Starting Monday (maybe Sunday afternoon) I'll start tearing into the 500 to look for bent/wonky pieces. Since it's entirely likely that I'll look at a bad part and not even know it, I'll use (and tear into as necessary) the 520 for comparison. I may even install 520 parts on the 500 if needed.
Time consuming, but probably a good way for a mechanically declined guy like me to go about it.
I figure the toe out issue will be easier to ID than the steering issue. But both buggies have the same stuff (excepting the shocks) so hopefully that helps me. Hoping for a bent steering shaft or linkage at this point really.
Dreading it's a rack issue . . .
For the shock experts: did I read somewhere that too much preload can result in excess strain on the ball joint?