Steering pad apparatus and related methods

A rotary steerable system for a downhole tool comprising:

• a tool collar;
• and
• one or more steering pad apparatuses mounted on the collar, each of the one or more steering apparatuses comprising:
• a respective base comprising one or more base lugs, each of the base lugs defining a respective axial hole therein;
• a respective steering pad hingedly coupled to the base, the steering pad comprising one or more pad lugs, each said pad lug defining a respective axial hole therein, wherein the one or more pad lugs are coupled to the one or more base lugs such that each of the one or more pad lugs is adjacent to at least one of the one or more base lugs;
• and
• for each adjacent base lug and pad lug, a respective one or more bushings received in at least one of:
• the hole of the pad lug;
• and the hole base lug.

A method for a steering pad apparatus comprising a steering pad and a base, the method comprising:

• inserting one or more bushings into at least one of:
• one or more lugs of the base;
• and
• one or more lugs of the steering pad;
• and
• coupling the lugs of the steering pad to the lugs of the base to form a hinge connection between the base and the steering pad.