ser no 10 248 053 filed dec 13 2002 and the patents cited therein all of which are incorporated herein by reference as may be readily appreciated when the unit is in the position shown in fig1 the bias unit 120 can be required to lift the entire weight of the drill string and bha off of the well bore wall this can be a problem in unconsolidated and or soft formations additionally the bias unit 120 can be required to overcoming the flexural rigidity of the drill string 150 and bha to accomplish the change in direction sought the dogleg severity or build angle is limited by the relative stiffness of the drill string and bha subassembly in contrast fig2 shows the arrangement of the bias unit to the universal joint which is fabricated with sufficient flexibility to allow the bottom hole assembly to move freely without the need to move the remaining portion of the drill string adjacent the bha the force necessary to direct the bit in the desired direction is substantially less than the force necessary to direct the bit in the conventional arrangement shown in fig1 a drill bit 200 in fig2 is connected to a bias.