Golf Cart Guru
• Squeaky brakes on a golf cart aren’t
conducive to maintaining proper golf
course etiquette. After all, no golfer
wants his back-swing interrupted by a
loud screeching sound. Prevent errant
tee shots and off-line putts by checking
and lubricating the brakes on your
course’s carts regularly to ensure they’re
up to par. Routine checkups on not just
the brakes, but the other parts of your
carts like the batteries and wheels should
be performed every three months to
assure both riders’ and golfers’ safety.
1. Park your golf cart on a level surface such
as an empty parking lot or garage. Place
bricks or wheel blocks in front of and behind
the cart’s front tires to prevent the cart from
accidentally rolling away.
2. Place a jack beneath the cart and raise
the cart until the rear wheels are off of the
ground. Use a socket wrench to remove the
bolts holding the wheels onto the cart. Take
the wheels off the cart and set them aside.
3. Remove the cotter key and pin from
the brake arm on the backside of each rear
wheel assembly. You may need needle-nose
pliers to remove the cotter key and pin.
Remove any rubber shoes covering the bolt
that connects the wheel assembly to the
cart. Expose the wheel assembly unit.
4. Take careful note of how the wheel unit is
assembled, taking a picture if necessary or if
you are unfamiliar with brake maintenance
and repair so you reassemble the wheel unit
exactly the way it was originally.
5. Remove the springs and shoes located
in the center of the wheel on the front and
back of the brake shoes. Remove the two
wedges and clean them, freeing them of
debris and lubricating them with WD-40 or
another metal lubricant.
The
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6. Wipe down the rest of the wheel as-
sembly with a damp cloth, being careful to
remove all built-up grime and debris. Spray
the rest of the wheel unit with WD-40, giving
special attention to moving parts. Allow the
wheel to dry and perform these steps on the
other wheel. Come back to the first wheel
and re-lubricate all parts with noticeable
wear. Repeat for the other wheel.
7. Reassemble both wheels and reattach
them to the cart. Tighten the bolts with a
socket wrench and use the jack to lower the
cart back to the ground. Remove the wheel
blocks and test the cart’s performance
breaking at different speeds in the vacant lot
to ensure it’s working properly, and quietly,
before returning it for use on the course. •
Have a question? Send it to Tim at: [email protected]
JULY 2018
19