Rolling element intermediate shaft assembly

摘要

A rolling element intermediate shaft assembly (10) includes a solid shaft (14) having a first end (28) and a second end (30) and a tubular shaft (18) configured to receive the shaft second end (30). The tubular shaft (18) includes an inner wall (53) with an axially extending groove (54) formed therein, and the axially extending groove (54) includes an inner surface. The assembly (10) further includes a wear plate (24) having a bottom surface (58) and defining an axially extending channel (46), the wear plate (24) being received in the tubular shaft axially extending groove (54), and at least one ball bearing (22) disposed within the wear plate channel (46) between the wear plate (24) and the solid shaft (14).