Difficulty
Difficult
Steps
12
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
4
- Controller
- 3 steps
- Battery
- 2 steps
- Disassembling DualShock 4 Motherboard Assembly
- 4 steps
- Right Analog Stick
- 3 steps
Flags
1
Member-Contributed Guide
An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.
BackDualShock 4 CUH-ZCT1
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
The joysticks are soldered to the controller board. You’ll need a soldering station to complete this repair.
What you need
Step 1
Controller
- Using the Phillips #00 Screwdriver, remove the four 6.0 mm screws securing the rear cover to the controller.
- Do not forcefully loosen the screws, as it will amount to permanent damage of the threads, making removal impossible.
Using the Phillips #00 Screwdriver, remove the four 6.0 mm screws securing the rear cover to the controller.
Do not forcefully loosen the screws, as it will amount to permanent damage of the threads, making removal impossible.
1024
Step 2
- Four fragile plastic clips hold the casing together. You can see their locations more clearly in this guide.
- The clips help hold the seams together. If you break these clips, the controller will still work.
- Beginning with the left handle:
- Pinch the left handle of the controller to introduce an opening.
- Wedge a plastic opening tool into the opening and slide it up towards the joystick.
- Pull down on the plier to crack open the casing.
- Repeat these steps for the right handle.
Four fragile plastic clips hold the casing together. You can see their locations more clearly in this guide.
The clips help hold the seams together. If you break these clips, the controller will still work.
Beginning with the left handle:
Pinch the left handle of the controller to introduce an opening.
Wedge a plastic opening tool into the opening and slide it up towards the joystick.
Pull down on the plier to crack open the casing.
Repeat these steps for the right handle.
Step 3
- Wedge a plastic opening tool into the case-splittings and pull down to crack open the casing near the following buttons:
- Share button
- Options button
- Split the plastic covers of the controller apart, taking note that they will still be attached by circuit board ribbons.
- Three small pieces are often released from the framework. To prevent loss, maintain a controlled work field.
- 2 Trigger Springs
- 1 Grey Reset Button Extension
Wedge a plastic opening tool into the case-splittings and pull down to crack open the casing near the following buttons:
Share button
Options button
Split the plastic covers of the controller apart, taking note that they will still be attached by circuit board ribbons.
Three small pieces are often released from the framework. To prevent loss, maintain a controlled work field.
2 Trigger Springs
1 Grey Reset Button Extension
Step 4
Battery
- Detach the motherboard ribbon connecting the two sides of the controller by pulling it straight out with your fingers.
- Note the orientation of the cable and make sure it faces the right way when you reconnect it.
- After the two halves are separated, place the top of the controller off to the side.
Detach the motherboard ribbon connecting the two sides of the controller by pulling it straight out with your fingers.
Note the orientation of the cable and make sure it faces the right way when you reconnect it.
After the two halves are separated, place the top of the controller off to the side.
Step 5
- Using the blunt forceps, remove the battery plug by gently rocking the forceps side-by-side to loosen the plug.
- After removal of the plug from the motherboard, the battery can be lifted off of the controller.
- Hasty removal of the battery plug could warp the plastic grips of the plug.
Using the blunt forceps, remove the battery plug by gently rocking the forceps side-by-side to loosen the plug.
After removal of the plug from the motherboard, the battery can be lifted off of the controller.
Hasty removal of the battery plug could warp the plastic grips of the plug.
Step 6
Disassembling DualShock 4 Motherboard Assembly
- Remove the single 6.0 mm Phillips screw found below the battery retainer with the Phillips #00 Screwdriver.
- Do not forcefully loosen the screw, as it may amount to permanent damage of the threads, making removal impossible.
Remove the single 6.0 mm Phillips screw found below the battery retainer with the Phillips #00 Screwdriver.
Do not forcefully loosen the screw, as it may amount to permanent damage of the threads, making removal impossible.
Step 7
- Gently detach the touchpad ribbon connected to the motherboard using the blunt forceps. The touchpad ribbon is connected to the motherboard by a connector that flips to tighten and loosen. During reassembly, to reattach the ribbon, the plastic tray will need to be gently removed from the motherboard and the flip-lock flipped up.
