Frankenstein Lifted 98 Club Car Jeep Body Kit

desz305

Hello BGW!

First time cart owner and I need ya'lls expertise. I apologize for my lack of proper terminology, I tried searching before posting but couldn't find an answer.

I acquired, what I am being told is, a 1998 Cub Car 48v. It has a Jeep body kit and a lift kit as well. I have been calling it Frankenstein because I've noticed that this was put together DIY.

I am replacing a broken/cracked front hub assembly (front driver side tire was wobbling, when I took tire off noticed one corner where the 4 screws to attach tire go is cracked and the screw for that cracked corner was slightly off center). I purchased a Front Hub and Bearing for Club Carts '74-'03. First observation, I had to take a rubber mallet to the old hub assembly to remove it off the axle (or spindle?). Is this normal or should have the old hub assembly come off easier? I got it off but I had to whack it a bunch with the mallet.

My issue is that the Front Hub and Bearings Assembly I bought doesn't seem to fit the axle/spindle. All videos I see online of people replacing front hub assemblies, I see them just slip the old assembly right off and slip the new assembly on without any force. I was going to try and whack it on with the rubber mallet, since I had to whack it to remove the old assembly but before I tried that I was thinking that maybe, because the cart has a lift kit, that the axle/spindle thing is no longer the regular size that a '74-'03 cart would have? I noticed when looking at lift kits online, they include the axle/spindle part and think this may be why the assembly I purchased might not be right size.

It seems that at some point when the body kit was being installed, the old glove box was removed and I can't seem to locate the serial number, which is why I am not 100% of year/make/or model of the cart. Any ideas where I can find it, or look for characteristics/clues to determine the info? Resources online say its in the passenger glove box area, but I don't think the original passenger glove box is there anymore.

I hope I was able to make sense, I can provide pictures and any answers you might need to help me out. Thanks for your time and help!

BGW

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Mooncarter

The serial number should be on the panel underneath the dash about where the key switch is. If not there, remove the dash panel that houses the key switch etc. it should be visible on the upper frame toward the passenger side.

Also, none of those carts with that body came from the factory. It was done by the place that made the body, dealer installed, or somebody did it at home.

Hope this helps.

to BGW!

desz305

Thanks Mooncarter for the serial number help.

Hope someone can help me with the Hub assembly sizing issue.

jethaulin

lift kits usualy dont come with new spindles, you reuse the origanals. not to say some one didnt change them from origanals. if you had to use a hammer to get it off it will probaple take some work to get the new one back on. check the spindle for rough spots. clean it up with come emery cloth. if you do use the mallet, watch the threads. pics would help, when you can. (want to see just how hillbilly)

BBBHC

Being over 20 years old, with obvious previous work done, there's no telling what other parts have been swapped out, upgraded, or manipulated. Pictures will definitely help.

As to the front hubs and bearings, Club Car switched dust caps from steel caps to plastic at some point. I don't remember when they did this, but my 92 DS has steel dust caps, so some time after 92 apparently. When ordering my lift kit, this was made very clear that it matters when ordering one kit over another. So something other than the dust caps was changed apparently. This could be a reason that you are having issues...

This might be a cart where taking pictures and posting them on here, of anything you are getting parts for, may save you some headaches.

Post us some pictures, I'm sure at least one of us on here will be able to point you in the right direction!

mrgolf

Do you have roller bearings that you pack Greece in or sealed bearings.? If they are sealed you have the new style hubs. The spindles should be straight with no taper. Sometimes you have to do some sanding to clean up the spindles for the hub bearing assembly to fit.

CP241

as BBBHC said, the cart is too old and been customized considerably from the sounds of it so who knows what has been changed/replaced/retrofitted. Post some pics so we know exactly what you're working with.





And the earlier ones with the steel cap had tapered bearings (serviceable, you have to occasionally pack with grease). The later ones with the plastic caps had sealed radial bearings which are not serviceable.

My carryall is a 2001 and has the old style bearings and steel caps.

Fairtax4me

It sounds like someone put a newer front spindle on that cart which uses the sealed ball bearings. Those spindles have a larger diameter and shorter length, the older style hubs with tapered bearings will not fit. You will need hubs for a 2004 or newer cart.
It's also very common for the newer style hubs to crack around the lug studs. Newer updated designs are built a little differently and should be less prone to cracking. It may be a good idea to replace both of them.

desz305

Thanks for all the replies.

The hub I removed from the cart had a metal dust cover and tapered bearings that fell out when I got wacked the hub off. The new replacement assembly I got also has a metal dust cover and tapered bearings. Hope this helps you guys figure out whats going with it. Seems like I should be good to go. I will take the advice and do my best to clean the spindle, it stops from sliding onto the spindle the moment it touches and all these videos I see online people just slide on the new assemblies onto the spindle so easily, makes me feel I'm doing something wrong/not right size hub by having to smash it on with a rubber mallet.

I uploaded pictures to show ya'll but this forum will not let me post links until I have been a member for 7 days. I'll make sure to post in a few days when it lets me.

Thanks again!

mrgolf

Sounds like the inter bearing race is still on the spindle. You should be able to knock it off with a punch and hammer.