Worm gear hub

An electric power steering system comprising:

• a steering shaft connected to a handwheel at one end and a rack and pinion steering mechanism at an opposite end;
• a steering assist unit comprising an electric motor operated by a controller and driving a worm and a worm gear interposed between said worm and said steering shaft, said worm having worm teeth and said worm gear fitted on said steering shaft;
• said worm gear further comprising:
• a disk having a first face axially disposed opposite a second face;
• a first plurality of individual lugs formed on said first face circumferentially adjacent an outer circumferential edge of said disk, wherein each lug of said first plurality of individual lugs having a first inner circumferential edge formed on said first face along a first retaining diameter, said first retaining diameter generally less than a disk diameter, circumferentially adjacent lugs of said first plurality of individual lugs having a first circumferential spacing therebetween;
• a ring overlaying a portion of said disk including said first plurality of individual lugs, said ring having an outer diameter, said outer diameter generally greater than said disk diameter;
• and
• a plurality of gear teeth on an outer edge surface of said ring for meshing with said worm teeth.