Steering is super floaty and unstable. Looking for advice.

[DuckSoup]

Good morning!

So I've been working on this GoKart that I picked up dirt cheap a while back just as a fun side project.

I've got it fully working again and have made a lot of improvements to it but one of the areas that I'm working on now is the steering.

When you steer this thing it is very unstable and has a ton of play from the steering wheel to the wheels.

What I noticed is that the spindles look to have an additional attachment that was welded on and I don't exactly know what the previous owners were doing here.

I'm trying to remove all of this extra play but is it better for me to just completely replace the spindles but keep the existing bracket?

I guess I'm not sure what's going on here and looking for some advice. I attached some pictures and a video.

GoKart Steering

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[Functional Artist]

Howdy & DS,

Looks like you have a "double pivot" situation

The "stud" has a pivot
...& the tie rod end does too

You only need (1) pivot
...either on the "stud"
...or on the rod end

I would remove the "stud"
...& just install a nut-n-bolt
...thru the hole the stud was in
...& the rod end

That should remove most of that "play"
...& work much better

 

[Hellion]

When you steer this thing it is very unstable and has a ton of play from the steering wheel to the wheels.

Functional Artist explained it super well. But I must say, Bubba (the half-witted previous owner) strikes again! I’ve never seen a double ball joint steering setup before. Wild. Maybe it was designed to simulate drunk driving or something?

Cut off and discard the lower ball joint/tie rod end assembly that’s welded to the spindle arm, and make sure there’s a hole there for a bolt, preferably a shoulder bolt with a smooth, non-threaded portion. Use the style of tie rod end (aka Heim Joint) that is on the top, much better than the style that is on the bottom. Just do what FA said.

 

[Hellion]

Here’s an illustration of a Manco 297 front-end. Parts 26 and 27 are Nut, 3/8-16 Toplock and Bolt, 3/8-16 x 1.50” respectively. Just throwing the hardware sizes out there because your existing tie-rod end may have a 3/8” bore as well.

[ Click to embiggen ]

 

[DuckSoup]

Thank you guys! Sounds like my head was in the right place, just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy!

 

[Sparkwizard]

That looks like a tie rod end welded to the spindle. It can be removed with some cutting and grinding, but, honestly, I think I would replace the spindles and keep the Heim joints on your tie rods.

 

[Hellion]

just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy!

Just keep telling yourself that, despite the fact that you’re in the DIYGK asylum with the rest of us.

 

[Hellion]

I think I would replace the spindles

I looked at it again, and Bubba sure welded it up pretty good. Might be hard to get a cut-off wheel in there to get it loose from the spindle arm, unless it’s a small diameter one 2” or so. But anything is possible, utilizing some patience on the parts you have to make them look nice.

Cut where the green line is and go around the other side and be sure to keep the heim joint that’s on top, that’s a high quality ‘deluxe’ type. The other kind on the bottom has a fancy rubber seal but it’s easy to lube the ‘deluxe’ style, just put a drop of oil at the red arrow and voila.