Gently detach the touchpad ribbon connected to the motherboard using the blunt forceps. The touchpad ribbon is connected to the motherboard by a connector that flips to tighten and loosen. During reassembly, to reattach the ribbon, the plastic tray will need to be gently removed from the motherboard and the flip-lock flipped up.
Step 8
- Carefully dislodge the motherboard assembly from the front cover.
- Vibration motors are loosely attached to the motherboard assembly. Provide support at the two ends to ease the separation.
- When removing the motherboard assembly, try not to tilt the front cover upside down as the buttons and their covers may fall out.
Carefully dislodge the motherboard assembly from the front cover.
Vibration motors are loosely attached to the motherboard assembly. Provide support at the two ends to ease the separation.
When removing the motherboard assembly, try not to tilt the front cover upside down as the buttons and their covers may fall out.
Step 9
Disassembly Complete
- Successful disassembly of the controller will result in the following three parts, respectively:
- Motherboard Assembly
- Front Cover
- Rear Cover
Successful disassembly of the controller will result in the following three parts, respectively:
Motherboard Assembly
Front Cover
Rear Cover
Step 10
Right Analog Stick
- These are the solder connections that will need to be desoldered. Since the board is upside down, left will become right.
- Use a desoldering wick and flux to melt and remove the solder
- This may take a bit of practice since all the solder will have to be removed. It does help to pull a bit on the joystick while melting the solder and using the wick.
These are the solder connections that will need to be desoldered. Since the board is upside down, left will become right.
Use a desoldering wick and flux to melt and remove the solder
This may take a bit of practice since all the solder will have to be removed. It does help to pull a bit on the joystick while melting the solder and using the wick.
Step 11
- Once all the contacts are desoldered, the old joystick can be removed.
- Check that all the holes are cleared of old solder. Hypodermic needles as well as very small drill bits can be used to clear the holes.
- Insert the new joystick into the circuit board. Make sure it is properly seated and that all the contacts line up with the holes in the circuit board.
Once all the contacts are desoldered, the old joystick can be removed.
Check that all the holes are cleared of old solder. Hypodermic needles as well as very small drill bits can be used to clear the holes.
Insert the new joystick into the circuit board. Make sure it is properly seated and that all the contacts line up with the holes in the circuit board.
Step 12
- Double check to make sure the joystick is seated properly.
- Solder all the contacts to the board.
- Here is the board after the repair. All that is left is to clean off the old flux with some isopropyl alcohol.
Double check to make sure the joystick is seated properly.
Solder all the contacts to the board.
Here is the board after the repair. All that is left is to clean off the old flux with some isopropyl alcohol.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
29 other people completed this guide.
Author
with 4 other contributors
oldturkey03
Member since: 09/29/2010
722,317 Reputation
109 Guides authored
Badges:
53
+50 more badges
Team
Global Fixers
Member of Global Fixers
Community
22 Members
240 Guides authored
Juan Hernandez - Feb 1, 2015
Reply
I just tried to remove both joystick and replaced them but unfortunately only one joystick works and that one that works it’s stuck on and only moves in one direction.
James Napoli - Aug 9, 2017
Reply
I’ve not been able to actually get the solder out, would love any suggestions or tips.
oldturkey03 - Aug 9, 2017
send me a couple of pictures on what your repair looks like thus far. Send them to my email. Click on my username and my email address is on my profile. Let’s see what you got so far.
Dave bolton - Dec 10, 2017
Reply
This is a very difficult repair, what this guy didn’t mention is you need a very expensive solder station with an electric solder sucker. The solder needs removing and it’s nearly impossible without damaging the tracking.
Eyob Grainge - Jul 19, 2021
You definitely need some soldering experience but the repairability is not that difficult. The soldering points are big enough for any cheap ($40) soldering iron can get too. As for removing them, it helps to use flux and also a soldering wick to absorb all the old solder. It is not easy but not the most difficult repair. P.S you do not need the expensive soldering stating with hot air etcetera. This works perfectly as it get hot beyond the required point to melt the solder
