I'm trying to source a new trackrod for my 2004 vRS but my supplier doesn't seem sure which manufacturer is correct. Can anyone help? Here's the email:

"weve put the chassis no in our system and its telling us theres 2 different types of manufacturer for the steering gear on your vehicle one of which is TRW and the other SMI-KOYO, the problem being it will not tell us which one yours has."

I've tried jacking mine up to have a look at the existing part but I can't find any markings. Are they interchangable or do I need to know which one. Cheers for any help!

Have had a similar response lately but that was for a pwr steering pump not trackrods...

I'd think that the car at that age would have TRW steering gear, if it has, then if you get the power steering reservoir cap off, you should see "TRW" amongst other things on its top surface. Also, the TRW system has a cap that has vertical "grip ribs" round the cap for you to grip to remove it and it has a small inverted mushroom level indicator moulded onto the cap inside.

Is your supplier a Skoda dealer, if so I'd hope that they would know which system was fitted to that car?

Edited 2 September, 201015 yr by rum4mo

cheers rum4mo, thats exactly what I needed to know