Patent ID: 8235420

Claim:
A steering apparatus comprising an intermediate shaft, a first universal joint connecting the intermediate shaft and a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached, and a second universal joint connecting the intermediate shaft and a steering gear mechanism, wherein the intermediate shaft has a bolt engagement recess portion which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion of the intermediate shaft in such a manner as to extend in a direction which intersects an axial direction and a dislocation preventive projecting portion which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of an end portion of the intermediate shaft, and wherein as a member for fastening a first yoke of one of the first and second universal joints and the shaft portion of the intermediate shaft together, a shoulder bolt is provided on which a small diameter portion adapted to be brought into engagement with the dislocation preventive projecting portion of the intermediate shaft and a large diameter portion adapted to be brought into engagement with the bolt engagement recess portion are formed in that order from a distal end portion side, whereby the first yoke and the shaft portion of the intermediate shaft are temporarily fastened together by bringing the small diameter portion of the shoulder bolt into engagement with the dislocation preventive projecting portion which lies adjacent to the bolt engagement recess portion, and the first yoke and the shaft portion of the intermediate shaft are finally fastened together by bringing the large diameter portion of the shoulder bolt into engagement with the bolt engagement recess portion, wherein a portion of the large diameter portion of the shoulder bolt is disposed within a radial range between a bottom of the bolt engagement recess portion and an outside diameter of the shaft portion of the intermediate shaft, and wherein a portion of the small diameter portion of the shoulder bolt is disposed within a radial range between the outside diameter of the shaft portion of the intermediate shaft and a distal end of the dislocation preventive projecting portion.