Golf cart drop axle lift kit

A drop axle lift kit for a golf cart includes a base plate. Each support arm of a pair of support arms is positioned proximate a respective lateral side of the base plate. Each support plate of a pair of support plates is mounted to a respective support arm of the pair of support arms at a distal end of the respective support arm. A pair of rod end bearings is configured to rotatably support a front steering spindle of the golf cart such that the front steering spindle of the golf cart is rotatable about an axis. The pair of rod end bearings is mounted to one of the pair of support plates such that an angle defined between the axis and vertical is adjustable in order to change a canter of a wheel on the front steering spindle of the golf cart.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to lift kits for golf cart suspensions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A golf cart generally includes a front suspension that connects the golf cart's frame and front wheels. The front suspension allows relative motion between the frame and front wheels. Thus, the front suspension contributes to the handling and ride quality of the golf cart.

A ride height of the front suspension is generally factory selected, and golf cart manufacturers frequently tune the front suspension for road or golf course conditions. Thus, the factory ride height of many golf carts is lower than preferred by some golf carts users. To increase the golf cart's ride height, a lift kit may be added to supplement or replace the factory front suspension. However, known lift kits have certain drawbacks.

As an example, some lift kits completely replace the factory front suspension. Such lift kits are expensive due to the numerous components required to completely replace the factory front suspension. As another example, certain lift kits require modifying the golf cart's frame. In particular, such lift kits can require drilling, welding or cutting the golf cart's frame, and such modifications can be labor intensive and/or require tools not available to all golf carts users.

Accordingly, a golf cart front suspension lift kit that does not require completely replacing the factory front suspension and/or that does not require modifying a frame of the golf cart would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first example embodiment, a drop axle lift kit for a golf cart includes a base plate mountable to one or more leaf springs of the golf cart. A pair of support arms is mounted to the base plate such that the pair of support arms extend away from a bottom of the base plate. Each support arm of the pair of support arms is positioned proximate a respective lateral side of the base plate. The drop axle lift kit also includes a pair of support plates. Each support plate of the pair of support plates is mounted to a respective support arm of the pair of support arms at a distal end of the respective support arm. A pair of rod end bearings is mounted to one of the pair of support plates. The pair of rod end bearings is configured to rotatably support a front steering spindle of the golf cart such that the front steering spindle of the golf cart is rotatable about an axis. The pair of rod end bearings is mounted to the one of the pair of support plates such that an angle defined between the axis and vertical is adjustable in order to change a canter of a wheel on the front steering spindle of the golf cart.

In a second example embodiment, a drop axle lift kit for a golf cart includes a base plate mountable to one or more leaf springs of the golf cart. A pair of support arms is mounted to the base plate. Each support arm of the pair of support arms is positioned at respective lateral side of the frame. The drop axle lift kit also includes a pair of support plates. Each support plate of the pair of support plates is mounted to a respective support arm of the pair of support arms at a distal end of the respective support arm. A pair of rod end bearings is mounted to one of the pair of support plates. The pair of rod end bearings is configured to rotatably support a front steering spindle of the golf cart such that the front steering spindle of the golf cart is rotatable about an axis. The pair of rod end bearings is mounted to the one of the pair of support plates such that an angle defined between the axis and vertical is adjustable in order to change a canter of a wheel on the front steering spindle of the golf cart. The pair of support plates is vertically spaced from the base plate by no less than three inches and no more than eight inches when the base plate is mounted to the one or more leaf springs of the golf cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that the golf cart lift kits described herein may be used in or with any suitable golf cart. As an example, the front suspension lift kits described herein may be used in or with a EZGO® TXT golf cart. Thus, the drop axle lift kits are described in greater detail below in the context of and are illustrated as suitable for use in EZGO® TXT golf carts. However, the present subject matter is not limited to any particular golf car model, style or arrangement. The use of the term “about” when used in conjunction with a numerical value is intended to refer to within twenty five percent (25%) of the stated numerical value.

