My trusty MS Sidewinder FFB wheel appears to be on it's way out. A couple of months ago it was fine, but now the movement is notchy, the bearings aren't smooth and the motor feels rough - rough enough to prevent me precisely controlling the steering when the car is balanced on the edge of adhesion. The downshift paddle has an intermittent issue in that it either doesn't work at all, or takes my FZR from 6th to 2nd gear in one go, much to the delight of whoever's following me. The switch for the upshift paddle occasionally sticks even after I've released the paddle itself, causing the autoclutch to engage and the engine to scream.

Is there anything I can do to service it? I'm kinda used to driving with it and of course they aren't made any more so I can't replace it with another one.

If there's nothing I can do and it's going to die one day sooner rather than later, is the Logitech DFP still the best mass-market wheel currently available? I can't see anything else on the market, and there certainly seems to be a gap in the market between the likes of the Logitech DFP / MS SW FFB, and truly bespoke high-end solutions that cost almost $1000/£600. Something inbetween would be a nice investment, something with more durability and better bearings and higher grade pots and ffb motor that doesn't cost the earth, but there doesn't seem to be any such product around?

I just played with a DFP, and in some respects it's great - smooth force feedback, lots of buttons, lots of rotation, but the lack of paddles has really put me off it...

Maybe a DFP2 when/if they are released...

As of now I can't fault my Momo Racing, although the pedals can be troublesome (mine just died).

Most GAME stores seem to have back stock of MSFFB wheels. I know the one back home had about 10-20 of them left, and about 25 FF-Less models.

But I noticed my motor seems rough, but then it always seems to have been if I have the spring high, so I turn it down to low and it's fine.

Thanks guys.

The DFP has no paddles? Woooo, thanks for mentioning that, I hadn't realised! No way I'm ever going to get one of them, then. I need my paddles, it's all I've ever raced with.

Methinks I'll pop into GAME when I'm in town over the weekend and see if they've got any, and how much they're going for, and how quickly they're selling them.

What's the issue with the momo pedals (I know it's been referred to many times on the forums, but not in any detail that I've seen and I have zero experience/knowledge of logitech wheels)?

I guess you could do what most seem to and use your current pedals with the DFP.

I picked up my MSFFB about 3-4 years ago for £60 (Though I did get £15 off from student discounts).

The DFP has paddles, but they're more like really big buttons. Still very usable though, I've not had a problem.

The DFP/Momo pedals aren't very good, although apparently they're been fixed in Rev.B, but I still use my old MS SW non-FF pedals as I prefer the feel of them.

except for the motor, you can open and clean the microswitches of your paddles. open all the screws at the wheel, the ones under the "force" button, pull it out about 5cm from the base, unscrew 4 more screws which u can now access, open the wheel.

then apply some contacts cleaning spray to the switches. should work as new

Thanks for that tip avih, I'll have to give it a shot sometime. Albeit very very carefully, given my (lack of) DIY skills. Seems as though I'll have to check out a DFP in the flesh before deciding whether they're suitable or not. The MS SW is still soldiering on in the meantime, though.

.....then there's always ebay for redundant stuff.