What This Grille Does
The 98-9118 grille sits on the curbside (passenger side) of the Precedent unit. Its job is airflow and screening. The mesh keeps stones, road salt chunks, cardboard scraps and bugs off the condenser coil while still letting the fan pull air through. Lose the grille and the coil starts collecting debris on every trip.
Our replacement is DR-017A. Black finish, mesh insert, built to the same dimensions as the panel it replaces, and finished for weather and corrosion resistance. It is an aftermarket part, not an original-equipment product, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any OEM.
This is a curbside part. The roadside panel is a different piece. Before you order, stand at the unit and confirm which side is damaged. Trailer orientation gets flipped around in notes more often than you would think, and a grille from the wrong side will not line up.
How These Grilles Fail
Impact is the usual cause. Something kicks up off the road, or the trailer gets nudged at a dock, and the mesh dents inward or tears loose from the frame. Once mesh is pushed into the coil, fins get flattened and you start losing capacity on hot days.
The second failure mode is slow. Road salt and washdown chemicals work on the coating, the frame corrodes at the mounting points, and the grille starts rattling or drops a corner. Vibration then wallows out the fastener holes until the panel will not hold torque anymore.
UV and age also matter. Plastic and paint chalk out, edges get brittle, and a grille that survived the impact snaps the next time someone pops it off for a coil cleaning. If you are already pulling it to wash the coil, that is the moment to look at the mounting tabs.
Why 98-9118 And DR-017A Cross
98-9118 is the number stamped or catalogued for the curbside mesh grille on the Precedent S-600, S-700 and C-600 refrigeration units. DR-017A is our aftermarket part built to the same dimensions, same mounting pattern, same mesh coverage and same curbside orientation. Different number, same physical part in the same location on the unit.
We list 98-9118 for identification only. It tells you which panel you are looking at and which side of the unit it came off. It does not mean the part is an original-equipment item or that we are authorised by the manufacturer.
Treat the cross as a starting point, not a fitment promise. Confirm by reading the number off the back of the old grille, or by checking the unit model and serial plate on the reefer itself. If the old panel is destroyed and unreadable, measure the opening and the fastener spacing before you commit.
98-9118 Cross-Reference & Interchange Numbers
These manufacturer and aftermarket numbers commonly cross-reference to 98-9118. Use them to identify the part — then confirm the exact fit by VIN or the number stamped on your old unit before you order. An interchange is a starting point, not a fitment guarantee.
| Brand / Line | Cross-Reference Numbers |
|---|---|
| Aftermarket | DR-017A |
Frequently asked questions
Is this the roadside or curbside grille?
Curbside, which is the passenger side of the trailer. The roadside panel is a separate part with a different mounting layout. Walk the unit and confirm the damaged side before ordering, because side notes get reversed in work orders regularly.
Will DR-017A fit my Precedent unit?
It is built as a direct replacement for the curbside mesh grille on Precedent S-600, S-700 and C-600 series units. We do not guarantee fitment from a catalogue lookup alone. Verify against the number on your old grille or the model and serial plate on the reefer.
Is this an original Thermo King part?
No. This is an aftermarket, premium quality replacement made by World Truck Parts. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorised by Thermo King. The 98-9118 number is listed only so you can identify the part you need.
Not sure it fits? We check before you pay.
Run your VIN and we’ll match parts to your exact truck, or call the counter — a person who knows trucks verifies fitment by OEM number before the order ships. No wrong-box returns.
More cross-reference guides
Need the part, not just the reading?
Every part below is a Premium Quality aftermarket Direct Replacement with published OEM cross-reference numbers, a 6+ month warranty and same-business-day shipping from Tacoma, WA. Not sure it fits? Run your VIN — or call and a person who knows trucks will verify fitment before you pay.