Remanufactured vs Rebuilt vs New Steering Parts — What's the Difference?
May 20th 2026
Remanufactured vs Rebuilt vs New Steering Parts — What's the Difference?
If you've been shopping for a replacement steering rack, gear box or power steering pump you've probably come across three different terms — remanufactured, rebuilt and new. They might sound interchangeable but they mean very different things, and choosing the wrong one could cost you significantly more time and money in the long run.
Here's a clear breakdown of what each term actually means and how to make the right choice for your vehicle.
What Does "New" Mean?
A new steering part is exactly what it sounds like — a brand new unit that has never been installed or used. It's manufactured from raw materials to OEM specifications and carries the full original manufacturer warranty.
The upside: You get a fresh part with no wear history and full warranty coverage.
The downside: For most steering applications new OEM parts are extraordinarily expensive — often two to five times the cost of a quality remanufactured unit. For exotic, vintage or discontinued vehicles a new OEM replacement may not even exist anymore. Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche owners know this problem well — the OEM part may be on back order for months or simply no longer available from the manufacturer.
For common modern vehicles where new parts are affordable and readily available, new is a great choice. For specialty applications it's often not a realistic option.
What Does "Rebuilt" Mean?
A rebuilt part — sometimes called reconditioned — is a used part that has been disassembled, inspected and had worn or failed components replaced. The process varies widely depending on who does the rebuilding.
The upside: Rebuilt parts are generally less expensive than new and can be a reasonable option for simple, low-demand applications.
The downside: There is no industry standard for what "rebuilt" means. A rebuilt part from one shop might have had every internal component replaced to exacting tolerances. A rebuilt part from another might have had a single seal replaced and been cleaned up to look presentable. Without knowing exactly what was done during the rebuild process — and by whom — you're taking a risk.
Rebuilt parts also vary wildly in quality depending on the skill level of whoever performed the work. There's no certification or standardized process that a shop must follow to call something rebuilt.
The honest truth: In the steering industry rebuilt often means the minimum work needed to get the unit functional again, not necessarily restored to factory performance.
What Does "Remanufactured" Mean?
Remanufacturing is a rigorous, standardized process that goes significantly further than rebuilding. A properly remanufactured steering unit is disassembled completely, cleaned thoroughly, inspected to OEM specifications, and rebuilt using new components wherever wear is detected — not just where something has already failed.
The goal of remanufacturing is to restore the unit to OEM performance specifications — not just to get it working again. Every remanufactured unit should perform identically to a new one when it leaves the facility.
At Advantage Steering our remanufacturing process includes:
- Complete disassembly of every unit regardless of apparent condition
- Thorough cleaning to remove all contaminants, debris and old fluid
- Precision inspection of all internal components against OEM tolerances
- Replacement of all seals, O-rings and wear components — not just the ones that have failed
- Resurfacing
- Reassembly to OEM specifications using quality replacement components
- Testing before the unit leaves our facility
Every unit we produce is stamped for warranty verification so there's never any ambiguity about whether a unit is covered.
The upside: You get OEM performance at a fraction of new OEM pricing, backed by a meaningful warranty. For exotic, vintage and specialty vehicles where new parts aren't available, a quality remanufactured unit is often the only way to restore factory performance.
The downside: Not all remanufacturers are equal. The term remanufactured is more rigorous than rebuilt but still varies by shop. Always look for a warranty, USA manufacturing, and a track record with your specific vehicle type.
The Offshore Problem
There's a fourth category worth addressing — cheap offshore replacements. These are units manufactured overseas, often in China or Taiwan, and sold at aggressively low prices through eBay, Amazon and discount auto parts stores.
The problem with offshore units isn't that they're always bad — it's that quality control is inconsistent and there's no way to verify what you're getting. Internal clearances, seal quality and material hardness all affect steering performance and longevity in ways that aren't visible from the outside.
For a daily driver commuter car an offshore unit might last years without issue. For an exotic supercar, a vintage restoration or a vehicle where steering precision is critical — the risk simply isn't worth it. We've remanufactured units that came off vehicles after an offshore replacement failed prematurely, sometimes within months of installation.
USA remanufactured means the work was done here, by technicians who specialize in steering, using quality components, with a real warranty behind it.
Which One Should You Choose?
Here's a simple guide:
Choose New if: - Your vehicle is a common modern model - New OEM parts are reasonably priced and readily available - You want the absolute longest possible component life
Choose Remanufactured if: - You want OEM performance at a significantly lower cost - Your vehicle is exotic, vintage, rare or discontinued - New OEM parts are unavailable, back-ordered or prohibitively expensive - You want a USA-made unit backed by a real warranty - You have a core to return (core deposit programs make remanufactured even more cost effective)
Be cautious with Rebuilt if: - You don't know exactly what was replaced and to what standard - There's no meaningful warranty offered - The price seems too good to be true
Avoid Offshore if: - Your vehicle is high value or requires precise steering performance - You've had problems with offshore units before - You can't verify the manufacturing quality or warranty terms
The Core Deposit Explained
Many remanufactured steering parts come with a core deposit — a refundable charge that encourages you to return your old unit. This isn't just a business practice — it's how the remanufacturing supply chain works. Your old unit becomes someone else's remanufactured part. The core deposit is fully refunded when you return your original unit in rebuildable condition.
If you're shopping for a remanufactured steering part and there's no core deposit required, ask questions. Either the seller already has a surplus of cores or — more commonly — the unit isn't truly remanufactured in the traditional sense.
Why Advantage Steering?
At Advantage Steering we've been remanufacturing steering components since 1999 right here in Indio, California. We specialize in rack & pinions, steering gear boxes, power steering pumps and electric power steering units for everything from everyday production vehicles to rare exotics like the Ferrari Enzo, McLaren 720S, Porsche 959 and Aston Martin DB5.
Every unit we produce is remanufactured — not rebuilt, not offshore, not a shortcut. We back our work with an industry-leading warranty because we stand behind what we build.
Questions about a specific application? Call us at (760) 202-9990 or visit advantagesteering.com.