These joystick modules are manufactured by a company called ALPS and have been used by other controllers such as the PS4’s DualShock 4, the Xbox One and Xbox Elite controller and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.The specific model number used on the DualSense controller, RKJXV, has a service life of two million cycles, while the service life of the central pressure function is about 500,000 cycles.
IFixIt mentions that, although this number can vary greatly depending on the frequency with which you play and the types of games you play, these parts can exceed their useful life with just over 400 hours of play. This “math behind the napkin” is based on the Call of Duty gameplay of IFixIt employees.
However, this assumes that there are no drift problems before that. Much like the Nintendo Switch, there have been cases of DualSense drift problems, and a lawsuit has been filed against Sony for these problems.
However, IFixIt mentions that ALPS is probably not to blame for these drift problems and “is probably not the villain in this story”.The main cause of drift, in fact, seems to be related to potentiometers, which help to detect what type of movement a player is trying to perform.
Each joystick has two potentiometers on them that are perpendicular to each other, and measure both up and down as well as left and right.
The potentiometers are a three-terminal system that uses voltage to measure the position of the joystick. The third terminal, known as a cleaner, slides around a semicircular track. When you move the joystick, the wiper position – relative to a neutral, central position – lets the controller know where and how you are trying to move.
There are two other parts that can cause problems, a spring that returns the joystick to a neutral and centered position and another that allows the buttons to be pressed.Over time, the spring can stretch and create a new neutral position outside the center. This would make the pots think that your thumb is moving the joystick, even if you are not, causing drift.
Contaminants and imperfections can also cause deviations, as they can alter the voltage and can cause erroneous readings at the terminals. They range from plastic powder from crushed components to external elements, such as food or drinks.
IFixIt offers some repair solutions, including removing the pot case and cleaning or replacing the wipers. Some of the more advanced options include welding and there are many videos on YouTube on how to do this if you want to experiment.