How to Install a Drop Spindle Lift Kit on Club Car Precedent

By GOLFCARTSTUFF.COM™ | Golf Cart Wheels, Tires, Lights | Published: 2026-10-23

Category: How-to Guides

Install a 3-inch drop spindle lift kit on your Club Car Precedent, Tempo, or Onward to fit larger tires and improve ground clearance.

Quick answer

To install a drop spindle lift kit on a Club Car Precedent, Tempo, or Onward, you replace the factory spindles with the supplied 3-inch drop spindles and install new shock brackets. The job takes about 2–3 hours with basic hand tools and a jack.

Before you start: compatibility and tools

This guide applies to Club Car Precedent (2004–2013), Tempo (2016+), and Onward models without a factory lift. If your cart already has a factory lift, the spindle kit may not be compatible—check your model year and suspension type first.

You will need a floor jack, jack stands, a torque wrench, a socket set (metric and standard), a breaker bar, and anti-seize compound. The RHOX 3-inch drop spindle lift kit (product ID 2725176) includes all necessary hardware, drop spindles, shock brackets, and instructions.

Installation steps

1. Raise and secure the cart: Park on level ground, block the rear wheels, and jack up the front axle. Place jack stands under the frame rails. Never work under a cart supported only by a jack.
2. Remove the front wheels and existing hardware: Take off the front wheels. Unbolt the kingpin castle nut, then remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the ball joint. Separate the ball joint using a pickle fork. Remove the shock bolts and the two spindle bolts. Keep the hardware for reassembly if not replaced. Common mistake: Forgetting to mark left vs. right components. Label everything to avoid confusion during reassembly.
3. Install the new drop spindles: Position the new drop spindle onto the kingpin. Slide the new shock bracket onto the shock stud. Reinstall the ball joint and torque the castle nut to 40 ft-lbs. Insert a new cotter pin. Reattach the shock to the new bracket and torque bolts to 30 ft-lbs. Repeat on the other side. Use anti-seize on all threaded connections to prevent corrosion and make future adjustments easier.
4. Reinstall the wheels and lower the cart: Mount the original or new 20-inch tires and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Lower the cart to the ground and torque the lug nuts to 70–90 ft-lbs in a crisscross pattern. Check for clearance by turning the steering full left and right. After lowering, bounce the front end a few times to settle the suspension before final torque check.
5. Verify alignment and test drive: Measure the distance from the center of the front axle to the ground on both sides. The difference should be less than 1/4 inch. Take a slow test drive in a safe area, listening for rubbing or unusual sounds. Re-torque all bolts after 50 miles. A slight misalignment is normal after a spindle lift. Schedule a professional alignment if the steering wheel is off-center or the cart pulls to one side.

What you need

Club Car Precedent / Tempo / Onward 3" Drop Spindle Lift Kit (Gas & Electric) | RHOX: This kit provides a 3-inch spindle lift for Club Car Precedent, Tempo, and Onward gas and electric models. It allows you to fit 20-inch overall diameter tires for better off-road clearance and a more aggressive stance.
Club Car Precedent / Tempo / Onward 3" Drop Spindle Lift Kit (Gas & Electric) | RHOX