A torque-limiting driver for orthopedic surgical use is described. The torque-limiting driver has a housing to which a torque force may be applied and transferred to a driver output shaft. The housing encloses a cam bearing assembly having a ball cage disposed so that balls of the ball cage move along a first vector path (Vr) radial to the axis of rotation. The bearing assembly also has an inner race abutting the ball. The inner race travels along a second vector path (F) parallel to the axis of rotation. The first vector path (Vr) and the second vector path (F) are not co-axial. A bearing load assembly applies a bias force (F) to the inner race of the cam bearing assembly to set the calibrated maximum amount of torque that can be transmitted via the housing through the cam bearing assembly to the output shaft of the torque-limiting driver.
