Apparatus and kit for ford vehicle steering rack and pinion

An assembly for reinforcing a rack and pinion steering system, wherein the rack and pinion steering system comprising a steering rack disposed within a rack housing, the assembly comprising:

• a bushing including:
• a body including:
• a longitudinal axis;
• a reinforcing side having an irregular cross-sectional shape that substantially occupies a space between a portion of a length of the steering rack and the rack housing without impeding axial movement of the steering rack through the rack housing, the reinforcing side located along an inside portion of the longitudinal axis, wherein the irregular cross-sectional shape of the reinforcing side comprises a protruding lobe that extends around a portion of an outer circumference of the reinforcing side;
• and
• a retaining side that restricts movement of the body through the rack housing, the retaining side located along an outside portion of the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an aperture extending along the longitudinal axis of the body and having a shape that receives the portion of the length of the steering rack without impeding the axial movement of the steering rack through the rack housing;
• and
• a retainer that further restricts movement of the body of the bushing through the rack housing.

A method for reinforcing a rack and pinion steering system that comprises a steering rack disposed within a rack housing, the method comprising:

• accessing an end of the rack housing;
• providing a bushing that comprises a reinforcing side having an irregular cross-sectional shape, wherein the irregular cross-sectional shape comprises a protruding lobe that extends around a portion of an outer circumference of the reinforcing side;
• inserting the bushing into the end of the rack housing and over an end of the steering rack;
• and
• advancing the bushing into the rack housing and over the steering rack by aligning the protruding lobe of the reinforcing side with a lobed portion of a space between a portion of a length of the steering rack and a corresponding portion of a length of the rack housing, until a retaining portion of the bushing prevents further movement of the bushing into the rack housing and over the steering rack.