Rack and pinion steering gear

摘要

A rack and pinion steering gear for automotive vehicles includes a housing having a longitudinal bore in which the rack reciprocates and a cross bore in which the pinion which meshes with the rack is rotatably mounted. The rack is slidably mounted in the bore by an annular bearing, a portion of which is cut away to receive the pinion. A leaf spring is disposed in a groove provided in the wall of the bore and extending parallel thereto. The leaf spring bears against the side of the annular bearing member opposite the cut-away portion to thereby maintain the rack into meshing engagement with the pinion. The pinion is rotatably supported in the cross bore by a bearing arrangement which is designed so that substantially the same components may be used in either manual or power assisted steering gears.