Dualshock 4: damaged analog stick and misaligned plastic case panels

Mi Problema

I was browsing the flea market and found a DS4 controller with some damage to it. Luckily, I pushed the PS button and the white light turned on and started searching for a console - that sealed the deal (that and the $3 price :P ).

There were quite a lot of small scratches and dents and signs of abuse but the most severe were regarding the left analog stick and the plastic case panels.

The stick had the rubber part completely peeled off and part of the plastic support broken (and glued back, I think). The right stick also had some signs of the rubber starting to peel but I am using rubber pads/caps anyway (I find them more comfortable and precise than the stock heads). The problem was that the rubber cap was not sitting correctly on the damaged stick and was moving constantly. Also, the cap would come out easily.

The panels looked like they suffered some hard impact that caused them to get one on top of the other. This created a 1mm gap, on the inside part of the controller, and a hard edge on the part that comes into contact with the palm.

It also had some dirt on the buttons and between the panels.

Mi Solución

The guide was ok, I guess, but it lacked more detailed information on how to release the plastic parts of the case. I struggled quite a bit with this part of the guide and the one regarding reassembling the R2/L2 triggers. It is true that the internal design of the controller didn't really help the situation. Although fascinating, it was not very friendly with being disassembled.

The misaligned panels basically repaired themselves, after I unscrewed the screws. Once there was no more pressure, the panels came back to their initial position.

The stick came out easily, and it was a challenge to repair. Basically, my only options were to buy a new one or to try to rebuild the missing part of the stick, so that the rubber cap would sit fine on it.

I used a piece of plastic cut out from a card, and a bit of velcro (the soft part) on top, and glued everything to the remains of the stick. With the cap back on, the cap fits perfectly and it has a hard time coming off. The only drawback is that the cap rotates, if forced, but this is not something that affects the usage of the device.

Once the device was disassembled, I was able to easily clean everything.

Mi Consejo

Cracking open the panels will definitely be a challenge so you should be patient. The author of the guide should enrich it with detailed pictures on how to safely open the case.

Also, be careful with the L2/R2 triggers, and how they are assembled. The guide doesn't show how this is done, and it is easy to get confused on how to put them back together.

As soon as you reach the motherboard, please mind the components attached to it. They are not solidly connected together and the whole inner part is not friendly with being put on a flat surface. Use a piece of thick cloth or something, to have the board resting on it, with the vibration motors dangling to the side.

The battery tray is easy to remove, but the guide doesn't provide information on how to do this. If you look around it, you will figure it out, there are only 2 clips that need to be released.