Integrated lock ring and rack bushing for rack and pinion steering assembly

A rack and pinion steering assembly for use in a vehicle comprising:

• a housing having a tubular rack portion with a tubular end, and an inner surface having a stop feature extending radially inward from the inner surface, and with the stop feature spaced from the tubular end;
• a rack mounted in the tubular rack portion and extending out of the tubular end;
• and
• a rack bushing assembly including a rack bushing mounted within the tubular end and having a main body, made of metal, including an inner surface through which the rack extends and an outer surface and having a first end and an opposed second end, and wherein the main body includes an integral lock ring portion adjacent to the first end having a retaining wire slot extending circumferentially around the outer surface and a retaining wire bore extending radially inward from the outer surface;
• and a retaining wire mounted in the retaining wire slot and retaining wire bore and cooperating with the integral lock ring portion to provide for retention of the rack bushing assembly within the tubular end of the rack portion, and wherein the main body includes an enlarged diameter portion extending radially outward from the outer surface adjacent to the first end and abutting the stop feature.