A ball joint comprises: a ball stud which includes a stud part on one end side connected to a structure and a ball part on the other end side; a housing which oscillatably and rotatably supports the ball part of the ball stud; and a ball sheet disposed between the housing and the ball part. The ball sheet includes a recessed/protruding part formed of at least one of a recessed portion and a protruding portion on a surface facing the housing. The housing includes a fitting part having at least one of a protruding shape and a recessed shape each of which fits to the recessed/protruding part.

A method of manufacturing a ball joint includes arranging a ball in a bore of a housing, and enclosing an end of the bore. Plastic is injected into a space between the housing and the ball to form a bearing that has a bearing surface that engages the ball. The bearing shrinks to form a recess in the bearing surface so that the recess can be filled with a grease.

A method of manufacturing a ball joint includes arranging a ball in a bore of a housing, and enclosing an end of the bore. Plastic is injected into a space between the housing and the ball to form a bearing that has a bearing surface that engages the ball. The bearing shrinks to form a recess in the bearing surface so that the recess can be filled with a grease.

A method of manufacturing a slotted entry bearing assembly includes inserting an inner race into a central space of an outer race. The outer race is configured to receive the inner race through at least one slot. Once the inner race is fully inserted into the outer race, it is rotated approximately ninety degrees within the center space, effectively locking the inner race within the outer race. After the inner race is rotated ninety degrees, a molded seal is molded between the inner race and the at least one slot. The molded seal adheres to the at least one slot and is made of a polymeric material. The molding process used to mold the molded seal may be compression molding.

A ball joint has a bushing with a defined housing space sized to receive ball joint components. The ball joint further has a cage member having an exterior surface that fits within the housing recess and an interior surface with a pattern of raised and recessed portions, and a cup member over-molded on the cage member component. The cup member complements the interior surface pattern of the cage member and includes an interior surface having a circular configuration. The ball joint also has a stem having a ball portion dimensioned to fit within and complement the interior surface of the cup member.

A combined electrical insulator and conductor assembly for a bearing disposable between a shaft and a housing. An annular insulator is disposeable about the bearing and configured to prevent electric current flow between an outer ring and the housing. An electrical conductor has retainer(s) releasably engaged with the insulator so as to couple the conductor with the bearing, an outer radial end and an inner radial end. The conductor outer radial end, or/and a portion of the conductor between the outer and inner ends, is conductively engageable with the housing and the conductor inner radial end is conductively engageable with the shaft so as to provide an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing. Preferably, the conductor includes a conductive disk having arcuate retainer clips engageable with an insulator groove of the insulator and a brush subassembly including conductive fibers engaged with the shaft outer surface.

Steel for a crankshaft includes 0.37 to 0.42 wt % of carbon (C), 0.55 to 0.70 wt % of silicon (Si), 1.45 to 1.65 wt % of manganese (Mn), 0.025 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of phosphorus (P), 0.020 to 0.035 wt % of sulfur (S), 0.15 to 0.30 wt % of chromium (Cr), 0.035 to 0.055% of vanadium (V), and the remainder of Fe and other inevitable impurities. The steel for a crankshaft has strength that is maintained high even when reducing the amount of vanadium.

A combined electrical insulator and conductor assembly for a bearing disposable between a shaft and a housing. An annular insulator is disposeable about the bearing and configured to prevent electric current flow between an outer ring and the housing. An electrical conductor has retainer(s) releasably engaged with the insulator so as to couple the conductor with the bearing, an outer radial end and an inner radial end. The conductor outer radial end, or/and a portion of the conductor between the outer and inner ends, is conductively engageable with the housing and the conductor inner radial end is conductively engageable with the shaft so as to provide an electrically conductive path between the shaft and the housing. Preferably, the conductor includes a conductive disk having arcuate retainer clips engageable with an insulator groove of the insulator and a brush subassembly including conductive fibers engaged with the shaft outer surface.

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 tie rod end includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along a central axis. A stud is partially received in the inner bore and has a shank portion which extends out of the inner bore for attachment with a gearbox. The tie rod end further includes an elastic boot body which extends from a first boot end, which is sealed with the housing, to a second boot end. A boot bearing, which is made of a plastic material, is secured with the second boot end. The boot bearing is in a dynamic sealing engagement with the shank portion of the stud. The boot bearing presents a plurality of radially inwardly extending and annularly-shaped ribs that contact the shank portion.