Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum - View Single Post

slonomo · 02-12-2020, 02:50 PM

Let's address why someone would want a long travel front suspension systems on their golf cart?

1. Golf Course & Lawn:
Golf carts were designed to be used on the golf course where max speed is maybe 15mph or so. The suspension is designed to handle those conditions only. The stock designs work well for golf course, campground, and neighborhood cruising, as well as basic lawn and garden use. Stock design is ok.

2. On Road:
Some communities allow low speed vehicles, including golf carts, to be used on the road. More speed is needed to keep up with traffic, as much as 25 mph. Most stock golf cart suspensions can handle this use.

3. Off Road:
Here is where the stock suspensions are inadequate. The suspension travel for most stock golf carts is around 4-5". Tire size is around 18"-20". Ground clearance is in the 5" range. Negotiating off road obstacles can bottom out stock suspensions. Rocks, stumps, holes can also cause issues with ground clearance. Larger tires and raised suspensions are the cure for these situations. Enter "the lift kit and tire modification". LT kits are designed for off road use, so they will perform better than a stander spindle lift, single a arm lift, or drop axle lift. The difference will be very noticable. So an LT lift kit is what you would want off road.

4. Long Travel vs. Standard Suspension:
Most standard golf cart suspensions are meant for 4-5" of travel. At low speeds off road, this may be adequate. However, at higher speeds, the small amount of travel can cause bottoming out, harsh ride, and steering issues. A long travel kit will correct these issues. A long travel kit will have 7-8" of suspension travel, as well as a double a arm design that keeps the tires camber from changing too much during the suspension cycle. This combination results in a better controlled vehicle and softer ride. It also will allow the vehicle to go more places off road.

5. Higher Speeds:
Golf cart suspensions are designed for low speeds at or near 15mph. You can push the limits up to 25mph with skilled driving and good maintained suspension and steering components, and possibly better DOT rated tires. If speeds are increased past 25mph, stock carts often become more difficult to control and fell uneasy at speed. A long travel suspension kit will steer better due to the camber consistency and sometimes the wider width. The feel is more stable and controlled. The upgraded shocks help with high speed dampening. If the kit includes a rack and pinion unit, the steering control is better. Hitting potholes or obstacles at speed are also safer and easier to negotiate. Emergency handling is also improved.

02-12-2020, 02:50 PM	#5
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,436	Re: Double Wishbone LT Front Suspensions Let's address why someone would want a long travel front suspension systems on their golf cart? 1. Golf Course & Lawn: Golf carts were designed to be used on the golf course where max speed is maybe 15mph or so. The suspension is designed to handle those conditions only. The stock designs work well for golf course, campground, and neighborhood cruising, as well as basic lawn and garden use. Stock design is ok. 2. On Road: Some communities allow low speed vehicles, including golf carts, to be used on the road. More speed is needed to keep up with traffic, as much as 25 mph. Most stock golf cart suspensions can handle this use. 3. Off Road: Here is where the stock suspensions are inadequate. The suspension travel for most stock golf carts is around 4-5". Tire size is around 18"-20". Ground clearance is in the 5" range. Negotiating off road obstacles can bottom out stock suspensions. Rocks, stumps, holes can also cause issues with ground clearance. Larger tires and raised suspensions are the cure for these situations. Enter "the lift kit and tire modification". LT kits are designed for off road use, so they will perform better than a stander spindle lift, single a arm lift, or drop axle lift. The difference will be very noticable. So an LT lift kit is what you would want off road. 4. Long Travel vs. Standard Suspension: Most standard golf cart suspensions are meant for 4-5" of travel. At low speeds off road, this may be adequate. However, at higher speeds, the small amount of travel can cause bottoming out, harsh ride, and steering issues. A long travel kit will correct these issues. A long travel kit will have 7-8" of suspension travel, as well as a double a arm design that keeps the tires camber from changing too much during the suspension cycle. This combination results in a better controlled vehicle and softer ride. It also will allow the vehicle to go more places off road. 5. Higher Speeds: Golf cart suspensions are designed for low speeds at or near 15mph. You can push the limits up to 25mph with skilled driving and good maintained suspension and steering components, and possibly better DOT rated tires. If speeds are increased past 25mph, stock carts often become more difficult to control and fell uneasy at speed. A long travel suspension kit will steer better due to the camber consistency and sometimes the wider width. The feel is more stable and controlled. The upgraded shocks help with high speed dampening. If the kit includes a rack and pinion unit, the steering control is better. Hitting potholes or obstacles at speed are also safer and easier to negotiate. Emergency handling is also improved.