Electric power steering gear with an anti-rotate feature

A method of providing a lash-free electric powered steering gear for a commercial vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a housing including a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction, an interior wall of the cylindrical portion defining a groove and extending in the axial direction, the groove having at least two inwardly tapered walls;
• providing a ball screw disposed in the housing, extending in the axial direction, and defining a hole extending in a radial direction;
• providing a ball nut disposed in the housing surrounding the ball screw and configured to rotate relative to the housing;
• providing an anti-rotational pin having a tapered end disposed in the hole, the tapered end having at least two tapered surfaces, each corresponding to a respective one of the at least two inwardly tapered walls;
• biasing the anti-rotational pin, using a spring disposed in the hole, in a radially outward direction towards the groove so that the at least one tapered end of the anti-rotational pin engages the groove and thereby restricts rotation of the ball screw relative to the housing;
• providing a support bushing disposed in the housing between the ball screw and the housing, the support bushing being fixedly coupled to the ball screw and defining a through hole disposed between the groove and the hole of the ball screw, wherein the through hole is configured to receive the anti-rotational pin;
• and
• absorbing, using the support bushing, radial loads exerted on the ball screw by the electric power steering assembly and supporting the anti-rotational pin.