Steering shaft clamp yoke with bolt blocking component

A steering assembly comprising:

• a pinion shaft;
• a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke;
• and
• a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke, the blocking assembly comprising:
• a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end;
• and
• a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position;
• and
• a clip coupled to the clamp yoke, wherein the resilient member is coupled to the clip.

A method of assembling a steering assembly comprising:

• positioning a blocking member within a slot of a clamp yoke to block a counter bore defined by the clamp yoke;
• inserting a pinion shaft into a central aperture defined by the clamp yoke;
• contacting the blocking member with the pinion shaft;
• rotating the blocking member by insertion of the pinion shaft to be out of the counter bore;
• and
• inserting a fastener through the counter bore to fix the axial position of the pinion shaft relative to the clamp yoke;
• and
• coupling the blocking member to a first leg and a second leg of a resilient member, the resilient member indirectly coupled to the clamp yoke with a clip secured to the clamp yoke.