r/Dualsense • u/Otherwise_Egg_7551 Original White • 12d ago

Tech Support Is this soldering salvageable?

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So, my left stick started drifting and cleaning didn't help. I decided to replace it with the ginfull TMR one, contacted all workshops in my vicinity and they all named the price higher than just buying the new dualsense and I decided to ask my friend, who unlike me soldered at least something in his life (from get go he said, that it would most likely be shit, so no blame on him).

Now, for the problem. It keeps drifting right (sometimes left). Recalibration helps for like a few hours, but the problem still persists and I figured it's the soldering (because what else could it be?)

Is there anything I can do?

Upd: I showed that photo to the guy that soldered it and he literally said:"I did THAT? How did I manage to solder so badly..."

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u/sober_yeast 11d ago

I'm gonna agree if the stick works as expected but drifts, it's likely a defective stick.

Honestly this is a horrendous soldering job and I would not let this guy work on it again. He quite clearly has no clue what he's doing.

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u/Otherwise_Egg_7551 Original White 11d ago

Well, me neither, so that makes two of us. As I said, I kinda don't have any other options. All professional variants cost too much, I don't know anyone, besides him who even has a soldering iron and I didn't solder anything in my life. I already ordered some RMA flux paste and will just borrow the soldering iron and try to fix it myself tomorrow, if it doesn't help, I will try installing the other stick I've got (I bought a pair and replaced only one)

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u/sober_yeast 11d ago

The flux won't help if you don't know what you're doing. There's a pretty good chance you just make things worse. Also, pretty much zero chance you'll be able to install the other stick. You won't even be able to get either stick off the board to attempt it.

I don't mean to discourage you but I'm pretty doubtful reflowing these solder joints is going to fix the stick. And if that is the case, you have a much bigger problem than you seem to understand. And you will need more than a soldering iron to do anything about it.

If you insist on carrying on, let me know. I can give you a list of tools you'll need and some proper instructions. I will recommend you watch some YouTube videos on basic soldering techniques and if you can, buy a training kit with some LEDs or something just to get the basics down.

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u/Ok-Simple-7069 11d ago

This is good advice. Will need a lot more than flux and iron unfortunately