Steering column assembly with a stationary central pad

The steering column for a motor vehicle has a front (4) and rear (6) section with a gearing formed by a toothed coupling (24) between a front toothed section on the front shaft and a rear toothed section on the rear shaft. To hold the coupling against the toothed front and rear shaft sections a spring (58) and a ramp (44,46,48,50) transmit a longitudinal force component from the spring to a radial force on the toothed coupling.