PS2 pad problem (reassembly)

[bwi]

I was having problems with my ps2 pad so took it apart , well now that i fixed the d-pad the L2 and R2 are causing probs in that they feel spongy and are hard to register. Its like the rubber thing underneath doesnt sit properly.

I've pulled the thing apart multiple times and sometimes get one to feel right but then looose it when i try to get the other sitting right. Any one got any bright ideas?

Bri

[honeymustard]

If I recall correctly (I took mine apart a couple of weeks ago to clean), you have to put the controller back together without the second shoulder buttons, then once it's together and you can see the rubber bits in the right place, you push the buttons in through the top.

[fallenangle]

It also depends on the version - the early PS2 pads had a strange clear, thin plastic bendy printed circuit board with contacts points under each contact pad. It was very easy to misalign the contact pads with the circuit board during reassembly.

The more recent ones, or at least the later ones I have taken apart, use a more familiar solid circuit board so it's easier to ensure the contact pads are correctly positioned before putting it all back together. But it still is very easy to move one of the rubberised contact pads out of position during reassembly.

The main problem I find is ensuring that both L2/R2 remain in their fully 'out' position. I actually hold the controller with the shoulder buttons facing down so they hang in the fully 'out' position when you press the two halves of the controller together again.

You'll know if you've done it right and everything is aligned properly just by pressing on those shoulder buttons. If one feels different from the other there's something wrong and you need to disassemble, adjust the rubberised contact pads and retry.

One thing though - if you've been having problems with those shoulder buttons check that the L/R rubberised contact pads a). arern't worn - the contact surface can sometimes wear away with time/use and if it's not reasembled exactly as it was before the contact will become unreliable. And b). the actual raised 'dimple' hasn't started to split at it's base due to wear. If it has you might as well dump the controller as you'll never get shoulder button working properly again without replacing that contact pad.

I'm using a Frankenstein's monster of a pad on my PSOne after one Tekken 3 session too many busted the original. It's basically a PS2 pad where I'd worn through the rubber thumb pads on the analogue sticks. I replaced them with the sticks from the PSone and replacement contacts, which I also found were ready to split, from a second canabilised PS2 pad.

It works fine but not perfectly - the shoulder buttons aren't as crisp, the sticks feel slightly gritty and the Start button has more travel. But the d-pads etc work just as well which means it's good for more Tekken abuse.

But the fact is I've never been able to reassemble a PS1/2 pad that didn't feel noticeably different (inferior) afterwards. Repair or attempts at repair of these things IMHO, even when you do it correctly isn't a good idea. unless you're desperate.

[bwi]

thanks for the replies guys. Finally got the pad working properly.

bri