How to Repair a Neo Geo CD Controller D-Pad
The Neo Geo CD controller is one of the most distinctive controllers of the 1990s, but unfortunately, its D-pad is also one of its most common failure points.
If you own a Neo Geo CD system today, there is a good chance the controller has developed intermittent directional inputs. You may find that pressing a direction sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, or that the D-pad feels inconsistent despite the controller otherwise appearing to be in good condition.
One of the most noticeable signs of a worn Neo Geo CD D-pad is losing that distinctive, satisfying click, the crisp tactile feel and sound that makes the original controller so enjoyable to use.
All of this is usually caused by dust and plastic debris building up inside the small switches beneath the D-pad joystick. Over time, the mechanical action of the D-pad can produce fine plastic dust and goop, which can interfere with the electrical contacts inside the switches.
Unfortunately, replacement switches that fit do not exist today. These switches were custom made by SNK specifically for this use case and nothing in the market today can be used as a direct replacement without heavy modification to the D-Pad mechanism. Trust me, I have spent so much money trying different switches to find a direct replacement and I was unsuccessful.
Fortunately, the original switches can usually be restored with a careful cleaning and servicing as described below.
If you are buying a Neo Geo CD from RetroGamer.ae, or just the controller, we usually carry out the process outlined in this article where needed as part of our extensive servicing procedures that we perform on all of our retro games, consoles and accessories.
What You'll Need
For this repair, you will need:
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Small Phillips screwdriver
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Small flat-head screwdriver
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A craft knife or blade
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A flush cutter
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A tweezer
Because the switches contain small springs and delicate metal contact discs, work slowly and keep track of every part you remove.
Warning: The method described in this guide is destructive. Do the following repair at your own risk. If not done properly, you may damage your controller beyond repair.
TL;DR
Neo Geo CD controllers are well known for developing unreliable D-pads as they age. Fine plastic dust, debris, Dorito residue, and spilled Mountain Dew can build up inside the D-pad switches, preventing the contacts from making a reliable connection! Fortunately, the original controller can usually be restored by carefully disassembling the D-pad, cutting the switches open and cleaning the parts and contacts inside to restore full functionality, and more importantly, that ultra satisfying click and tactile feel.
Step 1 – Strip Controller Down
This is pretty straightforward. Strip the controller down until you reach the D-Pad mechanism.
Remove the 5 screws on the back, take pics along the way in case you forget something.
Only tough part here is removing the D-Pad thumb cap.
The D-pad cap is fitted tightly onto the central mechanism.
It is not glued in place, but it can require some force to remove. Just wiggle it gently until it comes off. Do not force it. If it's too stubborn you can wedge a flat head and pry it off. I rather just use my hands so I don't scratch things.
With the cap removed you should have something like this:
Step 2 – Remove the D-Pad Mechanism Cover
With the D-pad cap removed, and the controller disassembled you'll be able to see the four switches and the plastic mechanism they are housed in.
This is often where the problem becomes obvious.
Fine plastic dust can accumulate throughout this area and eventually make its way into the switches.
The mechanism uses a shell to hold the switches in place. Using your small flat screwdriver, carefully release the clips around the perimeter of the shell and gently pry it upwards until it comes off.
Work around the assembly one clip at a time and avoid applying excessive force.
Once all 4 clips are released, lift the shell away and set it aside.
Step 3 – Remove the Springs and Plastic Pieces
This is where we need to start paying good attention.
The D-pad mechanism contains 4 small springs and 4 white gates, and they can easily pop out when the assembly is opened and fly across the room.
I forgot to take a picture here before I removed them, so here's a high effort meme.
Take a picture before removing the four springs and their associated white plastic gates. This will make reassembly easier later on.
Step 4 – Preparing The Work Area
This is where we start to get destructive and the part I warned about earlier. Take your time and follow all the steps carefully.
Things should look like this once the shell, springs and gates are removed to gain access to the tactile switches.
First you need to carefully bend back the four switches away from the center of the mechanism to give yourself better access.
I've seen people bend these all the way back. I feel it might rip one of the solder pads underneath if bent too much. I usually bend them half way back as pictured above and keep them wedged in that position while working on them.
Start cleaning whatever dust and debris you find as we proceed to the next steps
Step 5 – Cutting Open The Switches
The small blue switches are the main issue here and most delicate part of the repair.
Inside each switch is a small white plastic piece and a very thin, spring-like metal contact disc.
The metal disc is extremely delicate and should not be bent.
Looking closely at the front of each switch, you'll find a circular ring that is locking the white plastic piece inside the switch.
We need to slice off half of this ring in order to be able to take out the white plastic and metal disc inside. It is extremely important that you do not remove more than half of that ring so we can reassemble the switches after cleaning. We are cutting off just enough in order to be able to pull out the parts inside and once we put them back in, they are held in place.
Grab your flush cutter and start cutting half the ring off.
It should look something like this:
Next, grab your craft knife or blade and make a clean slice of the plastic we cut with the flush cutter.
Should look like this:
Now we have enough of the ring removed to take out the white plastic part and metal disc.
Use your tweezer to gently pull the white plastic part out while minding the very delicate metal disc underneath it.
Once that comes out, you'll have access to the metal disc which needs to also come out. GENTLY.
Most of the time I can flick the bottom of the switch with my finger a couple of times and the metal disc come out on its own. Or at least have it an angle where I can use the tweezer to pull it out. Again, The metal disc is particularly fragile. Do not flatten it or significantly change its shape. Its curved shape is what gives the switch its characteristic click and allows it to spring back after being pressed.
Cleaning the Switch contacts and metal disc
Remove any dust or debris from inside the switch. Use your tweezer to gently scratch off the contacts clean inside. Remove all the dust and debris you find inside and clean the contacts with contact cleaner or 99% IPA.
Take the bronze metal disc and clean it from behind. You can gently scratch the back surface with your tweezer and use contact cleaner or IPS here as well.
Clean everything as much as possible before moving on to the next step and reassembling.
Step 6 – Reassemble the Switch
Once the switch has been cleaned, place the metal contact disc back into position.
The convex, curved side should face upward.
Make sure the disc is sitting correctly and is not bent or distorted.
Then place back the white plastic piece.
Repeat the process for the remaining switches.
There is no need to worry much if they aren't sitting entirely flush here. Just press the button a few times with your finger to ensure its nice and clicky. Once we put back the springs in the next step everything will be held in place nicely.
Step 7 – Reassemble the D-Pad Mechanism
Reinstall the four white plastic pieces and springs in their original positions.
Make sure each spring is seated correctly before clipping the retaining shell back in place.
Once everything is in place, reinstall the shell and make sure all of its clips are properly engaged.
Before closing the controller, move the D-pad in all four directions.
You should feel four distinct and consistent switch clicks.
It is also a good idea to clean the contact and conductive rubber pads for the ABCD and START SELECT buttons before you reassemble.
Step 8 – Close the Controller and Reinstall the D-Pad
Place the rear shell back onto the controller and reinstall the five Phillips screws. Make sure to loop the wire correctly against the pillars. See first picture above.
Once the screws are tightened the last step is to insert the D-Pad thumb cap. The dot on the cap faces the up direction. Push the cap back in place firmly.
Test the Controller
Before considering the repair complete, test all four directions repeatedly.
Check for:
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Intermittent directional inputs
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Directions that fail to register
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Double inputs
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A direction that requires excessive pressure
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Uneven or inconsistent switch clicks
If all four directions register reliably, the controller should be ready for use again.
The buttons should register at the slightest touch. If they don't maybe you did not clean well enough and might have to try again.