The tension adjustment is inside the stick, not the shell
Adjustable stick tension is a mechanism built into the stick assembly. A generic replacement stick can be made to fit, work, and pass a quick test — while leaving the tension adjustment doing nothing at all. That is a feature you paid for, so it is the reason we do not fit generic sticks to an Elite.
- The tension mechanism is part of the stick, so the replacement has to be the right part
- A stick that fits but is not the right one can leave the adjustment dead
- We test the adjustment across its full range afterwards, on both sticks
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1 business days
Typical turnaround
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Free assessment
Drift and tension both measured
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3-month warranty
Parts and labour
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C$55–C$95
Per controller
One stick, or both while it is open
Fitted prices including the parts, the fitting and the recalibration of both the stick position and the tension mechanism.
| Option | Fitted price |
|---|---|
| One stick Left or right, whichever has drifted | C$25 |
| Both sticks The second costs less, because the controller is already open | C$50 |
Both sticks are tested after the repair regardless of how many were replaced, because a stick that centres correctly but no longer adjusts is not a finished repair.
What the repair involves
The Elite is opened differently from a standard controller and its parts are its own, so this is not the same job at a higher price — it is a different job.
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Step 1:Measure drift and tension
The drifting stick is read for centring, and the tension adjustment is checked across its whole range first. That second reading is how we prove afterwards that nothing was lost.
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Step 2:Remove the old assembly
The controller is opened and the worn stick assembly removed. The Elite has a built-in battery rather than AA cells, so the strip-down is different from a standard controller and has to be done in order.
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Step 3:Fit a stick with the tension mechanism
The replacement carries its own tension mechanism, which is why the part costs what it does. The adjustment is checked as it goes back together rather than only at the end.
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Step 4:Test the drift and the adjustment
The new stick is calibrated to centre, then swept through its travel and the tension adjustment run from one end of its range to the other on both sticks.
The Elite has its own list of faults
Sticks are the most common Elite repair, but they are not the only one. Bumpers and triggers wear, the built-in battery ages, and the charging port takes the same abuse as any other controller. All of those are on the controller repair page, at Elite prices — and if your controller needs more than sticks, we will tell you before doing the work rather than after.
- Bumpers, triggers, battery and charging port are all on the controller repair page
- The Elite Series 2 Core is the same controller inside for servicing purposes
- If two faults are worth doing together we will say so, because one strip-down is cheaper than two
Elite Series 2 questions
Will the tension adjustment still work after the repair?
Yes, and that is the point of doing it this way. The replacement carries the tension mechanism, and the adjustment is tested across its full range on both sticks before the controller goes back to you. A stick that fits but leaves the adjustment dead is not a repair.
Why does this cost more than a standard Xbox controller?
Because the part genuinely is more expensive — it includes the tension mechanism rather than being a plain stick — and because there is more to fit, adjust and test afterwards. It is a different job rather than the same one at a higher price.
Do you do the Elite Series 2 Core as well?
Yes. The Core is the same controller without the extra accessories in the box, so internally it is the same job at the same price.
My bumper has stopped clicking too. Can you do both?
Yes, and it is worth doing in one visit — bumpers and triggers are on the controller repair page, and since the controller is already open for the sticks there is no reason to pay for two strip-downs.
Are the replacement sticks genuine Microsoft parts?
They are built to the original specification, including the tension mechanism, which is the part that generic sticks leave out. If you specifically need a Microsoft-manufactured part, ask before booking and we will tell you honestly what we can source rather than promise something we cannot get.
The tension adjustment does nothing now, but the stick feels fine. Is that the same repair?
Yes. The adjustment lives in the stick assembly, so a controller whose tension dial has stopped changing anything has a stick problem rather than a shell problem — and it is fixed by the same replacement.
Tell us which stick and what it is doing
A drifting stick and a tension adjustment that has stopped working are both stick problems on an Elite, and both are fixed the same way. Tell us the model and the symptom and we will give you the fitted price up front.
No Fix, No Fee — Water damage, corrosion, and prior intervention excluded.. Walk in at our Oakville workshop during opening hours, or send it to us.