What Happens During a TCP Stick Drift Repair?

Stick drift can feel like a mysterious, unsolvable problem. But it isn’t mysterious at all, and the fix is far more straightforward than most players expect.

Here at The Controller People, the process moves smoothly from one clear step to the next.

What Happens When You Send Your Controller In

A lot of players hesitate before mailing in their controller. It’s understandable. A controller is personal. It fits your hands a certain way, responds to your habits, and holds the feel you’ve built over hours of play. Sending it off can feel a little like handing over your car keys to someone you’ve never met. That’s why we work in a way that removes that hesitation.

Many of our repairs appear live on TikTok, so players can see exactly what happens behind the scenes. The process is simple, clean, and handled by people who spend their days working with these devices.

Once your controller reaches us, the job moves into a familiar rhythm. The team checks it in, gives it a quick inspection, and prepares it for the analogue replacement, removing those worn modules and replacing them with fresh ones that restore accuracy and movement stability.

Stick drift can feel frustrating, but fixing it is a routine task for us as part of our stick drift repair services.

Why Your Controller Starts With a Full Analogue Replacement

Once the controller reaches us, the first real step is removing the older analogue modules. Even if only one stick shows drift, we always replace both. It might sound unnecessary, but it’s the best approach to fixing a common problem. When one module is fresh, and the other is worn, the difference in feel becomes noticeable. One stick may return to centre smoothly while the other hesitates. One may track movement cleanly, while the other has already begun to soften from use. Replacing both avoids that mismatch entirely.

There is also a practical reason behind this choice. Analogue sensors age in similar patterns, especially if the player uses both sticks often. When one begins drifting, the other usually isn’t far behind. Leaving it untouched sets up a situation where a player sends their controller back again only a short time later. A full replacement avoids that problem.

By having your PS5 controller fixed and replaced with new analogue sticks, you receive a controller that feels balanced, predictable, and ready for another long stretch of play.

With two identical fresh sticks in place, the controller responds in a way that makes tuning more accurate. Movement feels even across both sides, and the calibration process becomes smoother. This is how the controller regains the balanced feel it had when it was new, and often an even better one.

How Calibration Brings the Controller Back to Life

With both analogue modules replaced, the controller moves into calibration. It’s the step that determines how a controller will feel once it’s shipped back to you. Replacing modules might fix the drift, but it’s the calibration process that gives each stick full responsiveness.

Calibration begins with checking the centre point. Every joystick has a natural resting position, and slight variations occur even in brand-new modules. If this position is off by a small margin, the controller may still behave unpredictably during gameplay. The technician checks the reading carefully and adjusts it until the stick sits exactly where it should.

Next comes range testing. The stick is moved around its full motion arc, checking that it reaches its limits cleanly without dead spots or areas where inputs flatten. This step confirms that the controller is ready for sharp movements, gentle adjustments, and everything in between.

Micro-adjustments come after. If anything feels uneven, it is addressed before the controller moves forward.

Calibration ends with a return-to-centre test. A smooth return is important for shooters, driving games, and any title that relies on quick corrections. When the stick returns with a crisp feel, the controller becomes easier to trust in high-pressure moments.

The final part of testing brings all of these TCP stick drift repair checks together. Once the sticks pass the full set of checks, the controller is ready to be packaged for return.

Packaging, Return Shipping, and a Smooth Turnaround

Once calibration and testing are complete, the controller moves into the final stage of the TCP stick drift repair process.

The controller is cleaned and checked one last time before packaging. The technician makes sure every screw is secure, the shell is properly seated, and the sticks feel the same as they did during calibration.

Packaging is handled with the same care as the repair. The controller is cushioned, sealed, and prepared for shipping so it stays safe during transit. The box is chosen to prevent shaking and impact, and the interior padding keeps the sticks from pressing against anything that might shift their position. This attention to detail is small but important. The controller should arrive exactly as it left the workshop, with its new modules feeling crisp and ready to use.

As for turnaround time, we keep the process moving as quickly as possible. We do not rush repairs, but we also understand that players do not want to be without their controller for long. Our team works on repairs daily, and you can often catch parts of the process on our TikTok account.

TLDR; the process is predictable, the handling is careful, and the controller returns feeling refreshed.

Warranty and Guarantee

Every controller repaired or upgraded here includes a 3-month warranty. This covers the work completed during the repair and gives players time to put their controller through regular use without worrying about early issues. Three months is long enough to play across many sessions, try different games, and get a clear sense of the controller’s behaviour. If something unexpected happens, the team is ready to help.

Players who choose TMR or Hall Effect analogue upgrades receive an even longer window with a 12-month warranty. These magnetic modules are built for long-term stability, and the warranty reflects that confidence. The extended coverage gives players the freedom to enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay across an entire year without feeling like the repair is fragile or temporary. It also shows trust in the technology used, since magnetic modules remove the wear that makes standard sticks drift in the first place.

In addition to the warranties, there is a 14-day money-back guarantee on all products. If the controller arrives and doesn’t feel right for any reason, or if the player changes their mind, they can reach out within that window.

For players who have never mailed in a controller before, these protections make the decision to avail of the TCP stick drift repair services easier.