problems with 360 controller

[lemiel14n3]

I've found lately when I'm playing my 360 games that my characters have the tendency to drift to the left. Like when I'm playing Mass Effect 2 I've noticed Shepard always hugging the left side of cover and slowly walking left.

The strange thing is that this happens with almost every controller I use. Does anyone else have this problem? and more importantly does anyone know how to fix it?

 

[jbchillin]

i have the same problem with one of my controllers. i just ignore it. it doesnt really affect my game play yet so its not that big of a deal.

 

[Azure Sky]

Sounds like the mechanism in the stick is wearing out.

That, or it might not be centered when the console is turned on?

 

[vxicepickxv]

There might be some buildup inside the controller. This guide might help.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Xbox-360-Wireless-Controllers

 

[Nova5]

The strange thing is that this happens with almost every controller I use. Does anyone else have this problem? and more importantly does anyone know how to fix it?

Yeah, I repair this all the time for friends (about once every two weeks). It's a matter of where the thumbstick slides in to the actual control mechanism (pictured below). It gets loose over time, since the plastic is kind of weak. This leads to the thumbstick sitting incorrectly on the mechanism, pushing it (always, for some reason) to the left. This screws with the 360's tightly-defined 'dead zone' (area the joystick can sit without registering movement).

What I usually do is just replace the thumbsticks. A tutorial to opening/fixing your controller can be found here.

Spoiler: Image of 360's actual joystick mechanism.