Bent Steering Rod

[Allmanac]

Ok so here's the rub. Step son & his girlfriend came to visit this weekend with the children (5 of them). He and the kids were riding around on the cart. He let one of the middle children drive while he was sitting next to. Cart hit a pot hole and caused the steering wheel to jerk and startled the driver and they floored it ran into a ditch . After the neighbors helped push it out of the very muddy ditch the steering kept pulling to the right when the wheel was turned to go right and would get stuck. Well since they have gone home I took the wheel off the passenger front and noticed that the steering rod looks like it has been bent upward. RHOX 3" spindle lift. Can I just remove the spindle and put it in a vice and bend it back to a similar angle as the driver side spindle with a little heat and persuasion? Or will I be needing to replace the spindle? I really would hate to purchase a whole lift kit to just replace one spindle.

[Allmanac]

I guess I should have posted a picture of the driver side to show the difference in the angles of the rods. I knew something was up when the tie rods were not level to each other. If anyone is wondering what the hose clamp is for it is holding a piece of key stock to act as a steering stop because I had an issue with the steering over traveling when turning right. It worked great until the steering rod got bent.

[Allmanac]

Guess I should have called it what it really is. Steering arm not rod.

[Fairtax4me]

Those are usually made to bend (rather than break) so you should be fine to persuade it back to shape.
Make sure nothing else is bent like control arm, or leaf spring.

[jclark138]

Usually safer to bend it without heat, if possible, especially for steering components. Or, as little heat as possible. Once it changes color, you’ve likely lost whatever heat treatment it may have had.

[Allmanac]

Well I managed to bend it back with a long pipe for leverage. Did some figure 8's around the yard and about the fifth one the steering locked up turning right. I backed up to straighten the wheels out and lo and behold the steering arm was bent back to where it was after it hit the ditch. Guess that cast metal gets weak after being bent one time. I will order an A-arm lift from Dave at Revolution Golf Cars instead of another RHOX drop spindle lift like I bought from Golf Cart King. Maybe I'll have better luck with that one.

[NoleFan4Ever]

You will enjoy it. Very durable and fairly easy to install.

[TahoeDawgZ71]

Originally Posted by Allmanac

I will order an A-arm lift from Dave at Revolution Golf Cars instead of another RHOX drop spindle lift like I bought from Golf Cart King. Maybe I'll have better luck with that one.

You will.

[Allmanac]

Which lift should I get the standard A-arm or the super sport A-arm? What is the main difference between the two?

[TahoeDawgZ71]

Originally Posted by Allmanac

Which lift should I get the standard A-arm or the super sport A-arm? What is the main difference between the two?

The Super Sport gives you the Four U-Bolt rear and much more adjustability in the front end. The price difference is well worth it.