filled with balls 14 in a manner known per se for transmitting axial forces between the spindle and the spindle nut in the basic operation of the inventive spindle drive mechanism of the invention the device is utilized for example in such a manner that the spindle 2 is rotatably supported with the nut 4 being prevented from rotating and being connected to a component which must be slidably moved in the axial direction of the spindle sliding or axial drive is effected by rotation of the spindle the spindle nut 4 is secured within the sleeve 6 in the axial direction on the one hand by a stop collar 16 formed at the sleeve and on the other hand by a locking ring 18 which may engage a groove 20 formed in the sleeve 6 as particularly shown in fig2 the sleeve 6 is continuously slotted in the longitudinal direction the resulting longitudinal slot 22 is bridged for example by a pair of screws 24 which project through bores 26 arranged in the sleeve portion to the left of the longitudinal sleeve 22 in fig2 and which may be screwed into threaded holes 28 to the right of the longitudinal slot 22 the screw heads 30 which for example are provided with a hexagonal recess 32 rest against steps 34 which are worked or formed into the sleeve 6 by turning.