Push device with clearance compensation for rack-and-pinion steering of a motor vehicle

An off-center push device for the rack-and-pinion steering of a motor vehicle, the push device comprising:

• a bowed pad whereof an inner periphery is off-centered relative to an outer periphery, the pad being rotated in one direction by spring means and being provided to be pressed by an off-centered inner periphery against a rear of a rack to push the latter back toward gear teeth of a steering pinion, the pad being rotatably mounted on a support and the spring means, arranged at the support, preferably acting in a plane parallel to a toothing of the rack on a radial arm secured to the pad,
• a clearance compensation mechanism including a thrust member translationally mounted on the support, but immobilized in rotation relative to said support, and pressed against the radial arm of the pad by a compression spring inserted between said thrust member and the support or an element secured to the support, whereas
• wherein a movable stop is rotatably mounted, coaxially to the compression spring, relative to the support or the element secured to the support, the movable stop being provided, at an end thereof closest to the pad, with at least one toothing with staggered gear teeth cooperating with at least one notch formed on the thrust member, or vice versa, the movable stop being connected via a torsion spring to the support or to the element secured to the support, so that the notch can successively cooperate with the staggered gear teeth of the toothing.