FIG. 1provides a perspective view of a drop axle lift kit100for a golf cart according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown inFIG. 1, drop axle lift kit100includes a front frame110, a steering riser120, a tie rod130, a pair of rear risers140and a pair of rear shock plates150. As discussed in greater detail below, the components of drop axle lift kit100shown inFIG. 1are mountable on a golf cart and may cooperate with factory components of the golf cart to adjust a ride height of the golf cart. Drop axle lift kit100also includes various components for mounting front frame110, steering riser120, tie rod130, rear risers140and/or rear shock plates150on the golf cart. For example, drop axle lift kit100may include nuts, bolts, lock nuts, etc.

FIG. 2provides a partially exploded, perspective view of front frame110, andFIG. 3provides a front, elevation view of front frame110. Front frame110is mountable at a front suspension of a golf cart. Thus, front frame110is configured to increase the ride height of the golf cart at the front suspension of the golf cart. In contrast, rear risers140and rear shock plates150may be mountable at a rear suspension of the golf cart. Thus, rear risers140and rear shock plates150are configured to increase the ride height of the golf cart at the rear suspension of the golf cart, as discussed in greater detail below.

InFIGS. 4 through 6, certain components of a golf cart are shown mounted to front frame110. Such components of the golf cart may be factory or stock components that drop axle lift kit100cooperates with to adjust a ride height of the golf cart. As may be seen inFIGS. 4 through 6, the golf cart includes wheels40, a front steering spindle60for a wheel hub64, a kingpin70, shocks80, leaf springs82, a rack ball joint90, and a rack and pinion assembly92. Thus, wheels40, front steering spindle60, wheel hub64, kingpin70, shocks80, leaf springs82, rack ball joint90, and rack and pinion assembly92may be factory or stock components of the golf cart and are not components of drop axle lift kit100. As discussed in greater detail below, drop axle lift kit100may be mounted to or on such existing components of the golf cart to adjust the ride height of the golf cart.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, front frame110includes a base plate112. Base plate112defines a plurality of mounting holes113. Various components of the golf cart, such as leaf springs82and/or rack and pinion assembly92, may be mounted to base112. For example, bolts may pass through base plate112and the golf cart components, and nuts may be threaded to the bolts to secure the golf cart components on base plate112. Mounting holes113in base plate112allow the leaf springs82and/or rack and pinion assembly92from the golf cart to be mounted to base plate112, e.g., without drilling of a frame30(FIG. 7) or other component of the golf cart.

Front frame110also includes a pair of support arms114. Support arms114are mounted to base plate112. For example, support arms114may be welded to base plate112at a bottom surface111of base plate112. Support arms114may extend downwardly from base plate112, e.g., from bottom surface111of base plate112. Each support arm114may be positioned proximate a respective lateral side of base plate112. Thus, e.g., support arms114may extend in opposite lateral directions from base plate112, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

A pair of support plates116is mounted to support arms114. In particular, each support plate116may be mounted to a respective one of support arms114at a distal end115of the respective support arm114. Support plates116may be welded to support arms114at the distal ends115of support arms114. As shown inFIG. 3, support plates116may be angled on support arms114such that a top of each support plate116is laterally closer to base plate112than a bottom of each support plate116. A respective pair of rod end bearings160is mounted to each support plate116. Rod end bearings160are discussed in greater detail below in the context ofFIG. 4.

Support plates116are positioned below base plate112, e.g., when base plate112is mounted to leaf springs82and other components of the golf cart. For example, support plates116may be vertically spaced from base plate112by an amount corresponding to the increased ride height provided by drop axle lift kit100. Thus, e.g., support plates116may be vertically spaced from base plate112by about three inches (3″), about four inches (4″), about six inches (6″), etc.

Front frame110also includes a pair of shock brackets118. Each shock bracket118may be mounted to a respective one of support arms114. For example, an end of each shock bracket118may be welded to the respective one of support arms114. Each shock bracket118may extend upwardly from the respective one support arms114. A respective shock80(FIGS. 4 and 6) is mountable to each shock bracket118. For example, one end of the respective shock80may be coupled to a distal end of each shock bracket118such that the shocks80extend between and couple shock brackets118and frame30of the golf cart. In such a manner, shocks80from the golf cart may be advantageously coupled to front frame110, e.g., such that the golf cart does not require new, longer shocks.

