Been a year since I installed the Oudini Steel Stick, so it's time for a controller cleanup and lubing! This is the same controller I've been using since ~2015. In 2017 I installed a Grade A Steel Bowl from SteelSticks64. Still in perfect condition!
For comparison here's the same bowl, stick and gears in 2024 vs how they were in 2021. All it takes is some basic care to keep it in top shape! You do not need a Steel Stick, but a Steel Bowl is definitely recommended and will keep your controller perfect for virtually forever.
@Graslu00 Good to know just the bowl helps! Just had a grade A steel bowl arrive and ordered new gears from n64gears.com but was planning on keeping my stock stick as I want the controller to appear stock on outside!
@RetroJeff83 Before 2023 all I used was stock gears and stick with the Grade A Bowl and as you can see the stick and gears are still perfect after almost 7 years of use!