How to Install PS3 Thumbsticks into an Xbox 360 Controller

By • July 12, 2010

Installing PS3 thumbsticks, or any type of controller joystick mod, can be a great way to up your gameplay in your favorite shooter games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Why get new thumbsticks, you ask? Well, you will get more sensitive aiming, limit finger slip when it counts the most, replace old and worn out sticks that you’ve beaten to hell for all these years, just to name a few.

With that said, here’s a little tutorial on how to install Playstation 3 style thumbsticks, or our Hardcore Stix into your 360 controller.

1. Take Apart Your Controller

This is a simple process that only takes about a minute to do. To save time, I’ll refer you to our guide on disassembling your controller.

2. Removing Your Existing Thumb Sticks

Removing the joysticks that came on your Xbox 360 controller is about as easy as it gets. Just grab a hold of them and pull up. They should come off with very little effort. You will notice that they are sitting on small plastic shafts. Turn them upside down and you will see the oblong holes that allow for mounting onto those pegs.

3. Attaching Your New Thumbsticks onto the Controller Board

Just like you pulled your old analog sticks off, now you’re just going to pop on your new thumbstick kit. It should be as easy as simply popping them on the plastic pegs on your controller. Just make sure to align the bottom of the thumbsticks so that they slip on top of the pegs.

4. Closing the Controller Back Up

Once you’ve got your thumbsticks installed, now you have to put your controller back together. Again, we have made a guide for re-assembly of the 360 controller.

One thing about the PS3 style thumbsticks, is that they are a bit harder to push through the front controller shell hole than the 360 version. This is because the mushroom top of the joystick is slightly bigger than the hole that was designed for the X360. Simply align the PS3 stick over the hole and firmly push it through. Don’t worry, it will squeeze right through without causing any damage to the thumbstick or the face of your controller.

5. Enjoy

You may not think that the PS3 style thumbstick on an Xbox 360 controller will make much of a difference, but it really does! After playing with it for a while on a FPS game like MW2 or Battlefield: Bad Company 2, you will notice that you will be able to acquire a target faster when aiming than you ever were capable of doing before with the stock sticks.

The convex surface of the Playstation 3 style thumbstick lets you make precision movements while aiming that the 360 version just can’t match. With that said, I highly encourage you to try them out and see the difference for yourself!

Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 10:53 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.