11 replies to this topic

[krn]

I'm trying to determine if I have a TRW or SMI steering rack (replacing
inner and outer tie rods) on my 98 S70 T5M. Car has 160K so it is probably
time . I am the original owner so I know the steering components have never
been replaced.

Below is the VIN plate. I understand if the 5th row ends with a 5 I have
an SMI steering rack. But mine ends with an S (there is clearly a difference
between S and 5 since I do have 5's in the VIN). Also, I have 7 digits and
the decoder in VADIS indicates 8 digits in the 5th line. The car has a Jan 2007
build date. I'm kind of thinking I will have to look on the steering rack itself
in order to determine TRW or SMI. Or perhaps 1997 builds are all SMI? Anyone know
where to look for identifing stamps?



Thanks for any pointers.

[Chilled Man]

order one set and if there not the right ones order the other type and send the ones that dont fit back ....


Thats what I do since I am on my third rack and I have no clue what car its out of

[flaco]

here's some useful advise:



I've heard that if the vin plate doesn't have the code, it's because it was before the SMI racks were introduced. That is BS!

My S70 plate looks just like yours, and it has a SMI rack.

[Big Will]

If it has never been replaced then your car should have a TRW rack since it doesn't have the 4 or 5 in the last digit.

If someone's car had an SMI rack it was probably because the rack was replaced and that was what the dealer had in stock somewhere during the car's history.

My '98 did not have a marking on the chassis code for the rack, and originally came with TRW. The rack was replaced at 50K and the dealer replaced it with an SMI rack much to my shock when I ordered the wrong inner tie rods and boots.

But to be safe you could use the Chilled Man method

[lookforjoe]

krn, on 18 April 2010 - 02:47 AM, said:

The car has a Jan 2007
build date.

Really??

Hope you are all sorted out with the second set of inner/outer rods

Personally, I'd just get a reman rack & be done with it.

[krn]

Thanks for the replies and advice everyone.

And yep, build date on the driver side door is 01/97. I purchased
it on April 12, 1997. Must have been one of the first S70 T5Ms on the
west coast.

[krn]

Follow-up (for closure): Car was up on ramps today. After wiping
through some grease and grime (and knowing about where to look from
an earlier reply) I found TRW stamped on the steering rack.

Thanks all.

[gilber33]

Bumping old ass thread.

What is the difference between the two racks? The thread size on the inner tie rod? I put in a rebuilt rack and I ordered the same inner tie rods I normally do and they were way too small to thread into the steering rack, did I replace my TRW rack with an SMI rack?

[Speedbump]

bump bump
98 S70 N/A .
Got the " no - number just letter S on the plate " syndrome
Yes I have the SMI stamp on the steering box just like below.
So I am looking for SMI tie rod inners and outers , correct ?

Edited by Speedbump, 27 February 2012 - 11:49 PM.

[Matty Moo]

That's an SMI rack. I was under our 99 s70 the other night and had smi in the same spot.

Both of the 96's I've had had original boots with TRW stamped on them. The SMI rack didn't have SMI anywhere on the boots, only on the rack itself as shown in the pic above.

The SMI inners are hexed for a wrench, the TRW's are completely round where they screw into the rack.

Neither of my 96's, my mil's 97 or 99 s70 have had a 4 or 5 on the VIN plate.

[Speedbump]

Matty Moo, on 28 February 2012 - 12:14 AM, said:

That's an SMI rack. I was under our 99 s70 the other night and had smi in the same spot.

Both of the 96's I've had had original boots with TRW stamped on them. The SMI rack didn't have SMI anywhere on the boots, only on the rack itself as shown in the pic above.

The SMI inners are hexed for a wrench, the TRW's are completely round where they screw into the rack.

Neither of my 96's, my mil's 97 or 99 s70 have had a 4 or 5 on the VIN plate.

Thanks Matty, . I'm doing inners and outers both sides. I want to order the right parts the first time. Much appreciated.

[Matty Moo]

No problem dude.

Also be aware that FCP lists different boots for each rack. You have to click on one of the tabs to see what rack each boot is for.

The outers are the same for TRW and SMI

I have the Meyle inners and outers on my 96..still tight after 50k.

Below is an SMI inner tie-rod, and it's notched for a wrench. A TRW inner is round without being set up for a wrench.