Bushing for telescoping steering column assembly

摘要

A telescoping steering column assembly includes lower and upper jackets having inner and outer surfaces, respectively, disposed with respect to one another in telescoping relationship. The telescoping steering column assembly includes a linear bushing disposed between the inner surface of the upper jacket and the outer surface of the lower jacket, that includes a plurality of convolutions disposed axially in side-by-side relationship as viewed in cross-section to provide outer and inner load bearing surfaces to engage the upper and lower jackets and to provide radial walls for flexing to maintain the bearing surfaces in engagement with the jackets to allow the bushing to radially expand and contract. The present invention provides the length-wise grooves formed by the convolutions to allow for reservoirs for lubricant solution to help reduce friction between the jackets, wherein the convolutions are elastically deformed to adapt to the annual clearance between the jackets.