Rear end Grinding - 87 club car. Am I screwed?

GotaCamaro

The rear end is grinding like crazy. The cart is in perfect shape with new batteries, i really dont want to give up on it. I dont want to spend a lot of money to fix this either.

What exactly do I need to fix it? a new rear end/ rear axle etc. Since the cart is so old, is this going to be hard for me to find?

How easy is this to change yourself?

BGW

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TahoeDawgZ71

Are you sure it's the rear end and not the motor?

GotaCamaro

I am not sure 100% sure. It is grinding while moving. Anything to check or listen to, to narrow problem down?

TahoeDawgZ71

Pull the motor off of it and roll it. We usually pull them with another cart. If the noise is gone you know it's in the motor. Motor bearings are cheap and easy to fix.

GotaCamaro

is it hard to pull the motor? how much is involved? putting it in neutral and dragging it wont accomplish same?

Fastest1

Jack your cart up off the ground. Wiggle the tire around. Does it move in all directions? Most likely a wheel bearing.

GotaCamaro

its not a wheel bearing. already tried that one.

TahoeDawgZ71

Unhook the battery pack (MAIN positive and negative)

Remove the wires from the motor. Be careful not to spin the stud. Grab the lower nut with a wrench when you break the top nut loose.

Remove all four motor mounting bolts and slide it off.

Dragging it won't accomplish anything with the motor on it. Electric cars don't have a transmission, so when you roll it the motor will rotate no matter where the gear selector is.

Budule

If it still makes the noise while its jacked up you can take a piece of 3/4 or 1 inch pvc pipe and use it to "listen" to the motor or rear end to pinpoint the noise , round piece of wood works too ....kinda like a "stethoscope"....been doing this on cars /trucks for years...