solarbirdyz]

I sincerely appreciate the confidence! But if there's anything that needs parts, I'd kind of be out of luck. So if you're not wanting to do it yourself (totes reasonable), I'd really suggest using Scuf's own repair services. They are kinda slow but they do a good job. I know from experience, because I had to send this one in while it was still under warranty. I didn't start messing with it until the warranty was over.

[@-st0pcryy1ingg17]

What did you use to remove the security screw ? Im wondering ..

[@solarbirdyz]

I talk about that in the video. It's a REALLY obscure Japanese screw and they won't sell the driver unless you buy some large number of screws, right? So I very slowly cut a slot into the head with a craft saw, then just unscrewed it with a flat head screwdriver. I _tried_ to use a dremel but the thinnest wheel I had was just too thick and the angle was bad, so hand-sawing it was.

[@solarbirdyz]

I kept the old screw and show it in the video. Even being careful, it made a pretty sloppy screw head, so I replaced it with a normal phillips-head screw of the correct size.

[@-st0pcryy1ingg17]

@@solarbirdyz alright ill give it a try !! Thanks you for the reply ;p

[@-st0pcryy1ingg17]

@@solarbirdyz what kind of hand saw did you use hahahah ?

[@-st0pcryy1ingg17]

Ohhh a a craft saw , i see

[@kenny228s]

So its 3 times the price and still has the same problems as the regular sony PS4 controller. What a scam.

[@solarbirdyz]

The paddles make a huge, huge difference. That said, since going to PC I've been using an Astro C40 and honestly at this point I prefer it. It took a little more getting used to and you can only have two back buttons instead of four, so if you need four, Scuf is your brand. But if you're okay with just the two... I'm really liking the Astro.

[@yonkofn591]

Don’t buy this controller it breaks to easily and it’s fuckin awful

[@akaAqqua]

Where can I buy the orange ribbon cable?

[@solarbirdyz]

I've never needed to replace that part. It's a weird cable, too.

[@solarbirdyz]

When I needed a Scuf-specific part I just kept searching for "broken/for repair only" listings on eBay until I found one at a decent price and that's how I got those parts :/