SMI or TRW, Which is the better one?

[Avinitlarge]

Is there and different in quality between the SMI and the TRW or are they both leaky crap?

[jack taylor]

Hi, I don't think you have a choice. These are not interchangeable so must be replaced with whichever one is fitted.

[rudi dudi]

No idea where leaky crap came from.
I have a few if these all on intergalactic miles and none leak.
A mixture of trw and smi.
These cars are 18 yrs old at youngest now ,so any rack that has done that much work before leaking is good in my book.
As mentioned not interchangeable so just replace with like for like and enjoy

[Avinitlarge]

Originally Posted by rudi dudi

No idea where leaky crap came from.
I have a few if these all on intergalactic miles and none leak.
A mixture of trw and smi.
These cars are 18 yrs old at youngest now ,so any rack that has done that much work before leaking is good in my book.
As mentioned not interchangeable so just replace with like for like and enjoy

The leaky crap came from experience.

The racks are interchangeable, The only parts that are not are the Tie rod ends. I was at Shem Greens yesterday proving this to myself, I was also under the impression that they were not interchangeable. They both mount to the subframe the same, Both hoses are the same thread and are in the same position, The steering coupling fits both racks.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Avinitlarge

The leaky crap came from experience.......

The racks are interchangeable

Sounds like you know everything so why are you asking?

[DunkinBiskits]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Sounds like you know everything so why are you asking?

What an brainfart comment, he knows because hes bothered to research the fittings and fitment with painfully little resources, along with me and a few others.

As they are made by 2 completely different people its only to be expected that theyll differ in quality. I've yet to find a source for the SMI repair kits, yet the TRW are available from a few sources.

Weve only used TRW, mainly as that whats seems to be fitted to the T5/R models round 97/98, so can only really base our 'leaky crap' on these, as they all seem to leak into the gaitors eventually.

SMI ones ive yet to use, although ive also seen these leak on other folks cars.

It was a genuine question, deserving a genuine answer, not gimpish rhetoric.

If you cant provide any worthwhile input, dont bother commenting

Dunc

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by DunkinBiskits

What an brainfart comment, he knows because hes bothered to research the fittings and fitment with painfully little resources, along with me and a few others.

As they are made by 2 completely different people its only to be expected that theyll differ in quality. I've yet to find a source for the SMI repair kits, yet the TRW are available from a few sources.

Weve only used TRW, mainly as that whats seems to be fitted to the T5/R models round 97/98, so can only really base our 'leaky crap' on these, as they all seem to leak into the gaitors eventually.

SMI ones ive yet to use, although ive also seen these leak on other folks cars.

It was a genuine question, deserving a genuine answer, not gimpish rhetoric.

If you cant provide any worthwhile input, dont bother commenting

Dunc

Sounds like someone needs a cuddle.
I'm not offering btw so don't get excited.

I've had 4 Volvos with original SMI racks with over 200k miles so the leaky crap thing has clearly passed me and many others by.

[byootox]

I used to do a lot of mot's for a Volvo dealer years back and play in the steering racks was a common thing on them.
There's a lot of weight in the front of these cars.
TRW and SMI brands aside, the main thing is to remember the spacer between the rack and subframe on them when fitting.
If memory serves the TRW racks casings were all alloy and the SMI were a micture of steel and alloy.
The biggest problem seems to be after the original rack... A lot of the aftermarket ones do seem to be of dubious quality.

[DunkinBiskits]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Sounds like someone needs a cuddle.
I'm not offering btw so don't get excited.

I've had 4 Volvos with original SMI racks with over 200k miles so the leaky crap thing has clearly passed me and many others by.

sounds more like someone had his eye wiped with actual facts and findings then tries to throw insults afterwards to justify his idiotic comments

its ok, i dont expect an apology for your tone i pity you frankly

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by DunkinBiskits

sounds more like someone had his eye wiped with actual facts and findings then tries to throw insults afterwards to justify his idiotic comments

The fact is that SMI make very good quality racks otherwise how do you explain why Volvo went on to fit tens of thousands to the P2 range which superceded.

If you think SMI are leaky crap, the real facts confirm that you're talking out of your backside.
Accept that, shush and move along.