Second Hand Mercedes-Benz GLS Track Rod

Yes, the GLS is a large four-wheel-drive SUV and it does have track rods (also called tie rods) as part of its front steering assembly, connecting the steering rack to the wheel hubs on each side. All variants of the GLS — regardless of engine — use a conventional rack-and-pinion steering setup with track rods, so this is definitely a real part on this model. Make sure you know whether you need the nearside (NS, left) or offside (OS, right) when requesting quotes from a breaker.

The GLS X166 ran from 2016 to 2019 and the X167 took over from 2019 onwards — these are entirely different platform generations with different front subframe and steering geometry, so the track rods are not interchangeable between them. Always tell the breaker your registration and which generation you have so they can pull the correct part. Never assume a cross-generation swap will work without confirmation.

Engine size does not typically affect track rod fitment on the GLS in the way it might influence brakes or suspension components — the steering geometry is determined by the generation and platform rather than the specific engine fitted. That said, with a large model range spanning diesel and petrol variants across different generations, it's always worth confirming against your registration with the breaker rather than assuming an engine-to-engine match is safe.

Trim level does not affect which track rod is fitted — the steering assembly is common across standard, AMG Line, and AMG-badged GLS variants within the same generation, as trim differences are cosmetic rather than structural on this part. When sourcing from a breaker, the generation (X166 or X167) and the side (NS or OS) are what matter, not the trim specification. You may find components from different trim vehicles look identical, which is expected.

2019 sits right on the changeover boundary between the X166 and the X167, which makes it potentially ambiguous — the X166 was produced up to 2019 and the X167 launched in 2019, so some 2019-registered cars will be one generation and some the other. This matters significantly for track rod fitment because the two generations use different steering components. Check your V5C or ask the breaker to verify your exact build date and chassis code against your registration before ordering.

Within the same generation, the track rod fitment is generally dictated by the platform rather than the engine, so differences between a 350d, 450, or 580 are unlikely to affect this specific part. However, because the GLS range spans significant power and weight variation, it is worth quoting your full registration to the breaker so they can cross-reference the part number and confirm compatibility before you commit to purchasing a used part.