Patent ID: 6845993

Claim:
A method of producing a rack and pinion steering apparatus, comprising: providing a pinion; providing a rack bar; providing a housing comprising: a rack accommodating portion for accommodating the rack bar, the rack accommodating portion having a first side and a second side, the first side being substantially opposite to the second side of the rack accommodating portion, a radial opening on the first side of the rack accommodating portion, the radial opening defining a rack guide hole, a pinion accommodating portion on the second side of the rack accommodating portion, the pinion accommodating portion accommodating the pinion, and a projecting portion positioned on the second side of the rack accommodating portion, the projecting portion having a flat surface; positioning the pinion in the pinion accommodating portion; positioning the rack bar in the rack accommodating portion; positioning a rack guide in the rack guide hole, wherein the rack guide supports the rack bar; positioning an elastic member in the rack guide hole; positioning a plug on the rack guide hole, the elastic member being positioned between the rack guide and the plug to press the rack guide toward the rack bar; and swaging the plug to the housing, wherein the step of swaging includes positioning the housing on an assembly support structure in a manner that the flat surface of the projecting portion contacts the assembly support structure.