Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear including a housing, a rack bar having a rack gear thereon, a pinion gear rotatably supported on the housing, and a rack bearing which slidably engages the rack bar and resiliently thrusts the rack gear against the pinion gear. The pinion gear and the rack bearing constitute a first bearing supporting the rack bar on the steering gear housing for back and forth linear translation. A bushing on the steering gear housing remote from the pinion gear and the rack bearing constitutes a second bearing supporting the rack bar on the steering gear housing for back and forth linear translation. An outboard bearing on the steering gear housing on the opposite side of the pinion gear from the bushing thrusts the rack bar parallel to the direction of the rack bearing and includes an asymmetrically resiliently compressed elastomeric ring on a seat on the steering gear housing and a sleeve mounted eccentrically on the elastomeric ring and slidably engaging the rack bar.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the collisions between elements of an automotive rack and pinion steering apparatus and an end-of-travel stop is presented. The system comprises a sensor for sensing a set of dynamic variables of the rack and pinion steering apparatus and operative thereby to generate as output therefrom a first set of signals indicative of the set of dynamic variables; a controller responsive to the first set of signals and operative thereby to provide as output therefrom a modified torque assist command; and a motor drive assembly drive assembly responsive to the modified torque assist command and operative thereby to provide modified torque assistance to the rack and pinion steering apparatus. In another embodiment, the dynamic data is used to calculate a torque limit to be imposed upon the torque assist command whenever the steering system is close to end-of-stop. The two embodiments may also be superimposed.