The ball joint assembly includes a housing with an inner wall which surrounds an inner bore that extends along a central axis. The ball joint assembly further includes a ball stud with a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is received in the inner bore of the housing, and the shank portion projects out of the inner bore through an open end of the housing. First and second preload members are disposed in the inner bore on opposite axial sides of the ball portion and are in contact with the ball portion. The preload members are of an elastomeric material. At least one of the preload members is compressed to urge the ball portion to a central location.

In a socket assembly having a housing with a closed end and an open end and an axially slidable and rotatable bearing, a spring washer seated on the axially slidable and rotatable bearing with a protrusion or a recess on the external periphery for engagement with a cooperating recess or protrusion on an inner cavity of the housing to effectively stop movement of spring washer with the axially slidable and rotatable bearing during driving conditions.

The present invention relates to a detection system for detecting wear of a ball-joint connection device of a pitch rod. The detection system includes at least one measurement assembly, said at least one measurement assembly having at least one deformation gauge for placing on said pitch rod, said detection system comprising at least one electrical conditioning circuit connected to at least one said deformation gauge and to at least one electrical energy source, said electrical conditioning circuit being configured to generate a measurement signal that varies as a function of deformation of said at least one deformation gauge and as a function of said wear.

The ball joint manufacturing method for manufacturing a ball joint including a ball stud which includes a substantially spherical metal ball section, and a resin housing rotatable accommodating the ball section of the ball stud, includes: a step of forming the housing to cover an outer periphery of the ball section; an induction heating step of subjecting the ball section to induction heating in a state in which the ball section is accommodated in an accommodation section of the housing until the temperature of the ball section reaches a predetermined target temperature; and a cooling step of cooling the ball section which has been subjected to the induction heating, wherein a torque adjustment step including the induction heating step and the cooling step is repeatedly performed.

The ball socket assembly includes a housing that is made of a monolithic piece which includes a lower wall. A ball portion of a ball stud is disposed in an inner bore of the housing. An exit bearing, which is made of a polymeric material, is disposed in the inner bore and is in slidable contact with at least one hemisphere of the ball portion. The exit bearing has an upper surface which faces towards an open end of the housing. A cover plate is in direct contact with the upper surface of the exit bearing along a surface-to-surface contact area. The surface-to-surface contact area is angled towards the open end from its radially outermost end to its radially innermost end for supporting the exit bearing against radial expansion in response to axial loads being applied on the exit bearing from the ball portion of the ball stud.

A ball joint assembly includes a stud and a two-piece cup. The stud has a shank that is connectable to a first vehicle suspension component, and a ball end. The cup is (indirectly) connectable to a second vehicle suspension component, and that holds the ball within. A locking plate prevents the two pieces of the cup from unthreading, and allows the joint to be adjusted as the friction surfaces wear.

A ball joint assembly includes a stud and a two-piece cup. The stud has a shank that is connectable to a first vehicle suspension component, and a ball end. The cup is (indirectly) connectable to a second vehicle suspension component, and that holds the ball within. A locking plate prevents the two pieces of the cup from unthreading, and allows the joint to be adjusted as the friction surfaces wear.

A ball joint assembly includes a stud member connectable to a first vehicle suspension component and a cup member connectable to a second vehicle suspension component. The stud member includes a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis, and a ball portion extending longitudinally from one end of the stud. The cup member is a two-piece cup comprising a cup base and a cup cap, with the two pieces being connected to hold the stud ball therebetween. The cup base has castle teeth, and the cup cap may have holes for set screws that interlock with the castle teeth to allow adjustment of the tightness of the ball and cup and to lock the ball into position in the cup.

Adjustable and rebuildable ball joint assemblies are disclosed. Methods for installation, adjustment, and rebuilding ball joint assemblies are described. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a washer with tabs to restrain rotation of the cap relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the ball joint assembly includes a locking mechanism to restrain rotation of the bearing relative to the housing.

In a socket assembly having a housing with a closed end and an open end and an axially slidable and rotatable bearing, a spring washer seated on the axially slidable and rotatable bearing with a protrusion or a recess on the external periphery for engagement with a cooperating recess or protrusion on an inner cavity of the housing to effectively stop movement of spring washer with the axially slidable and rotatable bearing during driving conditions.