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.

Abstract: The ball socket assembly includes a housing which has at least one open end and an inner bore that extends along a central axis. The ball socket assembly further includes a ball stud that has a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is disposed in the inner bore of the housing, and the shank portion extends out of the inner bore through the at least one open end. At least one bearing is disposed in the inner, and the at least one bearing has a bearing surface which is in direct contact with the ball portion of the ball stud. The at least one bearing is made of a monolithic piece of a spring-like material and has a single gap and is flexed to preload the at least one bearing against the ball portion.

Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a gasket body, an adhesive-backed film, and a plurality of grommets. The gasket body includes a first face, and the adhesive-backed film includes a sticky face bonded to the first face of the gasket body. The grommets are bonded to the sticky face of the adhesive-backed film.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sway bar linkage assembly includes a socket joint, a shank extending from the socket joint, a bolt, and a bushing. The shank has a first bore with a first bore diameter and a second bore extending between the first bore and the socket joint. The second bore has a second bore diameter less than the first bore diameter such that a flange extends between the first bore and the second bore. The bolt has a head, a shaft extending from the head and a stud extending between the shaft is included. The shaft has a first diameter and the stud has second diameter less than the first diameter such that a ledge extends between the shaft and the stud. The bushing is compressed a predefined by the bolt when the bolt extends through the bushing and the ledge of the bolt abuts against the flange of the shank.

Abstract: The suspension system includes a stabilizer bar which has an opening. The suspension system also includes a linkage, which includes a rod-shaped link and a pair of bushings that are made of a compressible material. The link presents male threads which extend to an end face and a stop out which is spaced from the end face, and the link extends through the opening of the stabilizer bar. One of the bushings is disposed on the rod-shaped link between the stop out and the opening of the stabilizer bar, and the other bushing is disposed on the link between the opening of the stabilizer bar and the locking nut. A locking nut is threadedly engaged with the link such that the end face of the link contacts a closed end of the locking nut. The bushings are partially compressed against the stabilizer bar.

Abstract: The socket assembly has a housing with an inner bore which extends from a first end to a second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and presents a curved bearing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the ball portion. A first spring biases the backing bearing against the ball portion. The socket assembly also includes an exit bearing with a cylindrical portion that is in contact with an equator of the ball portion and a semi-spherical portion that is in surface-to-surface contact with an opposite hemisphere from the first bearing surface. A second spring biases the exit bearing into a predetermined location established by the housing. The exit bearing is movable from the predetermined location in a direction towards the second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.

Abstract: A vehicle brake component for collecting brake dust that includes a body having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, and a magnet having a collection side, an adherence side, and one or more side edges separating the collection side and the adherence side. The collection side is configured to collect brake dust by directly facing the rotor, and the adherence side is directly coupled to the body at the trailing edge portion. In one embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a backing plate body of a brake pad, and in another embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a caliper housing or a caliper bracket.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sway bar linkage assembly includes a socket joint, a shank extending from the socket joint, a bolt, and a bushing. The shank has a first bore with a first bore diameter and a second bore extending between the first bore and the socket joint. The second bore has a second bore diameter less than the first bore diameter such that a flange extends between the first bore and the second bore. The bolt has a head, a shaft extending from the head and a stud extending between the shaft is included. The shaft has a first diameter and the stud has second diameter less than the first diameter such that a ledge extends between the shaft and the stud. The bushing is compressed a predefined by the bolt when the bolt extends through the bushing and the ledge of the bolt abuts against the flange of the shank.

Abstract: The ball joint includes a housing that has an inner bore. A ball stud is partially received in the inner bore. The ball stud has a ball portion and a shank portion which are separate pieces from one another and which are in threaded engagement with one another. At least one bearing is disposed in the inner bore and slidably supports the ball portion of the ball stud for allowing the ball stud to rotate and articulate relative to the housing. The ball portion is shaped through a forging operation, and the shank portion is shaped through a process which includes machining and does not include forging.

Abstract: The ball socket assembly includes a housing with at least one open end and with an inner surface that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis. The ball socket assembly also includes a ball stud that has a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion is disposed in the inner bore of the housing and has an outer diameter which is in a spherical fit relationship with the inner surface of the housing. The shank portion of the ball stud extends out of the inner bore through the at least one open end of the housing. The ball portion is out of contact with any bearings on opposite axial sides of the ball portion such that the ball stud is able to move along the central axis relative to the housing.

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: The gasket includes a gasket body which is made of a monolithic piece of an elastomeric material. The gasket body has an oil opening for allowing oil to pass between the timing chain tensioner and a cylinder head. The gasket body includes at least one outer engagement feature for directly engaging with an outer wall of the timing chain tensioner to hold the gasket body on the timing chain tensioner. The gasket body also includes at least one inner engagement feature for directly engaging with an inner wall of the timing chain tensioner to further hold the gasket body on the timing chain tensioner.

Abstract: A friction lining for a brake pad of a braking system includes a solid body of friction material having plurality of slots intersecting at a vortex zone formed as a circular recess in the friction lining. The slots open into the vortex zone at offset locations to promote circulation of air within the vortex zone. The slots extend along a horizontal arc that follows the curvature of a rotor of the braking system when in use. Vertical slots may be included that also open into the vortex zone at offset locations.

Abstract: The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore which extends along a central axis from a generally closed first end to an open second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore of the housing. The ball stud also has a shank portion which projects out of the inner bore through the open second end. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore of the housing and has a curved bearing surface that is in slidable contact with the ball portion of the ball stud. The backing bearing is movable in a radial direction relative to the housing and includes a polymeric piece. The backing bearing further includes a reinforcement piece, which is made of metal, and the reinforcement piece is at least partially embedded within the polymeric piece to resist radial expansion of the polymeric piece.

Abstract: The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along a central axis from a generally closed first end to an open second end. The socket assembly also includes a ball stud which includes 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 the open second end. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore. The backing bearing has a curved bearing surface that is in slidable contact with the ball portion of the ball stud. The backing bearing includes a polymeric piece and a metal sleeve which surrounds the polymeric piece to resist radial expansion of the polymeric piece.

Abstract: The jack stand assembly includes a coupling plate with a plurality of openings for receiving the lugs of a wheel hub to fixedly attach the coupling plate with the wheel hub. The coupling plate is operably supported by a support structure which has an adjustable height. The support structure is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to allow the wheel hub to be rotated in a steering motion when the wheel hub is fixedly attached with the coupling plate. A bearing assembly is interposed between the coupling plate and the support structure to allow the wheel hub to rotate about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: The sway bar linkage connects a sway bar with a control arm of a vehicle suspension system. The linkage includes a fastener and a plurality of bushings disposed between the fastener and the sway bar and between the fastener and the control arm. At least one of the bushings is constructed as a single piece of material, presents an outer surface, presents an inner bore which extends along an axis for receiving the fastener, and presents a plurality of pockets. The pockets are spaced radially between the inner bore and the outer surface for allowing the bushing to more easily deflect and absorb energy while transferring forces between the sway bar, fastener and control arm.