Xbox One Elite Wobbly Thumb Stick Fix

do you have a xbox elite controller with a wobbly thumb stick?

mine started to get loose and wobbled around.

this tutorial will help fix it.

this has held up for at-least 4 months now and i haven't had to replace it again.

Next step: Tools needed.

Step 1: Tools Needed

Tools needed:

Torx bit: T8

Blue painters tape

X-acto knife ( to precisely cut the painters tape)

scissors would work

Step 2: Remove Sticker & Screw

Remove battery & peel back the sticker

Remove the T8 screw

Step 3: Remove Controller Back

Remove the grips

depress the trigger and wedge your finger as shown in the picture

gently pull away from the controller and it should snap apart.

it might feel stuck but thats because there is some tape holding it down.

Step 4: Remove Screws

remove the 4 T8 screws and the front cover should come apart with out any problem.

Step 5: Reinforce Thumbstick

gently pull the thumbstick base off.

it should just slide straight up.

cut a piece of painters tape as shown.

it should be long enough to wrap the post atleast one time tried to not have it overlap to much.

if its too thick the thumbstick base wont slide back down in place

see the picture for a reference.

once the base is back on just reassemble the controller in reverse and there ya go!!

good luck! any questions either post them here or email me at [e-mail]

Comments

[musclecarfan4life]

what happens if you can't get the the torque bolt out of the battery compartment?

[frekles465]

I had what I thought was the same issue until I opened it up. Turns out, the stick portion of the mechanism broke off within the thumbpad. The good news was there was a little hole inside the portion stuck within the thumbpad as well as the portion left within the mechanism. This allowed me to insert a whittled toothpick, and it works great!

[tyholby]

Would duct tape or electrical tape work?? Anyone have an idea?

[Logixal]

I think duct tape and electrical would be too thick but it can't hurt to try.

[distinctridez]

Nice write up. I went ahead and just through a very small dab of epoxy inside the joy stick. I know it makes it permanent, but its as rigid as it can get.

[lallerb]

I suggest using Sugru. I followed your disassembly instructions but placed a small bead of Sugru on the end of the stick instead of painter's tape. It's been working great.

[dsmi1969]

I've also been thinking about buying some sugru to solve the issue of loose sticks, I used masking tape first time but after 5-6 months the problem has returned, may I ask how long ago you applied the sugru and if the sticks are still wobble free.
Noticed the Elite Series 2 is releasing November this year, hopefully MS have addressed this issue.
Thank you.

[MagicDoh]

Just wanted to say thanks ! I followed your disassembly instructions, and it worked perfectly. This had been bugging me for some time, but well it's back to the games. Thanks again.

[Logixal]

That's great! Glad to hear it helped you!

[ScottR185]

did you only have problems with the joystick being loose? Or was there some drift in the thumbstick also? I'm looking at a drifting thumbstick, but am not sure how much a new joystick pot would cost or if it's even possible to find a drop in replacement. Did you see if there was a part number on the joystick assembly? Did you notice if you can break down the joystick assembly even further?

I like the simple use of painters tape as a makeshift shim. It's great thinking...I'd of probably gotten things messy and used some silicon of some sort to really just break things good!

[Logixal]

i havent been here in a while! so im sorry for the late late reply. those joysticks dont break down any further. just what you saw in the tut. im sure you could solder a new one. but to be honest i didnt notice a part number. youd have to source it from some where.
i noticed that the JoyStick post is plastic and the thumb-stick its self is metal. explains why it wore down like it does.

come to think of it, you might be able to use something along the lines of glue.... (future try maybe) i only did this because you dont have to worry about drying and any kind of mess that might happen, like you mentioned.

any way. its pretty easy to open them up and see if theyve got a P/N

give it a shot, if you havent already haha.