Where the number is usually found
Most steering racks carry identification in one of three places: a printed label on the housing, an engraved number on a machined surface, or a cast number in the aluminium body. Clean the area gently before taking a photo. Oil and road dirt often hide the last two or three characters.
A warehouse sticker is not always the OE number. It may be a distributor SKU, a remanufacturer reference, or an internal stock code. If the label includes several lines, photograph the whole label rather than copying only the largest number.
Search the number in more than one format
Manufacturers and catalogs do not always store punctuation the same way. Start with the number exactly as printed. If there is no result, remove spaces and hyphens but keep every letter and digit in the same order.
| Catalog example | Vehicle application shown | Useful search variants |
|---|---|---|
| 44250-34012 | Toyota T100, 1994-1996 | 44250-34012 4425034012 |
| MB351994 / 57705-43011 | Mitsubishi Delica and related applications | MB351994 57705-43011 5770543011 |
| 62D423057 | Volkswagen Polo application in the catalog | 62D423057 |
Why one rack can have several references
A product page may list more than one OE number because the vehicle maker superseded an older reference, the same rack was used across related models, or the application was sold under different brands in different markets. That does not mean every rack with one shared number is physically identical.
Model updates can change the pinion, hose connection, travel, sensor, motor, or mounting bracket while the vehicle name stays the same. This is common around a facelift or a change in steering system.
What to compare before ordering
- Vehicle details: make, model, production year, engine, and sales market.
- Steering side: left-hand drive (LHD) or right-hand drive (RHD).
- System type: hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, electric, or manual.
- Physical layout: mounting ears, input shaft, overall housing shape, and tie-rod position.
- Connections: hydraulic hose threads, solenoid plugs, motor position, and connector shape.
If the old rack is still on the vehicle, send a wide photo showing the whole unit and close-ups of the label, input shaft, ports, mounts, and connectors. A single front-facing photo often hides the detail that separates two versions.
A simple identification message
For a catalog check, use the OE number reference pages or search the product catalog. For uncertain applications, send the details above through the contact page.