Hyundai i20 Pinion Gear
Whether your i20 is an early or late build, we match the pinion gear to your derivative rather than to the badge
What Are Hyundai i20 Pinion Gear?
"Pinion" covers two entirely different parts, and on a Hyundai the answer usually depends on which wheels drive the car. The bulk of the range — i10, i20, Getz, Accent, Elantra, Creta and the front-drive Tucson derivatives — is front-wheel drive, so the crown wheel and pinion live inside the transaxle alongside the gears. A separate differential with its own pinion only appears on the rear-drive and all-wheel-drive cars: the H100 and H1, the Terracan, the Mighty and the AWD Santa Fe and Tucson derivatives. The third meaning is the pinion in a steering rack, which is a different part again. Tell us which noise you are chasing and we will tell you which pinion you are after.
Signs You Need New Pinion Gear
i20 generations and pinion gear — the short version
Does one pinion gear listing cover every i20?
No. Ordering pinion gear for a i20 starts with the generation: PB, then GB, then the current BC3.The PB and GB are different cars underneath despite the shared badge, so a part listed simply as "i20" is not automatically the right one — the generation code decides it.
Which engine is in my i20?
SA-market cars were sold with Kappa 1.2, Gamma 1.4 and Kappa 1.0 T-GDi (N Line). The code stamped on the block settles it — the badge on the boot does not.
What do you need from me to quote pinion gear?
Manual or automatic, the number of gears, and the engine it is bolted to. Manual and automatic derivatives of the same Hyundai take entirely different mountings, driveshafts and coolers, and the automatic itself changed within some generations.
In South Africa the i20 is mostly a high-mileage commuter hatch that spends its life in stop-start city traffic, which is why wear items move faster on an i20 than on almost anything else Hyundai sells here. That is the wear pattern we stock and source against.
Before You Order i20 Pinion Gear
Will pinion gear from another i20 fit mine?
Not automatically. The i20 sold in South Africa as PB, then GB, then the current BC3, and the PB and GB are different cars underneath despite the shared badge, so a part listed simply as "i20" is not automatically the right one — the generation code decides it. Send us the generation code off your VIN plate and we will confirm it either way before anything is dispatched.
How do you check pinion gear actually fits a i20?
We work backwards from the VIN: generation first, then engine family, then whether the car is pre- or post-facelift within that generation. On the i20 specifically, the PB and GB are different cars underneath despite the shared badge, so a part listed simply as "i20" is not automatically the right one — the generation code decides it.
What are the symptoms of a worn pinion gear on a Hyundai?
A rising whine under acceleration that fades on overrun is the classic diff pinion sign. On the steering rack it shows as notchiness at the straight-ahead point. Both get worse under load and often appear together with oil weep.
How much does it cost to replace a Hyundai pinion gear?
A full rack-and-pinion replacement fitted sits at R7,500-R18,550 at an SA specialist. Diff pinion rebuilds run higher because setup is specialist work. Pro Hyundai Spares sources used racks and complete diffs, often cheaper than rebuilding.
Why does my Hyundai make a whining noise when accelerating?
Whining under load usually means a worn diff pinion-crown mesh or dry gearbox bearings. The pitch rises with road speed, not engine speed. A proper drivetrain workshop isolates the source by clutch-in tests and oil sampling.
Can you repair just the pinion gear or do you need the whole diff?
Specialist drivetrain shops can replace pinion and crown as a matched set, but the setup work on backlash and preload is skilled. On most Hyundais a used complete differential through Pro Hyundai Spares costs less than a rebuild.
Where can I buy a Hyundai pinion gear in South Africa?
Pro Hyundai Spares sources used racks and complete differentials for i20, Accent, Creta and Sonata, with our supplier network carrying further drivetrain parts. Get a free quote with your VIN and transmission code.
Learn More About Hyundai i20 Pinion Gear
Let us confirm the pinion gear before you buy
Photos of the old part and your VIN are usually all we need. We confirm the pinion gear against your i20 before quoting, not after.