Steering column support bearing

A bearing assembly for supporting a steering shaft within a steering column tube, comprising:

• an outer bearing ring defining an innermost perimeter and outer raceway;
• an inner bearing ring defining an innermost perimeter and inner raceway;
• a plurality of roller elements disposed between the inner raceway and the outer raceway;
• a bearing cage having an intermediate portion defining a plurality of roller pockets, each roller pocket receiving one of said plurality of roller elements, a front wall with at least one retention tab extending radially outward therefrom, and a rear wall with at least one retention tab extending radially inward therefrom, the at least one retention tab of the front wall extending outward beyond the innermost perimeter of the outer bearing ring and the retention tab of the rear wall extending inward beyond the outermost perimeter of the inner bearing ring;
• a support cone defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a front wall, a rear wall, and an annular face that is transverse to a longitudinal center axis of the support cone and disposed between the front wall and rear wall, the support cone being disposed radially inwardly of, and in contact with, the inner bearing ring, and
• a spring ring disposed adjacent both the inner surface of the support cone and its annular face,
• wherein the spring ring exerts force radially-outwardly against the inner surface of the support cone.