Original-spec, or magnetic — the difference is worth understanding
An original-specification stick feels exactly like the one your controller came with and costs less, but it uses the same sliding contact design, so it will eventually wear the same way. A TMR stick reads the stick position with a magnetic field instead, so there is no contact to wear out and drift cannot come back.
- Original-spec: cheaper, identical feel, wears again eventually
- TMR: reads magnetically, nothing to wear, drift does not return
- If this controller has already had sticks once, TMR is the option that stays fixed
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2 business days
Typical turnaround
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Free assessment
Drift measured, not assumed
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3-month warranty
Parts and labour
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C$30–C$75
Per controller
Two kinds of stick, one or both
Fitted prices including the parts, the soldering and the recalibration. The second stick is much cheaper than the first because the controller only has to be opened once.
| Stick type | One stick | Both sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Original-specification sticks Same design and feel as the originals | C$30 | C$55 |
| TMR magnetic sticks No contact surfaces, so no wear to drift | C$45 | C$75 |
If one stick is drifting and the other feels fine, replacing one is a reasonable choice. But both sticks wear at the same rate under the same hands, and the second one is far cheaper while the controller is already open.
What the repair involves
Fitting the stick is half the job. The other half is calibrating it, because a new stick that has not been centred drifts exactly like the worn one it replaced.
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Step 1:Measure the drift
The stick output is read and how far off centre it sits recorded, so there is a number to compare against at the end rather than an impression that it feels better.
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Step 2:Replace the module
The controller is stripped and the old stick removed from the board. How that is done differs between stick types, which is why original-spec and TMR are priced separately.
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Step 3:Calibrate the new stick
The replacement is calibrated so its resting position reads as zero on both axes. This step is what makes a new stick behave like a centred one rather than a slightly different problem.
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Step 4:Test the full travel
The stick is swept through its whole range and the dead zone checked against the original readings — not declared fixed because the menu cursor stopped moving on its own.
Why we do not fit the cheapest sticks
The single most common reason a "repaired" controller drifts again is an unbranded stick module bought on price. They vary from batch to batch, and a stick that reads off-centre out of the box cannot be calibrated into a good one. We fit parts built to the original specification, or TMR parts where that is what you have asked for — and nothing else.
- Unbranded sticks are the usual cause of drift returning within months
- The same parts are also the usual cause of a stick that never quite centres
- Original-spec and TMR are the only two options we offer, priced above
Xbox stick questions
Should I choose original-specification sticks or TMR?
Original-spec is cheaper and feels identical to what you had, but it uses the same wearing design, so drift can return in time. TMR reads the stick magnetically with nothing to wear, so it will not. If the controller has already had sticks replaced once, or you play a lot, TMR is the better long-term answer.
Does a TMR stick feel different?
The travel, tension and size are the same, so your muscle memory carries over and games need no adjustment. Some players notice a slightly different feel at the very edges of the range. The stick is calibrated to the controller so the centre behaves normally.
Do I need both sticks replaced, or only the drifting one?
You can do either, and both are priced above. Doing both while the controller is open costs far less than coming back for the second one, which is why most people choose that.
Are these genuine Microsoft parts?
The original-specification sticks are built to the same specification, tension and fitment as the ones the controller shipped with — not the cheapest unbranded modules that vary batch to batch. If you specifically need a Microsoft-manufactured part, ask before booking and we will tell you honestly what we can source.
Can drift be fixed without soldering?
No. The stick modules are attached to the board, and the module is the worn part, so it has to be replaced. Software calibration cannot restore a surface that has worn away, whatever a tutorial claims.
How long will you have it?
About two business days. Most of that is the reassembly and the calibration, which cannot be rushed without affecting how the stick centres.
Bring the controller in and we will measure the drift
Reading the stick output takes a few minutes and tells you how far off centre it is, which also confirms whether it is drift or something else. There is no charge for that and no obligation after it.
No Fix, No Fee. Walk in at our Oakville workshop during opening hours, or send it to us.