Abstract: A mechanism for diverting balls contained in a ball nut and screw device into and out of a ball recirculation tube includes a pair of apertures formed through the nut which extend from the outer surface thereof inwardly to the axial end of complementary helical threads formed on the screw and the nut. Within each of the apertures, a step is formed which extends partially about the inner surface thereof. A skirt deflector is provided in each of the apertures for guiding the balls into and out of the complementary threads. Each of the skirt deflectors includes an upper flange portion and a depending skirt portion. Pick-up fingers extend downwardly from the lower ends of the skirt portions further into each of the apertures. A step is defined between the skirt portion and the pick-up finger on each of the skirt deflectors. The steps formed on the skirt deflectors are positioned opposite the steps formed within the apertures when the skirt deflectors are installed therein.