Steering wheel slack

[In4nI]

I just got an old Clubcar DS (1985 I think) on the road thanks to Scotty's conversion Kit, now that i have it on the road the steering has about 45 degrees of slack or play what ever you want to call it. the settering will will turn about 45 degrees before the wheels move. Are there any adjustments or parts i can replace inside the steering box to improve this situation.


Thank you

[In4nI]

Attached is a pic of the steering box

[ninershawn2418]

sometimes the tie rod ends come loose giving lots of slack try tightening them or replacing them have someone turn the wheel while you look under there maybe you can see whats loose

[In4nI]

All the slack is in the steering box, Im going to tear into it sometime this weekend and check it out

[rkuchmak]

Good idea,gears are probably worn

[In4nI]

Looks like the worm or screw what ever you want to call it is worn, however there is an adjustment to tighten up the play. Adjusting the pin that travels along the worm gear helps a little but ultimately the steering shaft needs to be replaced. Im sure that will be easy to find, NOT

[gadavis]

This is a Ross Cam and Lever steering box. Club Car did away with this type and changed to rack and pinion type steering about 1985-86(?). This type of steering box design was common to automotive steering until the introduction of power steering called for a different design type. First check for loose tie rod ends or worn and loose wheel bearings. There is an adjustment for wear on the sector and worm gear. Look on the side cover of the box where there are screws holding cover to the main casting. There should be a slotted screw or an Allen setscrew looking place with a lock nut on the outside of the threads. First check to see that it is filled to the filler plug with 90 wt gear lube or equivalent gear oil.Raise the front wheels so they do not touch ground. Turn steering wheel from lock to lock,(side to side) several times to distribute the oil. Loosen the outer lock nut 1/2 turn or so and then back the center screw out maybe 1/2 turn. Turn the steering wheel to the very end of its travel :IE full right or full left and have someone gently hold wheel in this position. Holding the outer nut with a wrench, turn the inner screw until it just lightly is snug and hold it while you tighten the outer lock nut. The reason for doing this adjustment at the end of the travel is because the gears wear and if you adjusted it in the center where it was loose and turned it to the end, it would break the cover due to the gears being larger where there is not much wear.

[In4nI]

The worm is worn in the middle so setting the adjustment to the "sweet spot" when that wheels are straight is the best i can do, the more you turn the wheel one way or another the slopper the steering gets, Not much can be done with the wornout worm. Has any one ever converted one of these to rack and pinion?


Thank you

[Stevegrmich]

Originally Posted by In4nI

The worm is worn in the middle so setting the adjustment to the "sweet spot" when that wheels are straight is the best i can do, the more you turn the wheel one way or another the slopper the steering gets, Not much can be done with the wornout worm. Has any one ever converted one of these to rack and pinion?


Thank you

. . . are you sure it is an 85 DS? . . . 84/85 DS's had rack and pinion steering system . . .

[In4nI]

not sure of the year evidently it's pre 84 because is does not have rack & pinion