Steering has slack

k7pedgbb

Is there any adjustment of the steering gear box to remove slack on a 91 EZGo gas cart?

BGW

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pachanga90

If I remember correctly,there is an adjuster on top of the box.Just make sure the steering is centered when you adjust it.Turn it 1/8-turn,check,repeat if necessary.Hope this helps.

k7pedgbb

Thanks, I will try that. Try anything before spending $100.

k7pedgbb

Adjustment did not seem to help.
I see that there are kits available to rebuild the rack and pinion. Is that a difficult job and where to best get the kit?

Dave Box

Is your steering box inside the cab, just above the throttle or is it under the cart? If it is inside then I may be able to help, if not then I won't waste your time with irrelevant advice.

Dave

RSP

Not that hard to do, and check our sponsors many of them can help you that is why they are our sponsors and keep this site going!!!!!

k7pedgbb

Steering box is above the floor board and inside the cab.

Dave Box

OK here is my story. Like you I had a huge amount of slack in my steering. By looking at the Pitman arm whilst moving the wheel I determined that the problem was in the steering box. When I looked into it I found that the rack is phosphor bronze and the pinion is hard steel. Although it stood to reason that the rack would wear first I bought the kit

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-Z-GO-GOLF-...item51a1904fe0

and a new pinion wheel. I put it all together and the only difference it made was that I was now $120 poorer. All this summer I drove it like I was drunk promising that I would fix it at the end of the season. Cutting a long tedious story short I eventually found that the pin that holds the pinion wheel in place was worn and allowing the steering shaft to flex. (To be honest it would have been better and cheaper if EZ GO had not put a universal joint on the end of the column). Anyway I digress, here is what I would do.

Jack up the front of the cart and with the steering central reach underneath and grab the Pitman arm, now with the other hand move the steering wheel. If there is play between the two then the slack is in the steering box. It is normal that as the rack is softer than the pinion that is where the wear will be. It is also normal that as the wheels are generally pointing ahead it is the center of the rack that wears the most so repeat this with the wheels pointing left and again right. If the slack is notably less with the wheel over then it would appear that the wear is in the rack which should be replaced. However if it is sloppy in every direction then it may well not be the rack at all, and this was my mistake.

If you remove the 5 bolts on the steering box (support the steering column as you undo the top bolt) you can then pull the wheel, column and top cover off. You will see on the right the rod that supports the steering gear and on the left the rod that supports the pinion wheel. Pull off the pinion, being careful not to loose the spring washer and you can examine the pinion support rod. In my case the rod was worn at each end which allowed it to move in the box. If you can get a vice wrench on it and make it move and pull it out it is too worn. The real test for me however was to remove the steering wheel and then hit the threaded shaft with a mallet which will cause the steering shaft to slide out if the column. Now you can place the steering shaft on the right side rod and operate the steering without the cover blocking your view. In this way I was able to see the huge slack I had and the fact that the pinion wheel rod was moving dramatically. The rod is 7/16th steel and for $4 I was able to pick up a length at my local hardware store. I found that it worked best when I cut it 1/4 inch longer that the original but when I finished all the play was gone and it cost me $4 and some grease to pack the steering box.

Now of course I am not saying that this is your problem but if it is, then it is a good place to start before you buy a steering repair kit.

Good luck

Dave

k7pedgbb

I thank you so much. I will try that process as soon as I can get to it. If all that solves the problem, I will be as you were not, $150 better off.
Gordon

racin161

Good post DAVE haven't had to address this issue but it would be a GREAT sticky.