Patent ID: 7665747

Claim:
A rack and pinion steering gear assembly comprising: a housing; a rack disposed at least partially within said housing, said rack being translatably moveable relative to said housing along an axis; a bushing operably disposed between said rack and said housing, said bushing having an axial length and defining a gap; said gap extending the entire axial length of said bushing; and at least one compressible member disposed between said bushing and said housing, said compressible member extending across said gap and fully encircling said bushing wherein said bushing comprises a substantially tubular portion and a flange portion, said at least one compressible member being disposed on said tubular portion, said flange portion including a radially extending flange, said flange having first and second opposing surfaces, said first surface bearingly engaging a surface of said housing disposed at an angle to said axis, said tubular portion and said flange portion being axially separated by an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having a radial thickness less than a radial thickness of said tubular portion and less than a radial thickness of said flange portion and wherein a radially inwardly facing surface of said bushing defines a first substantially cylindrical portion in said tubular portion having a first diameter and a second substantially cylindrical portion in said flange portion having a second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter whereby said inwardly facing surface in said flange portion is spaced from said rack; further comprising a pair of retention tabs disposed substantially diametrically oppositely on said flange and extending radially outwardly from said flange, said retention tabs being engageable with a recess in said housing to thereby secure said bushing relative to said housing, said gap extending substantially parallel with said axis and a radial line extending from said axis to said gap being disposed substantially perpendicular with a diametrical line joining said oppositely disposed tabs.