New to me Club Car front-end vibrating

[bblanton]

I bought this used 2007 Club Car in August. We use it to run around the neighborhood. It has run smooth until recently. it seems like one of the front tires is out of balance. The front-end is bouncing.

We run it at full speed most of the time. I hope we have not over-loaded it on occasion. My daughter's husband is about 330 lbs. The total family is about 700 lbs. There is a dip in the road. Someone may have bottomed-out. I am trying to give as much information as possible. A friend of mine who works on golf carts said to check the air pressure. He said the pressure should be 20 lbs each (normal golf cart tires). The tires have 20 lbs each.

Any suggestions.

[golfcartg]

At 700 pounds, your total load is within the acceptable rating for your 2007 Club Car, so there shouldn't be an issue related to overloading. Golf carts are designed to handle loads of around 800 pounds or more, including passengers and cargo, so your usage falls within the safe range. However, excess weight can cause the tires to heat up more quickly, which can be exacerbated by uneven load distribution. This increased heat can lead to tire degradation and may emphasize any existing imbalances or imperfections in the tires.

First, inspect the tires for any broken bands or lumps, as these could be causing the front end bouncing you're experiencing. A broken band within the tire can create a lump, which would lead to a noticeable bounce at higher speeds. Additionally, check for any visible damage or irregularities on the tire surfaces.

If you suspect an alignment issue, it's important to check for abnormal wear patterns on the tires. Misaligned wheels cause uneven tire wear over time, which can be identified by looking at the tire tread. For example, if one side of the tire is more worn than the other, it’s a clear sign of alignment problems.

Try rotating the tires to see if it makes a difference; this can help identify if a specific tire is the problem. Move the front tires to the rear and vice versa. If the bouncing moves to the rear after rotation, you’ll know it’s an issue with the tire rather than the alignment. Conversely, if the problem persists in the front, it’s more likely an alignment issue. Given your description, rotating the tires might help determine if the bounce is due to a particular tire or the alignment itself. This is a simple yet effective method to diagnose the issue without needing specialized equipment initially.

I'm attaching an alignment guide for you to refer to, just in case you need it. This guide will walk you through the steps to check and adjust your golf cart's alignment. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!