Differential steering setup

I am building an axle out of two BLDC motors from 20v cordless drill. I purchased a dual Flipsky 4.20 50A FSESC. 

I've been able to successfully control each motor independently but not together. At no time has the Vesc tool recognized two motors. I tried several times with the CAN bus switch with no luck. I've tried connecting a CAN Bus cable to both sides but this did nothing. I have a green and blue light on one side and only blue on the other. Now the USB will not let me connect to the side with only the blue light on. 

I am going to order two more FSESC but going to be 4.12 independent not dual motor. Planning to connect the two with a CAN bus cable. 

Ideally I would like to control the system with a 2 axis joystick without an Adriuno but I am finding it difficult to find a thread that can walk me through it. Simple is best. 

Joystick switch should deactivate the steering until the button is pressed again. 

I've never used an Adriuno, I purchased a sparkfun tinker kit to work with. But ideally I would like to avoid the Adruino. Is a nunchuck a better option? 

If no other option, then I will set the Adruino up to control the two FSESC via 2 x PPM output, with each FSESC getting its own signal. 

So I need all kinds of help. I think my current FSESC is bricked on one side. Not sure how to unbrick or if its possible. Flipsky is not responding. 

Thanks 

-Brent