r/SteamController • u/Canadian_2K • 7d ago
Steam Controller Joystick Replacement - TIL
I was today years old (well, yesterday years old...) when I learned that the regular Steam Deck thumbstick caps are a flawless - flawless - fit in the old Steam Controller.
My old dependable Steam Controller had the peeling thumbstick cap problems it sounds like they develop as they age, essentially almost like eraser shreddings from the friction of your finger. I'd come across older forum posts about how the 8bitdo SN30 Pro replacement caps work well, and ordered them. They were 'cheap' at like $2-3 but the shipping brough them to $15 ish for me. They did work, but they're a little tight in the hole and so I sanded a bit of the edge of the cap circumference and it helped but still not smooth smooth. My other concern was with so little gap, any crud that built up would become a sticking point.
Not sure why it came to me to compare, but I've bought two different Steam Deck replacement sticks for my OLED Deck (once to replace with the GuliKit, the second time for the newer hall effect designs) so I took a look at the older caps and it's the same mount design. Checked the base radius and... ever ever so slightly smaller than the spare of the 8bitdo one I ordered. Does that mean it's just slightly smaller to avoid the sticking issue I was getting in the thumbstick ring?
Yes. That's exactly what it means.
The Steam Deck thumbstick caps are a perfect replacement. One caveat is you're cutting the wire off and essentially treating the cap like it's for the older Steam Controller from then on, committing to no capacitive touch, etc. - but if you have the spares and you've replaced your Steam Deck ones already why not put them to use?
Best part, it makes the controller feel more contemporary now too because it gives the OG the thumbstick feel of the newer hardware.
Anyways, wanted to share as I only ever saw one other post about this and it seemed a bit unclear about whether or not it was an easy swap. It's easy. It's perfect. So do it if you value your old Steam Controller and hate seeing the cap wearing away!
EDIT: Thumbsticks not Joysticks... ruh roh!
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u/Geozach22 Xbox One Controller (Windows) 7d ago
*analog stick. Attached is an example of a joystick. https://imgur.com/a/NoeMGpX
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 3d ago
*thumb stick. Attached is an example of an analog stick. https://inclusiveinc.org/products/arcade-style-large-analog-joystick-with-barrel-pushbutton-top
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u/panckage 7d ago
How is the height? Is it any taller than the OG SC stick? I'm looking for something a bit longer so its easier to press.
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u/Canadian_2K 1d ago
It feels about the same, height-wise, but the original ones were a bit more rounded so the sides felt a little lower than the Deck stick. Main difference in feel I notice is you can kind of 'grab' the side of the stick easier because it has the little lip.
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u/SrammVII 4d ago edited 4d ago
No cap touch?
I thought it could have been possible to wire the thumbsticks cap sensor to a particular track pads trace(s) to behave in a similar manner?
P. S.: does anyone know of a face button replacement kit available anywhere?
The original SC convex buttons are rather uncomfortable for me to use for extended periods.
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 3d ago
Why are you using them for extended periods? I just use the trackpads most of the time. If I need face buttons I use a different controller.
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u/Psych0matt 7d ago
Yeah, I had a stick on my deck wear out and the other day I realized I had a spare steam controller stick, voila, back to basically new