What differs between LHD and RHD
| Item | Difference | If fitted wrongly |
|---|---|---|
| Part number | LHD and RHD are listed separately | The rack will not fit |
| Mounting points | Left/right fixing points on the subframe differ | Cannot be mounted, or tie rod angles are wrong |
| Input shaft | Side and angle where the column connects differ | Column will not connect or fouls |
| Fluid ports | Pressure and return ports face different directions | Hoses rub on exhaust or subframe and leak |
In practice, do not judge interchangeability by appearance: check the part number and the drive side first.
How to identify the market
- Steering wheel position: driver on the left = LHD, on the right = RHD.
- Wiper direction: on most RHD cars the wipers sweep from left to right.
- VIN or model plate: most brands encode the sales market.
- Pedal and dashboard layout: on RHD cars the pedal box sits further right.
Common RHD markets include the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Guyana, Suriname, Cyprus and Malta. Most of continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas drive on the right (LHD).
Four checks before ordering
| Step | Check |
|---|---|
| 1 | Model, year and engine |
| 2 | Market / drive side (LHD or RHD) |
| 3 | Original part number |
| 4 | Key dimensions: input shaft direction and fluid port positions |
Common mistakes
- “Same model means same part” — usually wrong: LHD and RHD are two catalogues.
- “Just lengthen the tie rod” — wrong: angles and clearances do not match.
- “It looks the same” — wrong: input shaft angle and port direction are easy to miss.
Send us your chassis number or original part number and we will confirm the reference.