Steering gear pad

A steering gear pad 44, preferably with a partially hollow plastic body, has a rim portion 56 having a plurality of preferably plastic pad teeth 53 aligning with and corresponding to, preferably adjacent to, gear teeth 35 of a steering gear 34. At least one spacer 46, 47, preferably extending from steering gear pad 44, limits or prevents contact between steering gear 34 and a support plate (36, Figure 2). Steering gear 34 is preferably metal and is preferably a rack or sector gear meshing with a pinion gear. Pad teeth 53 are preferably wider than gear teeth 35. Steering gear pad 44 is preferably attached to steering gear 35, for example with mechanical fasteners, and rim 56 may be inclined downwardly. Preferably, spacers 46, 47 are provided at opposing ends of pad 44 that are deflected away from steering gear 34 and plate 36 when spacers 46, 47 contact plate 36.