Xbox One Wireless Controller Model 1708 Joystick Cap Replacement

Written By: Dylan Gross

Comments: 21

Xbox One Wireless Controller Model 1708 Joystick Cap Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

10 - 15 minutes

Introduction

The Joystick caps on your Xbox Controller could become unresponsive or sticky. If this happens it could be necessary to remove the Joystick caps to either replace or clean them. This guide will teach you how to access and replace the Joysticks on your Xbox One Wireless Controller Model 1708.

Tools

Parts

Xbox One Controller Joystick Cover

Step 1

Slide the battery cover toward the top of the controller to remove it.
Lift up the batteries or the battery pack from the battery compartment.

Step 2

Insert a plastic opening tool into the top seam, and gently work the opening tool to the bottom of the controller.
Continue using the opening tool to gently pry the side plate off of the controller.
Repeat this process for the second side plate.

Only use a pry tool! The vibration motor wires are exposed and directly accessible from the side when opening. I attempted to open it with a small knife, expecting to be able to gently pry the clips open, accidentally sliced through my right motor’s wires.

Sawyer Coe - 30/06/18

If you have some Guitar picks laying around they work GREAT!

Mike Beane - 08/12/20

For some reason, the two closest hinges at the top of the two handle covers are extremely strong. I had to play around to get them off unlike several guides and video tutorials that, I don't know how, take them off without the slightest effort.

Controller wireless Xbox One Model 1708

Stefano Spinelli -

Step 3

Gently peel the battery label or punch a hole in the center of the sticker in the battery compartment to reveal the hidden screw.
Remove the five 9mm torx-9 security screws from the back of the controller.

Torx-8 security bits work as well.

jahiamir - 13/10/18

Torx 8 or 9 wasn’t working. I used 2.0 minus screwdriver

richjlee - 25/12/18

The 2.0 minus worked for me as well.

metric - 20/06/20

When sliding in the plastic cover during reassembly be sure it lines up with the battery compartment contacts. It can be really easy to not see it and bend the contacts. If you still encounter force during this step, depressing the triggers out of the way worked for me.

Drew -

Since mine is out of warranty I just broke out the security nib with a 2.0 standard bit. Then used a T8 torx.

Tim LaCrosse -

Step 4

Orient the controller so the front plate is facing up.
Lift the front cover off of the controller.

Step 5

Turn the controller face down and gently lift the rear plate.
Be careful with the rumble motors, as they tend to fall out, risking damage to the motherboard.

Reassembly: When placing the back cover on: notice that the battery terminals need to slide inside the cover first. Then compress the triggers slightly, Then the cover will be aligned correctly. Then add the front cover and add screws so it doesn’t come undone.

hunteil - 14/06/20

It isn't necessary to take off the back cover

Otto Hahn -

Step 6

Tape the Rumbler/shock motors in place.
This will prevent the motors from falling out.

if you replace thumbsticks only, this step is NOT required and it is safer not to remove bottom cover, removing faceplate is sufficient to replace thumbsticks

Piotr Wysocki -

Step 7

Pull the joysticks off of the controller.

Are the joystick potentiometers soldered to the mother board or just push fit, this guide doesn’t mention soldering so I’m assuming the latter?

Can you get genuine replacement joystick potentiometers as I’ve only seen cheap eBay type ones?

Alan - 18/12/19

The actual joysticks themselves are soldered into the bottom motherboard.

Bryan Remely - 21/03/21

So where do i get new parts?

mrdugi -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Dylan Gross

Member since: 25/09/17

4812 Reputation

7 comments

How about the square thing with the stick and hinges that the joystick is attached to? I think it’s called the Module. I have a joystick drift / drifting problem and that may help me out. Thanks.

Cory C - 20/04/20

Agreed. That’s actually the part I need to replace too. The module.

Thomas Tomchak - 05/09/20

followed this guide to take the controller apart because I had a joystick that was sticking, my solution was to put some 3in1 oil on the module that was sticking and it seems to be working a lot better now.

John Jaggi - 26/09/20

@corytc and @tomchak I did replace the module, in general, you buy (Amazon or eBay) you will receive a module of 6 modules you need a multimeter and test each module interface, measure both resistances and subtract them, the one nearest zero is the module you will use since is the one with least drift from the factory.

Just disassemble it, turn upside down uses a solder remover and unsolder the old one, place the new one solder back, boom you are done.

Like you will need an iron solder with medium and thin tips, I used lead-free solder, so is a patience test, be careful with the wires from the rumbles, try not to unsolder them since is a thin wire and is difficult, like I have big hands so took me a while to solder back.

Luis Vitorio Cargnini - 26/09/20

Just want to say the hardest part is carefully prying off the plastic covers on the handles. It’s also not necessary to remove the back cover for simply replacing the joysticks. Other than that, it’s very easy. I would guess this is rated at moderate difficulty simply due to the plastic covers.

Will - 22/01/21

Exactly! I just replaced thumbsticks without removing bottom cover. Prying grips not not break anything was the hardest part of this repair.

Piotr Wysocki -

Where can one get the replacement joysticks ?

Keven Dubois -