2004 Club Car Precedent Steering

tbneau

I bought a used 2004 Club Car Precedent from an individual. One of the front wheels was obviously cocked out of alignment and the cart steered jerkily. So I took it and had it aligned at an alignment shop. When I went to pick it up they told me the front bushings were bad. I took it home and noticed that for seemingly no reason, the cart would jerk to the right or left. Ordered front and rear bushings and had the alignment shop install them, thinking that would cure the jerking. Got it home and noticed that anytime I drive it on pavement, if a front tire hits the least bit of sand or straw, the wheel jerks in that direction. The alignment shop says they put 1/8" less toe-in in the front of the front tires than in the back of the front tires, and that they set the toe-in with someone inside the cart. The cart has a new set of 10" mag rims with new touring tires. I'm going to take it back to the alignment shop for them to re-check it, but I am hoping for some guidance from someone on here. Thanks in advance. Tom

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

OLD MEC

Did you have the same problem before adding the new wheels and tires? I have found that some tires cause a similiar problem on rough surfaces( tread design seems to make a difference?? ) If not I am assuming that the alignment shop has checked the front end for other wear in rack and pinion steering ( cant remember years but some precedents had rack and pinion recalls when new ) and or tie rod ends? I would look for any looseness anywhere in front end as it sounds like hitting bumps etc causes a shift in steering? Any play or looseness in front end could cause your problem, also frame could be twisted or missaligned? It almost sounds like the cart may have been damaged prior to your purchase, but a golf cart savey shop should catch that right away? NOTE I aways set my toe in at 1/4" but that is only minor difference from shop settings.

tbneau

The new wheels and tires were on there when I bought it. The alignment shop indicated that they saw no problems in the front end. I'll print your reply and take it with me when I go back there. I suppose I'll ask him to check the toe-in, and if it has not moved from 1/8", I'll suggest he try 1/4", drive it there, and see if it cures or improves the problem, and go from there. I'll also ask him to check the other possibilities you mentioned. Thank you much. Tom

TahoeDawgZ71

Sounds like a bent spindle to me... Even though your toe is correct with the wheels pointing in a straight line does not mean it stays consistent throughout the steering radius..... With a bent spindle, one tire will steer quicker than the other, causing the toe to change as you steer... You're gonna have to determine which one is bent and change it.

tbneau

David,
Thanks. I'll get them to look at that. Would that also be the case even if it occurs when I'm driving in a straight line and one tire hits a patch of sand or ground up pine straw on the pavement? Its a little difficult to describe exactly what it does, but it does feel almost like that wheel turns out a bit.

TahoeDawgZ71

I'd honestly have to see exactly what it's doing.... Now that they've aligned it, it makes it nearly impossible to diagnose because a precedent spindle can be bent ever so slightly and you won't be able to look at it and see it in most cases. I've replaced spindles that appeared to look identical to the new ones, but still managed to fix the problem. It doesn't take much of a bend to throw them off. The easiest way is to diagnose it before tampering with front end adjustments because you'll be able to straighten the steering wheel out and look at the tires and see which one is kicked out. Good luck and let me know what you find.

70scout800

mine did the same thing, it sucks. you could align it then drive and it would be off again. got an allsports a- arm and ditched the spindles, problem solved!

tbneau

Scout--I'm not much mechanical wise. Could you expound on just what an Allsports A-arm is? Where would I get one? Rocky
Top Parts? I didn't mention that my cart does not have a lift kit on it. Also, did you actually just replace both spindles? Thanks for your help!!

TahoeDawgZ71

It's an A-Arm lift kit from All-Sports Manufacturing that completely does away with the factory front suspension and replaces it with their stuff. Same thing I did with my car. When I bought it (06 Precedent) the passenger side spindle was bent so bad it was about to break. Lift kit fixed everything.

tbneau

I was editing as you were responding. Really didn't want to put on a lift kit with small grandchild coming up and one "low-rider" dog I would have to load every time. Any alternative?