Steam Controller Disassembly

Written By: Ben Klein
Published: 10/08/18
  • Comments: 3

Steam Controller Disassembly

Published: 10/08/18

Teardown

Introduction

Background: My left analog stick started having drift and left-right phantom input problems, so this controller was already on the deathbed.

For disassembly, I drilled two screws out because I didn't want to wait for a longer T6 driver, so this controller is permanently damaged now both physically and (already was) electronically.

  1. 6jaAL6x1ZByZpA1B
    6jaAL6x1ZByZpA1B
    PnE4oVuINOtnGV5N

    • I did not have a long enough screwdriver, so I ended up drilling out two of the four side screws.

    • Go ahead and take off the back plate and remove the batteries.

  2. 6R6LkhuPIlpXGp4L
    6R6LkhuPIlpXGp4L
    cu3ukwdACU1EGGpL
    qWsPydtVEAWRxjXk

    • Start by taking out the 4 obvious screws, two on each side.

    • You'll need a long-necked T6 driver if you want to get these out cleanly. (At least 1" / 25mm.)

    • The pro tech toolkit does not have one long enough, so I used a slightly hacked hex key on two of them (stripping the heads) and ended up drilling out the other two because the hex key is not a good fit.

  3. aF2Frhe4J2mKQRCk

    • These are hidden under the label, simply use a sharp blade or just punch through the label with something sharp.

    • There are two at the top just outside the holes showing metal, and one near the bottom center.

    • The two at the top are much deeper in, but my normal T6 fits just fine.

    Why do they HIDE the inside screws, which wouldn't be visable, but then have visable screw holes on the handles? It's literally the worst of both worlds - either pull a ps5 and hide them nicely, or pull a ps4 and have them obvious and ugly, but don't do BOTH!

    corganowade -

  4. wBA2MyXCsfIDVcep
    wBA2MyXCsfIDVcep
    oex2QXTMaXOFwDcH

    • Starting at the bottom center seems easiest and leaves the least amount of visual scratches.

    • Go all the way around, going below/behind the USB port. (see second picture)

  5. yHAj1TSxlmXRVN5n
    yHAj1TSxlmXRVN5n
    ryNDjUwOCpZGm2NA
    h4fHMTR6MVZ3UVPP

    • Upon removing the backplate, there will be two battery hinges that may come off on either side.

    • I recommend keeping them on the backplate for reassembly later.

    • Next there is the backplate release switch, composed of two plastic parts and two springs.

    • See the 3rd picture of those parts.

    Note the little spring in the square hole for the D-shaped plastic piece (part of the backplate release switch). This spring is easy to overlook.

    John de Largentaye -

  6. HrsQ3LAVgg2EiRkL

    • Two screws near the top center.

    • Two screws on the far sides on top of the battery holder plastic backings.

    • Don't take the motherboard off yet - there are ribbon cables attached underneath.

    top two red circles are in the wrong place, they should be under the triggers.

    Haitham -

  7. Np5UGvMg4NyhZtOc

    • Two screws hold each touchpad in place. They are mirrored across.

    • You might need to lift the motherboard by a finger's width to reach two of the four screws. (They are slightly underneath the battery holder plastic.)

  8. pf3YXUlq3lNT5d1E

    • The only thing attached to the trackpads are the ribbon cables, be careful when lifting the motherboard off the front face plastic.

    • Watch out for the buttons falling out if you flip the front face over. There is a rubber/conductive silicone part that covers them all.

  9. nPDITlZSdGRWyajC
    nPDITlZSdGRWyajC
    Jjqh1OgQ6SEMMuqk

    • This step is only needed if you are replacing a trackpad.

    • These ribbon cables are actually really easy to take out, just tug gently straight away from the board.

    • ESD-safe tweezers are recommended for re-insertion, as the stiff ends are very small and difficult to grasp.

  10. jKIdy45vgEKwwwIV
    jKIdy45vgEKwwwIV
    AMTwvAnpVYYrpUCw

    • This thing literally just pops off using two plastic pressure-based latches. Just pull it in the direction the USB cable would go from the motherboard.

    • When the USB I/O panel comes off, so will the two bumper buttons. The two top bumpers are actually one long plastic part, who knew?

  11. rrMCh5xxAcxbrlHs

    • The screw for the bumper setups is on the opposite side of the motherboard, under the trackpad location.

Author

Ben Klein

Member since: 07/08/18

231 Reputation

0 comments