Genesis controller D-pad issue

[megasdkirby]

Could it be the rubber pads on the controllers or even corroded contacts?

[gbpxl]

Im mainly having this issue on my 6 button pad (MK-1470). The D-pad juts out quite a bit more than on the 3-button controller and thus it seems like you have to depress the actual lower portion of the diagonal sections in order to do a forward or backward jump in MK2 or shoot diagonally in Vectorman. I dont have this issue at all with my 3 button, where I can basically have my thumb on the edges of the higher part of the Up and Down and I will effortlessly jump forward backward whatever. I did take apart the D-pad and clean every every single part that makes contact but to no avail. I dont know if there is a plastic component that broke off that is making the D-pad jut out so high? idk just seems like something aint right. I cant even disassemble the D-pad to re-seat it to see if that helps