Non-rotating spring loaded stabilizer

A system for stabilizing a drill string and the like in a hole, the system comprising a mandrel and at least two self-centering, non-rotating stabilizers, the stabilizers including a fixed non-rotatable cylindrical sleeve, the mandrel rotatably disposed within the sleeve and detachably affixed therein, the sleeve having a longitudinal axis of symmetry, a plurality of bearing means disposed between the sleeve and the mandrel, a plurality of spaced wear-resistant pads detachably affixed to the periphery of the sleeve, the pads oriented within a plurality of longitudinal channels formed along the peripheral surface of the sleeve, a plurality of alignment guides disposed within the channels and in slideable registry with the pads, a retainer projecting outwardly from each channel into a cavity formed within each pad, a spring washer disposed within each channel, the washer being oriented about a retainer so as to allow the pads limited movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve, and the stabilizers arranged in a stacked, coaxial arrangement.