Abstract: A steering mechanism is provided, including a rack, a rotatable support member, and an automatically-adjustable support member. The rack includes a rack gear portion and the pinion includes a pinion gear portion coupled with the rack gear portion. The rotatable support member is positioned with respect to the rack or the pinion such that rotation of the rotatable support member adjusts an overlap distance between the rack gear portion and the pinion gear portion. The automatically-adjustable support member automatically urges together the rack and the pinion along an urging direction. The urging direction remains substantially constant throughout the rotation of the rotatable support member within a desired angular range.

Abstract: A yoke (30) supports a rack (14) in a steering gear housing (12). The yoke (30) comprises a rolled and folded metal sheet (62) having a cylindrical configuration defining a side wall (50) and an end wall (52) of the yoke (30). The side wall (50) has a cylindrical contour which is complementary to a cylindrical inner surface (54) of the housing (12). The end wall (52) has a semi-cylindrical contour which is complementary to a semi-cylindrical surface portion (58) of the rack (14).

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear (10) includes a rack bar (22) and pinion gear (14) which are at least partially enclosed by a housing (12). Movement of the rack bar (22) relative to the housing (12) and pinion gear (14) is supported and guided by a yoke (30). The yoke (30) includes a metal base (38) and polymeric bearing material (40) molded over the metal base. The polymeric bearing material (40) has a bearing surface (42) which engages the rack bar (22). The metal base (38) is stamped as one piece from sheet material and includes a cylindrical side wall (50) and an end wall or panel (52).