Abstract: An engine includes an engine block and a cylinder head mounted to the engine block. The engine block includes a bore elongated along an axis and a liner disposed in the bore and extending annularly about the axis. The liner includes a seal surface and a fire dam disposed radially inward from the seal surface. The fire dam extends along the axis from the seal surface towards the cylinder head. The engine further includes a head gasket disposed between the engine block and the cylinder head. The head gasket extends endlessly around the fire dam. The engine further includes a shim seated between the seal surface and the head gasket and abutting the seal surface and the head gasket. The shim is disposed radially outward from the fire dam and extending annularly about the axis.

Abstract: The pivot joint assembly includes a housing with an opening which extends along an axis. A bearing is received in the opening and which has a cylindrical outer surface that is in slidable contact with another surface so that the bearing can slide in an axial direction relative to the housing. The bearing has a curved inner bearing surface. The pivot joint assembly also includes an inner ring with a curved outer surface that is in slidable contact with the curved inner bearing surface of the bearing so that the inner ring can rotate and articulate relative to the housing.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is related to a ball socket assembly that includes a housing with an inner bore and at least one open end. The ball socket assembly also includes a ball stud which is partially received in the inner bore of the housing. An exit bearing supports the ball stud and is positioned in the inner bore adjacent the at least one open end. The exit bearing includes a plastic piece and a metal piece which are connected with one another. The metal piece has a semi-conical shape. The housing is deformed adjacent the at least one open end to capture the exit bearing within the inner bore. In operation, the metal piece reinforces the plastic piece to transfer forces between the ball stud and the housing.

Abstract: A gasket for an internal-combustion engine is designed to seal between an engine block and a cover of the internal-combustion engine. The gasket includes a plurality of members that are metal and a layer of elastomeric material on the members. The elastomeric layer includes joints between the members. The joints allow the gasket to flex to accommodate potential variation in sealing surface of the engine block without bending of the members.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle suspension component includes inserting a cover body into an aperture of a housing, the cover body being disposed about a central axis concentric with the aperture of the housing, the cover body having a convex side and a concave side and an outer perimeter disposed about the central axis, the cover body defining a threaded bore concentric with the central axis, and deforming the cover body into retaining engagement with the housing by pressing against the convex side until the cover body is at least partial deformed and the outer perimeter is expanded compared to a pre-deformed state of the cover body.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a grease boot having a snap ring at least partially embedded in an elastomeric body. The snap ring has a C-shaped body that defines a compressible radial gap in the elastomeric body. The snap ring can be at least partially embedded in a flange of the grease boot, with a radially outermost edge of the flange including a first elastomeric shoulder, a second elastomeric shoulder, and an exposed outer wall of the snap ring located between the first elastomeric shoulder and the second elastomeric shoulder.

Abstract: The ball socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore, and a bearing is received in the inner bore. The bearing is made as a monolithic piece of a plastic material and has a curved bearing surface which surrounds a ball cavity. The ball socket assembly also includes a ball stud with a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is received in the ball cavity of the bearing and has an equator. The curved bearing surface of the bearing is in slidable contact with the ball portion on opposite axial sides of the equator. The plastic material of the bearing comprises 8-12 mass percent polytetrafluoroethylene, 2-6 mass percent carbon fibers, and the remainder acetal.

Abstract: A gasket includes an endless loop of sealing material. The endless loop includes a first segment, a second segment, and a sinuous segment extending from the first segment to the second segment. The gasket includes fastener sections defining fastener holes. The fastener holes extends through the fastener sections. The sinuous segment is between two of the fastener holes. A lip is in each fastener hole. The lip extends from the fastener section into the fastener hole and extends around the circumference of the fastener hole. The sinuous segment retains the gasket in a groove of a cover, and the lip retains a fastener in a fastener hole of the cover.

Abstract: The tie rod assembly union includes a tube sleeve and a tie rod shaft that extends into the tube sleeve such that the tie rod shaft and the tube sleeve overlap with one another. In the overlapping area, each of the tie rod shaft and the tube sleeve has at least one set of openings. A C-shaped clamp is disposed about the tube sleeve. The clamp has a curved inner surface which engages both tube sleeve halves. The clamp has a first set of apertures which are spaced outwardly from the curved inner surface and a second set of apertures which extend to the curved inner surface. A first fastener extends through the first set of apertures to tighten the clamp onto the tube sleeve. A second fastener extends through the second set of apertures and through aligned openings in the tie rod shaft and tube sleeve.

Abstract: A ball socket assembly, bearing therefor, and method of construction thereof are provided. The ball socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore extending between a closed first end region and an open second end region. A fiber-reinforced bearing is disposed in the inner bore. The bearing has a lower portion presenting a lower bearing surface having a first radius of curvature and an upper portion presenting an upper bearing surface having a second radius of curvature that is greater than the first radius of curvature. The lower bearing surface and the upper bearing surface surround a ball cavity in which a spherical ball portion of a ball stud is disposed. The housing second end region is plastically deformed radially inwardly to impart a bias on the bearing upper portion that causes the second radius of curvature to be biased substantially equal to the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle suspension component includes inserting a cover body into an aperture of a housing, the cover body being disposed about a central axis concentric with the aperture of the housing, the cover body having a convex side and a concave side and an outer perimeter disposed about the central axis, the cover body defining a threaded bore concentric with the central axis, and deforming the cover body into retaining engagement with the housing by pressing against the convex side until the cover body is at least partial deformed and the outer perimeter is expanded compared to a pre-deformed state of the cover body.

