DualShock 3 thumbstick replacement

Remove the five 7.2 mm Phillips screws securing the rear cover to the controller.

Press on the rear cover between the analog sticks and slightly lift the lower edge of it away from the rest of the controller.

Push the rear cover slightly toward the top edge of the controller to clear the front edge of the #2 triggers.

Pull the rear cover away from the rest of the controller, being careful not to pop off the #2 triggers.

Lift the battery off the motherboard for enough clearance to access the battery connector.

Carefully pull the battery connector away from its socket on the motherboard.

Remove the single 7.2 mm Phillips screw securing the motherboard to the front cover.

Slide the trigger button retainers slightly away from the front cover.

Remove the #1 button on both sides.

Pull the vibration motor retainers away from the front cover to dislodge the motherboard assembly.

Remove the motherboard assembly from the front cover.

Carefully push the two vibration motors out of the input board frame.

Lift the input board assembly off the motherboard.

Pull both analog stick covers straight up off their joystick posts attached to the motherboard.

Use a soldering iron to de-solder both vibration motor wires from the motherboard.

Depending on the controller model, the thumbsticks may have a different number of pins.

There are models with 4 pins

and models with 3 pins.

Additionally, the thumbsticks come in different sizes. The smaller thumbsticks seem to be used only in models where the thumbstick is not soldered.

Depending on the controller model, it may be necessary to desolder the thumbsticks from the PCB.

The first image shows the soldered version, and the second image shows the unsoldered version.

The pins of the thumbsticks are inserted through the PCB. Turn the PCB over so that the USB port is facing you.

Depending on whether you want to replace one or both thumbsticks, you must now desolder the following points.

For the 4-pin version, desolder the points marked in red in image 1.

For the 3-pin version, desolder the points marked in blue in image 2.

Remove the rubber that presses the pins of the thumbstick against the input board.

The thumbstick is held in place by four legs. Try to straighten these legs as much as possible to release them from the plastic.