Parallelogram-style steering mechanism having a relay rod bushing

A relay rod bushing for attachment to a pitman arm via a stud and configured to allow displacement of the stud relative to the relay rod, comprising:

• an outer can;
• an inner metal member, wherein said inner metal member includes:
• a tapered receptacle configured to mate with a corresponding tapered portion of the stud;
• a first generally-cylindrical portion;
• and
• substantially-opposing first and second outer flats interrupting said first generally-cylindrical portion, wherein said first and second outer flats are spaced by a lower-flat distance smaller than the diameter of said first generally-cylindrical portion;
• and
• a resilient member disposed substantially between said outer can and said inner metal member.

A steering mechanism comprising:

• a relay rod;
• an idler arm operatively attached to a first end of said relay rod;
• a pitman arm having a joint and a stud, wherein the stud is operatively attached to a second end of said relay rod substantially opposite said first end;
• and
• a bushing disposed within said second end of said relay rod, wherein said bushing is configured to allow displacement of said pitman arm relative to said relay rod, wherein said bushing further includes:
• an outer can;
• an inner metal member, wherein said inner metal member includes a tapered receptacle configured to mate with a corresponding tapered portion of said stud, wherein said inner metal member further includes:
• a first generally-cylindrical portion;
• substantially-opposing first and second outer flats interrupting said first generally-cylindrical portion, wherein said first and second outer flats are spaced by a lower-flat distance smaller than the diameter of said first generally-cylindrical portion;
• a second generally-cylindrical portion;
• and
• substantially-opposing third and fourth outer flats interrupting said second generally-cylindrical portion, wherein said third and fourth outer flats are spaced by an upper-flat distance smaller than the diameter of said second generally-cylindrical portion;
• and
• a resilient member disposed substantially between said outer can and said inner metal member, such that said resilient member, outer can, and inner metal member are substantially co-axial about said stud, and wherein said resilient member includes a plurality of voids.