Bad Boy Buggie LT Steering

BigPimpin

I just got my BBB back from the shop. They did the motor upgrade and while it was in there I had them check the steering. The castle nuts on the bottom of the tie rod ends (outside) were rubbing the bolt that hold the leaf springs down. This wasnt giving me my full turning radius. The shop went ahead and corrected this by bending the steering arm upward to avoid the interference. Now the cart pulls hard to the right. How do I fix this. I dont want to take it back because the shop is a long ways away.

Thanks.

BGW

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kab69440

Bend it back where it was to begin with. Your alignment is now screwed. I personally would take it back, make them fix it and compensate me for my time and mileage. That was a stupid move on their part. I honestly can't imagine the thought process involved in that. If you absolutely need the reduced radius, build offset adapters, or lengthen the tie rods to accomodate the new bend.

BigPimpin

The turn radius is half what it was, so that was a huge improvement. So, the tie rods can now be adjusted to eliminate the right hand pull? How?

kab69440

Whichever side got the modification is now shorter than it was before as a result. You need to lengthen that rod an amount equal to that. There may be enough thread left to simply turn the joint out and be on your way. You might also need to fabricate a longer tie rod to make up the difference.

If you have basic alignment know-how, you can probably just eyeball the tire position and get it real close. Position the steering wheel at neutral and look at the tires. Most likely the modified side will have a significant toe problem.

Since you said the cart pulls hard right, I am guessing the passenger side is the one that got bent, correct? Bending that side upward or downward without lengthening the tie rod will have the effect of toeing out the passenger side tire. You need to push that tire back out where it belongs to neutralize the effect of the modification.

kab69440

I guess I should first ask:
Does your cart steer from in front of the axle or behind it?

BigPimpin

Behind.

Both sides were bent upward, however the passenger side had to be be slightly more.

kab69440

OK, so if the passenger tire is the problem,we have to be talking about a rear-steered spindle. Your problem is likely that both front tires now toe out too much. The passenger side moreso than than the driver. You need to check how much thread the tie rod ends have left inside the tie rod and whether it is enough to toe those tires back in to about 1.5 degrees. When you turn the tie rod end out, you are increasing its overall length. Don't turn it out so far that you compromise engagement inside the tie rod.

BigPimpin

Thus, bringing the front of the passanger tire toward the centerline of the axel. I think I underatand. Will check air pressure before making any adjustments. So, if I measure inside to inside of the tires at the same height at both sides of axel, they should match, is what I am guessing? Is that all that there is to it?

kab69440

You want a very slight pigeon toe effect. A neutral toe gives a "loose" and "wandering" feel. A degree or two of toe in is a much more stable and "planted" feel.

BigPimpin

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