FIG. 4shows one of support plates116and one pair of rod end bearings160, in particular a left or passenger side support plate116and rod end bearings160. It will be understood that the other of support plates116with the other pair of rod end bearings160, i.e., a right or driver side support plate116and rod end bearings160, may be arranged and constructed in the same or similar manner to that shown inFIG. 4. As shown inFIG. 4, rod end bearings160are mounted to support plate116. On support plate116, rod end bearings160are configured to rotatably support front steering spindle60. Thus, front steering spindle60from the golf cart may be advantageously coupled to front frame110, e.g., such that the golf cart does not require new front steering spindles.

Rod end bearings160may support front steering spindle60such that front steering spindle60is rotatable about an axis X on rod end bearings160. Rod end bearings160are also mounted to support plate116such that an angle α is defined between the axis X and vertical (shown with a dashed line) is adjustable. By adjusting the angle α with rod end bearings160a canter of a wheel40(FIG. 6) on front steering spindle60is adjustable. In such a manner, performance of an associated golf cart can be advantageously improved by changing or tuning the canter of wheels40at a front of the golf cart.

Rod end bearings160and/or support plate116may be configured for adjusting the angle α with various mechanisms. For example, front frame110may include a first pair of nuts162and a second pair of nuts164for each support plate116. As shown inFIG. 4, first nuts162may be threaded to one of rod end bearings160on support plate116, and second nuts164may be threaded to the other of rod end bearings160on support plate116. First nuts162may be threaded to the one of rod end bearings160such that support plate116is positioned between first nuts162on a threaded post of the one of rod end bearings160. In particular, first nuts162may be threaded onto the one of rod end bearings160such that first nuts162are compressed onto support plate116. Second nuts164may be threaded in the same or similar manner to the other of rod end bearings160on support plate116. The angle α may be adjustable by rotating first nuts162on the one of rod end bearings160, by rotating second nuts164on the other of rod end bearings160, or both. Thus, e.g., the lateral distance between a kingpin70that extends along the axis X between rod end bearings160may be changed by rotating first nuts162on the one of rod end bearings160, by rotating second nuts164on the other of rod end bearings160, or both and thereby adjust the angle α.

The angle α may be adjustable by a suitable amount. For example, rod end bearings160may be mounted to support plate116such that the angle α is adjustable by no less than five degrees (5°) and no more than thirty degrees (30°) or by no less than three degrees (3°) and no more than twenty degrees (20°), etc. Such adjustably may allow desirable changing of the canter of the wheel40on front steering spindle60.

As shown inFIG. 4, front steering spindle60includes an axle62. Wheel hub64is rotatable mountable on axle62. In turn, one of wheels40(FIG. 6), e.g., a rim of the wheel40, may be mounted to wheel hub64. In such a manner, wheel40may mounted to front steering spindle60such that wheel40is rotatable relative to front steering spindle60on axle62. As noted above, front steering spindle60is rotatable on rod end bearings160. As discussed in greater detail below, a driver of the golf cart may turn wheels40by turning a steering wheel (not show) which causes front steering spindle60is rotate on rod end bearings160and thus for wheel40to turn in response.

Front steering spindle60may be rotatably mounted to rod end bearings160with kingpin70of the golf cart. For example, kingpin70may extend through each of rod end bearings160and front steering spindle60. A nut72may be treaded to kingpin70to securely couple kingpin70in front steering spindle60. Front steering spindle60may rotate on kingpin70about the axis X between rod end bearings160. In particular, front steering spindle60may include a bushing68, and kingpin70may contact and rotate against bushing68within front steering spindle60. As may be seen from the above, kingpin70may extend along the axis X between rod end bearings160, and kingpin70may function as an axle about which front steering spindle60is rotatable between rod end bearings160.

Turning now toFIG. 5, front steering spindle60may include a rear steering arm66and a front steering arm67. Rear steering arm66and front steering arm67may be positioned opposite each other on front steering spindle60and may extend in opposite directions perpendicular to the axis A. Steering riser120is mountable to rear steering arm66and front steering arm67on front steering spindle60. For example, steering riser120may be mounted to front steering spindle60with bolts192, and a respective bolt192may extend through steering riser120and each of rear steering arm66and front steering arm67.

