Most suppliers will provide a good quote from your registration number. However, the registration number and make of your vehicle alone is not enough to ensure that an electric steering rack will be suitable for your vehicle, as there are many differences between models and even years of some models.
Use Your Registration Number First
Your registration plate provides a good starting point for any supplier, enabling them to quote for a basic model (e.g. non-load sensing steering rack) for most standard models. However, for electric steering racks, more information is required to quote for the correct part.
Check the VIN for Build Variations
As mentioned earlier, the VIN number is found on the bulkhead or door sill of your vehicle. Components such as electric steering racks may have changed during the production run of a particular model year. These components are usually found on specific production runs and are identified by the VIN number.
Note Your Engine Code
Engine code: The engine code is found on a sticker on the underside of the bonnet or within your service history. In some cases the steering rack is specified off of the engine variant rather than the body style.
Find Your Build Date
The build date for your vehicle is found on a plate inside the driver’s door. Note that this is separate from the date of first registration for your vehicle and can indicate which side of a change in specification your vehicle was produced. This can result in vehicles produced just a few months apart looking identical but having drastically different Steering Racks.
Confirm the Connector Type
Confirm that the wiring connector of the steering rack will match your wiring loom. Ask for a photo of the wiring connector along with the part number to save re-sales. Electric Steering Racks is covered in more detail at https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/steering-parts/electric-rack/.
By having all 4 of these details to hand, it’s then possible to get a fitment check done within a matter of minutes.
