Patent ID: 8511191

Claim:
A rack shaft support device, comprising: a rack shaft support member that is accommodated inside a retention hole formed in a housing so as to be able to slide in an axial direction of the retention hole, and slidably supports a rack shaft, wherein the rack shaft support member includes a front surface that supports the rack shaft and a rear surface located on an opposite side to the front surface in the axial direction of the retention hole; a sealing member fixed to an inlet port of the retention hole; an intermediate member that is interposed between the rack shaft support member and the sealing member and can rotate about a central axial line of the retention hole; a torsion spring that couples the sealing member and the intermediate member and is able to rotationally drive the intermediate member; a cam mechanism that converts a rotational force of the intermediate member induced by untwisting of the torsion spring to a force by which the intermediate member pushes the rack shaft support member; an opposing member that opposes the rear surface of the rack shaft support member, the opposing member being separate from the intermediate member and the cam mechanism, the opposing member being provided between the rear surface of the rack shaft support member and the intermediate member, and a site of the opposing member that opposes the intermediate member including a friction reducing element; and an annular elastic member that is interposed between the rear surface of the rack shaft support member and the opposing member to provide a gap between the rear surface of the rack shaft support member and the opposing member, the annular elastic member being made of elastic material, wherein an entirety of the intermediate member is interposed between the rack shaft support member and the sealing member.