98 EZGO loose steering

beachcarter · 09-04-2013, 04:51 PM

Guys, for some timenow my 98 TXT has had quite a bit of play in the steering. So much so that the cart tends to wander all over the road. I have checked the obvious, ball joints, tie rods etc. I even started at the wheels shaking thing trying to find the loose component but everything is tight except for at the steering box itself. I can move the steering wheel 2-3 inches left or right before the wheels even start to turn. I have checked the toe in and even replaced both tie rods last year. Ive dealt with it all this time but now that I have completed my clone engine swap I reallyneed to get this thing under control because its just too dangerous with the added power and speed. Ive read posts where the steering rack and pinions can be replaced but it looks like quite a difficult job. How hard is it to remove the entire steering box and replace it with a new one? I can buy a new steering box on ebay for $238. Thats not much more than buying all the individual parts to rebuild it, plus if its easier to remove and replace than it would be to repair then the time and effort saved would be worth the added cost. Any thoughts?

mcdave71 · 09-05-2013, 10:41 AM

I think it's worth the effort to replace it as an assembly if you can. Makes it a simple R&R procedure then. No worries of trying to make used parts mesh with new. You'll be happier in the long run with a whole assembly.

beachcarter · 09-11-2013, 03:57 PM

I removed my steering box and remove the rack gear. It doesnt look worn at all. Since I have the new one obviously im going to install the new one but now I dont know what is causingmy loose steering problem. Ive read that a majority of the time only the rack gear needs to be replaced and not the pinoin. I inspected the pinion gear when I removed the box and it looked fine so I only ordered rack gear and purchased a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the pitman arm. I removed the rack gear today and found it in good shape. Any ideas what could be causing the loose steering?

oneroadkingman · 10-07-2013, 12:02 AM

when u inspected the gears are they pointy shaped or thick and flat?
there are brass bushings in he pitman arm u need to replace them also.

10-07-2013, 01:36 AM

my girlfriends ezgo was like that ... turned out to be the king pin bolts in the spindles were loose

09-04-2013, 04:51 PM	#1
beachcarter Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 441	98 EZGO loose steering Guys, for some timenow my 98 TXT has had quite a bit of play in the steering. So much so that the cart tends to wander all over the road. I have checked the obvious, ball joints, tie rods etc. I even started at the wheels shaking thing trying to find the loose component but everything is tight except for at the steering box itself. I can move the steering wheel 2-3 inches left or right before the wheels even start to turn. I have checked the toe in and even replaced both tie rods last year. Ive dealt with it all this time but now that I have completed my clone engine swap I reallyneed to get this thing under control because its just too dangerous with the added power and speed. Ive read posts where the steering rack and pinions can be replaced but it looks like quite a difficult job. How hard is it to remove the entire steering box and replace it with a new one? I can buy a new steering box on ebay for $238. Thats not much more than buying all the individual parts to rebuild it, plus if its easier to remove and replace than it would be to repair then the time and effort saved would be worth the added cost. Any thoughts?
beachcarter Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 441

09-05-2013, 10:41 AM	#2
mcdave71 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Juliette GA Posts: 271	Re: 98 EZGO loose steering I think it's worth the effort to replace it as an assembly if you can. Makes it a simple R&R procedure then. No worries of trying to make used parts mesh with new. You'll be happier in the long run with a whole assembly.

09-11-2013, 03:57 PM	#3
beachcarter Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 441	Re: 98 EZGO loose steering I removed my steering box and remove the rack gear. It doesnt look worn at all. Since I have the new one obviously im going to install the new one but now I dont know what is causingmy loose steering problem. Ive read that a majority of the time only the rack gear needs to be replaced and not the pinoin. I inspected the pinion gear when I removed the box and it looked fine so I only ordered rack gear and purchased a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the pitman arm. I removed the rack gear today and found it in good shape. Any ideas what could be causing the loose steering?
beachcarter Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 441

10-07-2013, 12:02 AM	#4
oneroadkingman Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: st.louis,mo Posts: 60	Re: 98 EZGO loose steering when u inspected the gears are they pointy shaped or thick and flat? there are brass bushings in he pitman arm u need to replace them also.

10-07-2013, 01:36 AM	#5
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 98 EZGO loose steering my girlfriends ezgo was like that ... turned out to be the king pin bolts in the spindles were loose
crash test dummy Guest Posts: n/a

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