Patent ID: 11912345
Assignee: SHOCK THERAPY SUSPENSION, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A center load rack and pinion steering mechanism comprising:
a housing configured to couple to a frame of a vehicle;
a rack housed within an inner passage of the housing;
a pinion gear that engages a geared section of the rack, wherein the pinion gear is coupled to a steering column of the vehicle, wherein the rack travels within the inner passage in response to rotation of the pinion gear;
a longitudinal slot coupled to the housing;
a center link pad slidable within the slot; and
a center link configured to mount to tie rods, wherein at least one center link is coupled to the center link pad, wherein the center link and the center link pad travel longitudinally in concert with the rack in response to rotation of the pinion gear, wherein an upper surface of the center link pad engages an upper inner surface of the slot and a lower surface of the center link pad engages a lower inner surface of the slot to prevent upward and downward movement and twisting of the center link pad and the center link relative to the rack.