An electric power steering apparatus comprises a ball nut rotationally
driven by an electric motor through a gear train and having a female
thread groove formed in the inner periphery thereof, a rack shaft
disposed through the ball nut on the axis thereof and having a male
thread groove so formed in its outer periphery as to face to the female
thread groove, a ball screw mechanism having a number of circulation
balls interposed between the female thread groove and the male thread
groove, and a housing for holding the ball nut rotatably through the
bearing. An elastic member is interposed between the housing and the ball
nut in order to permit the ball nut to make a predetermined displacement.