Rack ball joint90of the golf cart may also be mounted to steering riser120. Thus, steering riser120may be coupled to front steering spindle60such that front steering spindle60is rotatable when rack ball joint90translates, as discussed in greater detail below. It will be understood that rack ball joint90is factory mounted to rear steering arm66. Steering riser120may vertically shift the mounting location for rack ball joint90upwardly, e.g., by an amount corresponding to the increased ride height provided by drop axle lift kit100. In such a manner, steering riser120allows drop axle lift kit100to provide increased ride height without requiring replacement of front steering spindle60and/or rack ball joint90. The connection between steering riser120and rear steering arm66may be vertically spaced from the connection between steering riser120and rack ball joint90by a suitable amount. For example, the connection between steering riser120and rear steering arm66may be vertically spaced from the connection between steering riser120and rack ball joint90by about three inches (3″), about four inches (4″), about six inches (6″), etc.

Rack ball joint90is coupled to rack and pinion assembly92. In turn, rack and pinion assembly92is coupled to a steering wheel of a golf cart. When a driver turns the steering wheel, rack and pinion assembly92linearly translates rack ball joint90. Because rack ball joint90is coupled to steering riser120(and thus front steering spindle60), translation of rack ball joint90causes front steering spindle60to rotate about the axis X on kingpin70.

Drop axle lift kit100may also include tie rod130. However, it will be understood that tie rod130may be a factory component in certain example embodiments. Tie rod130is mountable to both of front steering spindles60(i.e., the passenger side front steering spindle and the driver side front steering spindle). In particular, tie rod130may extend between and couple the two front steering spindles60of the golf cart. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the rotation of the passenger front steering spindle60described above may be transferred to the driver side front steering spindle. In such a manner, the two front steering spindles60of the golf cart may be rotationally fixed to each other with tie rod130.

FIG. 7is a perspective view of one of rear risers140and one of rear shock plates150of drop axle lift kit100mounted to rear suspension golf cart components. Although only one of rear risers140and one of rear shock plates150are shown inFIG. 7. It will be understood that the other of rear risers140and the other of rear shock plates150may be constructed in the same or similar manner to that described below in the context ofFIG. 7.

The rear suspension golf cart components may be factory or stock components that drop axle lift kit100cooperates with to adjust a ride height of the golf cart. As may be seen inFIG. 7, the golf cart includes a frame30, a rear leaf spring32, a rear axle34, and a rear shock36. Thus, frame30, rear leaf spring32, rear axle34and rear shock36may be factory or stock components of the golf cart and are not components of drop axle lift kit100. As discussed in greater detail below, drop axle lift kit100may be mounted to or on such existing components of the golf cart to adjust the ride height of the golf cart.

Rear riser140and rear shock plate150are mounted to rear leaf spring32. In particular, U-bolts may extend through rear riser140and rear shock plate150in order to mount rear riser140and rear shock plate150to rear leaf spring32. Rear leaf spring32may be compressed between rear riser140and rear shock plate150when such components are bolted together. Rear shock36may also be coupled to rear shock plate150. For example, an end of rear shock plate150may be fastened to rear shock plate150.

Rear riser140may vertically space rear axle34from rear leaf spring32. Similarly, rear shock plate150may vertically adjust the connection point between rear shock36and axle34. For example, the vertical spacing provided by rear riser140and rear shock plate150may correspond to the increased ride height provided by drop axle lift kit100. Thus, e.g., rear riser140may vertically space rear axle34from rear leaf spring32by about three inches (3″), about four inches (4″), about six inches (6″), etc. Similarly, rear shock plate150may vertically adjust the connection point between rear shock36and axle34by about three inches (3″), about four inches (4″), about six inches (6″), etc.

As may be seen from the above, drop axle lift kit100utilizes and/or mounts to existing components of a golf cart. Thus, drop axle lift kit100may provide an economical solution to increase the ride height of the golf cart. In addition, drop axle lift kit100may be installed on the golf cart, e.g., without requiring drilling, cutting or welding on frame30of the golf cart.