Abstract: The assembly includes a housing that has an inner bore and a ball stud that has a ball portion with opposing first and second hemispheres. A bearing assembly is disposed in the inner bore of the housing and presents a curved first bearing surface that is in slidable contact with only the first hemisphere of the ball portion. The ball socket assembly also includes a curved second bearing surface that is presented on a different component from the bearing assembly and is in slidable contact with the second hemisphere of the ball portion. The bearing assembly has a plastic portion and a plurality of metal segments. The metal segments collectively define the first bearing surface and are fixedly attached with the plastic portion. The plastic portion allows the metal segments to individually move relative to one another to seat against the ball portion of the ball stud.

Abstract: A backing plate and associated brake pad that includes a reinforcement plate and a retention plate. The reinforcement plate has an outboard surface, an inboard surface, and a mold hole. The retention plate has an outboard surface, an inboard surface, and a locking projection that cooperates with the mold hole of the reinforcement plate to mechanically lock the retention plate to the reinforcement plate so that the inboard surface of the reinforcement plate faces the outboard surface of the retention plate. A dampening layer may be included between the reinforcement plate and the retention plate.

Abstract: A multi-layer metal gasket includes a first functional layer and a second functional layer. A bore and a fastener hole extend through the first and second functional layers. The first functional layer has a first embossment protruding toward the second functional layer and the second functional layer has a second embossment protruding toward the first functional layer. The first embossment and the second embossment each encircle the bore. An intermediate layer is between the first and second functional layers. The intermediate layer extends between the first embossment and the second embossment and extends from the first and second embossments to the fastener hole. A spacer layer is between the intermediate layer and the first functional layer. The spacer layer has an inner edge defining a hole through the spacer layer. The inner edge encircles the first embossment. The spacer layer extends from the inner edge to the fastener hole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle suspension component includes inserting a cover body into an aperture of a housing, the cover body being disposed about a central axis concentric with the aperture of the housing, the cover body having a convex side and a concave side and an outer perimeter disposed about the central axis, the cover body defining a threaded bore concentric with the central axis, and deforming the cover body into retaining engagement with the housing by pressing against the convex side until the cover body is at least partial deformed and the outer perimeter is expanded compared to a pre-deformed state of the cover body.

Abstract: A ball socket assembly, dust boot assembly therefor, and method of construction thereof are provided. The ball socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore extending along a central axis. A bearing is disposed in the inner bore. A ball portion of a ball stud is disposed in sliding engagement with the bearing and a shank portion extends outwardly from the housing. A dust boot assembly having a tubular wall extends along the central axis between a distal end disposed about the shank portion and a proximal end in sealed engagement with the housing. The dust boot proximal end has an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the central axis. The annular flange has a cylindrical outer surface, a lower surface and an upper shoulder. An annular metal ring is disposed about and substantially encapsulates the cylindrical outer surface, lower surface and upper shoulder of the annular flange.

Abstract: A multi-layer metal gasket includes a first functional layer and a second functional layer. A bore and a fastener hole extend through the first and second functional layers. The first functional layer has a first embossment protruding toward the second functional layer and the second functional layer has a second embossment protruding toward the first functional layer. The first embossment and the second embossment each encircle the bore. An intermediate layer is between the first and second functional layers. The intermediate layer extends between the first embossment and the second embossment and extends from the first and second embossments to the fastener hole. A spacer layer is between the intermediate layer and the first functional layer. The spacer layer has an inner edge defining a hole through the spacer layer. The inner edge encircles the first embossment. The spacer layer extends from the inner edge to the fastener hole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle suspension component includes inserting a cover body into an aperture of a housing, the cover body being disposed about a central axis concentric with the aperture of the housing, the cover body having a convex side and a concave side and an outer perimeter disposed about the central axis, the cover body defining a threaded bore concentric with the central axis, and deforming the cover body into retaining engagement with the housing by pressing against the convex side until the cover body is at least partial deformed and the outer perimeter is expanded compared to a pre-deformed state of the cover body.

Abstract: A ball socket assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The ball socket assembly includes a housing having an inner surface surrounding an inner bore. The inner bore extends from an open first end to an open second end. A groove extends into the inner surface adjacent the second end. A ball stud having a ball portion is disposed in the inner bore with a shank portion of the ball stud extending through the open first end. A cover plate assembly is fixed to the housing. An outer piece of the cover plate assembly has an outer periphery and a through opening. The outer periphery is fixed in the groove. An inner piece of the cover plate assembly is fixed in the through opening. The inner piece includes an opening configured for receipt of a lubricant fitting.