Caroche steering column in a DS?

[Pchristenson]

This is my 88 DS. Didn't think much of it when I bought it in October, but looking at similar age models, I'm seeing my steering wheel is different. The steering column sticks out too far and makes things uncomfortable as well. Looking at a caroche, I noticed the steering wheel looked awfully familiar. Could they be swapped? If I upgrade the steering wheel, will I have to replace the column as well then?

[golfcartg]

Any steering wheel from a Club Car DS model from 1981 to the present will interchange without any issues. This means you have a wide range of options if you’re looking to upgrade or swap out your current steering wheel for something more comfortable or stylish.

Regarding the steering system itself, in 1984 Club Car transitioned from using a Ross box system to a rack and pinion steering system. The Ross box steering system was a type of worm and sector steering mechanism. In this setup, turning the steering wheel rotates a worm gear, which then turns a sector gear attached to the steering linkage.

The rack and pinion system which Club Car adopted in 1984 offered several advantages. In this system, turning the steering wheel rotates a pinion gear, which directly engages with a flat, toothed rack. The design of the rack and pinion system is more straightforward with fewer moving parts compared to a Ross box. This simplicity leads to fewer maintenance issues and a more reliable steering system overall.

If you’re experiencing discomfort due to the steering column’s length, there might be more adjustments needed, possibly involving cutting down the column and welding or adding a sleeve to hold it together.