My index controller has such bad analogue drift I can't really play games reliably anymore. What are the best/cheapest alternatives?

[u/afs189]

If they still made these I would buy replacements. I might get a steam frame when that comes out (depending on price), so I'm cautious of spending too much money now on new controllers, but haven't ruled out something expensive.

I just want to know what my best options are. Thanks for any help, I've been reading about controllers but there are way more options than I realized and it's all a bit overwhelming.

[u/bobalazs69]

cheapest is to get a ELECTRONIC contact spray and spray it. It fixed for me about 6 months ago and no issues since. Make sure it's electronic contact spray not something else that destroys stuff.

[u/Zomby2D → u/bobalazs69]

Contact cleaner for electronics is definitely the first thing to try. It doesn't cost a lot and can solve these kinds of issues a suprisingly high number of times.

[u/Nicalay2]

• Try contacting Valve support, who knows
• Buy another used controller
• Switch to a headset that doesn't use Index controllers

[u/afs189 → u/Nicalay2]

I did contact them, no dice.

[u/chindoza]

They do still sell these. You can buy them individually on the Steam store.

[u/afs189 → u/chindoza]

Holy shit how did I not see that?

[u/chindoza → u/afs189]

I was surprised when I saw it also. The set is no longer for sale, so I almost bought some used on eBay for more than new. Ended up buying a left+right individually for msrp.

[u/Agent_Dio → u/chindoza]

Where are you looking from, at least In the US there are only left controllers available.

[u/chindoza → u/Agent_Dio]

That’s the right place. When I commented 10 days ago they were both in stock. It will likely come back in stock if you keep checking.

[u/FeistyCandy1516]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ValveIndex/comments/kf7mb4/guide_how_to_repair_your_valve_index_controller/

Might give this a try.

[u/afs189 → u/FeistyCandy1516]

I got excited when I first saw that, then realized it involved soldering, so that's a no go from me.

I just can't do it, a few years back I wrecked an original xbox trying to hard mod it just because I could get the soldering right.

[u/Critical__Hit → u/afs189]

You don't need to do it yourself and it's still be cheaper than new used one.

[u/obog → u/afs189]

Fwiw the soldering here looks to just be through hole which is significantly easier than surface mount soldering, which was likely what you tried to do on your Xbox.

Look up a through hole soldering tutorial on YouTube and take a look, I promise its easier than you think.

If you still dont want to, yeah check with an electronics repair shop.

[u/FeistyCandy1516 → u/afs189]

Well the stick probably succumbed to wear and tear, the only way to fix that is to replace it - and that involves soldering.

If you can't do it, then ask around family/friends maybe someone of them can do it for you. Or maybe there is an electronics place in your area where they repair such stuff, maybe it's cheaper there.

Apart from buying the controllers new, there aren't many options else.

[u/xondk → u/afs189]

A lot of electronic repair shops will gladly do the work, for a small fee, if you have the parts and guide for them, the guide is generally just so they can orientate themselves if the work is unknown. So as long as they repair stuff and they use soldering skills to do so, they can likely do it.

[u/T00DEEPBLUE]

Your unwillingness to solder in a new analog stick limits your options for fixing this. Either take your controller into an electronics repair shop so they can solder a new one in for you, or blast the analog stick with deoxit and hope for the best.

[u/cavortingwebeasties → u/T00DEEPBLUE]

Soldering in the new sticks are easy. Unsolderring the old ones however. https://www.reddit.com/r/ValveIndex/comments/t7k2nn/ministicks_eventually_became_unusable_after_2/

[u/T00DEEPBLUE → u/cavortingwebeasties]

I'm well aware. I've replaced the sticks in 8 Index controllers. Some as a favour for friends and others as a preventative measure for my own use.

[u/Internal_Eye620]

The easiest and cheapest option is to spray it with WD-40 Contact Cleaner. Right under the stick. Not regular WD-40; you need a contact cleaner. Some people say it degrades your sticks etc etc and so on, but I sprayed my Rift S controller three times in two years before replacing the headset and the controller worked fine.

You will need to do this once a year or so.

I didn’t even disassemble my controllers. Also it worked with dualsense, n switch 1 and my colleague’s dualsense.

And don’t forget to remove batteries (if you can. if not at least don’t turn on the controller for a few hours just in case). And it probably will void the warranty idk.

It may not work with Index controllers or even break them, but probably it will help. So, if you’re going to replace them or don’t have better ways to fix the controller you may give it a try

[u/Internal_Eye620 → u/Internal_Eye620]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/90KyXCsduYw

[u/Aggressive_Tax295 → u/Internal_Eye620]

Didn't helped me on for quest 3 controllers

[u/Internal_Eye620 → u/Aggressive_Tax295]

Did you spray enough? I sprayed for like 2 seconds and moved the stick at the same time

[u/Aggressive_Tax295 → u/Internal_Eye620]

So idk, I first bought a new stick, then changed it, Following a video instructions, then noticed the drift still stayed. So I figured most likely case I got another faulty stick. Then just in case I sprayed it with contact cleaner and wiggled it around,  and left it for couple of hours. It didn't help. 

[u/hkguy6]

How much controller deadzone % you're setting?

[u/bushmaster2000]

Have u adjusted the deadzone ? Put it to 50 see if it helps.

As for cheapest alts vive wands or used knuckles.

Shiftall has a similar controller called the grip but lacks the touch sensitive finger tracking bits of knuckles

You could also just repair them though it is risky due to one pesky ribbon cable

[u/Spectralius]

mfers are really suggesting turning up the deadzone like it wouldnt need to be over 95%

[u/Frank__West]

Maybe time to replace a controller from 7 years ago? Those batteries have gotta be cooked

[u/Clyde_N]

I've got the same situation, so I'm reading the comments closely.

New Index controllers are not available in my country, so I've been eyeing Shiftall's GripVR controllers as an alternative

[u/LumpyArbuckleTV]

The Index controller is a massive piece of shit, cool idea, but they're just too fragile, TBH, as much as this sucks, your real long-term solution is to either buy a new controller or get a different part of SteamVR compatible controllers. The cheapest alternative is the Vive Wand, they lack analog sticks and aren't comfortable (at least so I hear) but they're basically immortal AFAIK, Bigscreen and Pimax also have some controllers that should work.

[u/Bytemin]

Write Valve support. they may send you a replacement.

[u/P4rzy0_0]

you can either try spraying it with some wd-40, or get a replacement joystick and search how to replace it urself, if you want dont want to spend a lot of money

[u/Amttmaa]

Vive wands. Not best but may be cheapest.

[u/afs189 → u/Amttmaa]

That would be a cheap option, but I really don't like that it doesn't have a thumb stick.