BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles may employ a power steering assist mechanism. The power steering assist mechanism provides torque assist to a steering shaft of the vehicle through a worm/worm gear reduction assembly. The worm/worm gear reduction assembly may wear over time and may influence the overall system feel and NVH performance. The wear over time reduces friction between the worm/worm gear reduction assembly and may cause poor NVH performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a power steering assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing. The assembly also includes a worm gear disposed within the housing, the worm gear being rotatable about a first axis. The assembly further includes a worm at least partially disposed in the housing, the worm being arranged to engage the worm gear and rotate about a second axis. The assembly yet further includes a floating bearing disposed proximate an end of the worm. The assembly also includes a spring disposed in a spring bore defined by the housing. The assembly further includes a compensation mechanism disposed within the housing and engaging the floating bearing, the compensation mechanism being adjustable with the spring to bias the floating bearing to maintain or adjust a gear mesh load between the worm gear and the worm. The assembly yet further includes a spring retainer in contact with the spring to maintain a position of the spring to apply a desired load on the compensation mechanism, the spring retainer being a single, integrally formed component.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a bearing adjustment assembly is provided. The assembly includes a worm engaged with a worm gear. The assembly also includes a worm bearing located proximate an end of the worm. The assembly further includes a spring disposed in a spring bore defined by the housing. The assembly yet further includes a compensation mechanism engaging the worm bearing and the spring, the compensation mechanism being adjustable to bias the worm bearing to maintain or adjust a gear mesh load between the worm gear and the worm, wherein compression of the spring adjusts the compensation mechanism biasing of the worm bearing. The assembly also includes a spring retainer comprising a pin retainer portion disposed within an interior of the spring, the pin retainer portion extending from a main body portion of the spring retainer.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

