To determine whether your vehicle has a rack and pinion or a steering gearbox, you can use the following methods. Method 1 (VIN Lookup) guarantees 100% accuracy.
Method 1: VIN Lookup (100% Guaranteed)
Find your VIN: Look at the bottom-left corner of your windshield (viewable from outside looking in) or on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb.
Check the specs: Decode your VIN online and look for Steering Type:
- Rack and Pinion = Rack steering
- Recirculating Ball / Steering Gear = Gearbox steering
Method 2: Check by Vehicle Type
Rack and Pinion: Used in almost all modern passenger cars, crossovers, sedans, and light SUVs.
Steering Gearbox: Used primarily in heavy-duty pickup trucks (e.g., Ford F-250/350, Chevy 2500), dedicated body-on-frame off-roaders (like the Jeep Wrangler), and classic/older cars.
Method 3: Visual Inspection Under the Front End (Most Common Hands-On Method)
Look beneath the front end directly behind the front wheels:
Rack and Pinion: A long horizontal metal tube running side-to-side between the wheels, with black rubber accordion-style boots near each tire.
Steering Gearbox: A heavy, boxy metal housing bolted directly to the frame rail on the driver’s side, with a curved metal arm (Pitman arm) hanging down from it.
