Patent ID: 7272989

Claim:
A steering shaft bearing assembly for a vehicle having a steering shaft comprising: (a) a bearing having a bore adapted to rotatingly receive the steering shaft of the vehicle; (b) a support body having an outer surface and a passageway passing through the support body, wherein the bearing is at least partially disposed in the passageway so as to be suspended by the support body in the passageway in a predetermined position and wherein the support body comprises a flexible material for permitting the bearing to move from the predetermined position; and (c) a flexible mounting flange extending from the support body, the mounting flange having an upper relief recess formed on a front surface of the mounting flange and a lower relief recess formed on a back surface of the mounting flange, the upper and lower relief recesses permitting the support body to move with less resistance in a first direction as compared to movement in a second direction.