1996 EZGO - Has Lift, Lots of Wandering in Steering

[BurntClutch]

Hello Everyone.

I just brought home a 1996 EZGO GXT804D (or a Tuff1) that the previous owner put a lift kit on. He said it was 4", not sure what brand, but its a kit that just has blocks/spacers installed under the shocks, the front axle mount, and the rear coil springs.

Seems like the equivalent of hockey pucks for a frame lift on a pickup. Anyway, driving it for the first time tonight, it really wants to wander on pavement A LOT, and seems to be a little squirrely on the grass also. Not sure if its the pressure in the tires, or just the way that the shocks/springs are configured, but wanted to see if this was typical for a lifted cart, or if there was anything I can do to assist.

Thanks in advance!

[hunt365]

Check the toe in. Should be toed in about 1/8 in. I like to scribe a line down the center of the front tires. hold a screwdriver on a block of wood at a slight downward angle allowing it to barely touch tire. have someone rotate the the tires and it will leave a line around the tire. measure across the back and front of tire and adjust accordingly.

[BurntClutch]

Originally Posted by hunt365

Check the toe in. Should be toed in about 1/8 in. I like to scribe a line down the center of the front tires. hold a screwdriver on a block of wood at a slight downward angle allowing it to barely touch tire. have someone rotate the the tires and it will leave a line around the tire. measure across the back and front of tire and adjust accordingly.

Thanks! I didnt even realize the toe was something that was adjustable on these carts. Ill add it to the list of things I need to go through.

Very much appreciate the response!

[Mike.Callery]

Have you resolved your steering issue?

I have a '90 Marathon and am in the process of rebuilding it. I put a 4" lift kit on it and just the other day took it for the first ride. My steering sounds a lot like yours in that it seems to want to wander and the steering has drastic understeer.

The wheels seemed lined up well though I might go make sure it is very accurate. I am wondering, however, if the change in the lift and the location of the tie rod on the steering arm might require modification. Moving it in towards the axle would reduce the play in the steering and make it more responsive.

[BurntClutch]

Originally Posted by Mike.Callery

Have you resolved your steering issue?

I have a '90 Marathon and am in the process of rebuilding it. I put a 4" lift kit on it and just the other day took it for the first ride. My steering sounds a lot like yours in that it seems to want to wander and the steering has drastic understeer.

The wheels seemed lined up well though I might go make sure it is very accurate. I am wondering, however, if the change in the lift and the location of the tie rod on the steering arm might require modification. Moving it in towards the axle would reduce the play in the steering and make it more responsive.

Hi Mike.

Nope, I havent really resolved it yet. I lowered my tire pressure some, and that seems to have helped with the jounce a little, which I think was exacerbating the steering issue. I did grease everything in the front end, just to also take a look and get familiar with how things were arranged. Nothing seemed to be overly worn or terrible, but that was a very brief look.

I need to remove the cover plate and jack things up to get a good look to see if anything seems worn/bent/etc. and then try to check the toe to see if I can make a difference in steering.

Im not planning on a lot of pavement drives, so its not a major issue for me yet, but I just wonder if all lifted carts suffer the same wandering effect.

[guyboy1970]

Originally Posted by BurntClutch

Hi Mike.

Nope, I havent really resolved it yet. I lowered my tire pressure some, and that seems to have helped with the jounce a little, which I think was exacerbating the steering issue. I did grease everything in the front end, just to also take a look and get familiar with how things were arranged. Nothing seemed to be overly worn or terrible, but that was a very brief look.

I need to remove the cover plate and jack things up to get a good look to see if anything seems worn/bent/etc. and then try to check the toe to see if I can make a difference in steering.

Im not planning on a lot of pavement drives, so its not a major issue for me yet, but I just wonder if all lifted carts suffer the same wandering effect.

Burnt,
Naturally when you lift one the steering has changed. You should be able to get your toe in set correctly and that will make a huge difference, or it did both times I raised my cart. The measuring on the front is very important, just eyeballing it won't get you where you need to be.

Get the front end up and grab the top and bottom of the tire and push/pull top to bottom and see if you have any play then grab 3 and 9 o'clock and push/pull let to right and see what you got. These carts can be tricky sometimes LOL. Hope you get it worked out!

[BurntClutch]

Originally Posted by guyboy1970

Burnt,
Naturally when you lift one the steering has changed. You should be able to get your toe in set correctly and that will make a huge difference, or it did both times I raised my cart. The measuring on the front is very important, just eyeballing it won't get you where you need to be.

Get the front end up and grab the top and bottom of the tire and push/pull top to bottom and see if you have any play then grab 3 and 9 o'clock and push/pull let to right and see what you got. These carts can be tricky sometimes LOL. Hope you get it worked out!

Thanks! Its on my list of things to do with this cart. Im back to a wiring/starting issue right now, so the ride quality/wandering has taken a back seat for a little bit. But Ill definitely give this a shot and will go from there!

[Mike.Callery]

Just to understand this correctly, once I have there is a line scribed down the middle of both tires, and you measure, what, the front line to line on the other tire, same in the rear, and you want the front's 1/8" closer?

[Mike.Callery]

Thanks for the reply. I'm following the thread and realized that my eyeing the alignment might be 99.9% of my issue. Like you, I'm working on another aspect of the cart right now but this is next up. If I have any success, I'll get back and post.

[Raystar57]

Originally Posted by Mike.Callery

Just to understand this correctly, once I have there is a line scribed down the middle of both tires, and you measure, what, the front line to line on the other tire, same in the rear, and you want the front's 1/8" closer?

That is correct as hunt stated.
A tow in makes the front of tires closer together and you are looking for 1/8" shorter measurement.