Generally improving analog thumbsticks?

[o-o]

It really seems like console controller analog thumbsticks in general could easily be much better... Possibly through the resistance (or at least the initial-resistance) being lessened or made more uniform. They weren't supposed to be _more_ clumsy than digital after all, were they (- yet many times seem to be)?

Has anyone found ways of increasing or fine tuning the responsiveness in any way, such as loosening or lubricating the analog thumbstick mechanisms?

Ive tried with a PS2 thumbstick, but all the areas I can get to (- with a toothpick and without desoldering the entire thumbstick assembly anyway -) to lubricate dont seem to make a difference. Im wondering if it's the potentionmeters themselves creating the non-smooth resistnce?

[NFG]

I think you'll find it's the spring, not the pots or the mechanism itself.  The spring is what provides the return-to-center resistance to being pushed.  Remove the spring and the resistance at all points to all locations is reduced to near-zero.