Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint comprising: a housing having an open end at its upper end, the upper end having an inner peripheral surface which inclines upward and radially inward; a bearing element disposed in the housing; a ball stud having a ball end retained in the bearing element and a shank portion extending from the ball end freely through the open end of the housing; an end cover plate secured in a lower end of the housing; and a resiliently yieldable member compressed between the bearing element and the end cover plate for urging the bearing element against the ball end of the ball stud. The inner peripheral surface of the housing is locally hardened by a high frequency hardening.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus comprising a manipulation lever; an actautor; a balance lever connected at its one end through a first coupling member with the manipulation lever so that a manipulated force of the manipulation lever acts on the one end and at its outer end through a second coupling member with the actuator so that an operating force of the actuator acts on the other end, the balance lever having a portion on with a parking brake force acts; relative displacement detecting unit for detecting a relative displacement between the manipulation lever and the actuator; and control means unit for controlling the actuator so that the relative displacement detected by the relative displacement detecting unit is reduced.

Abstract: A ball joint socket of a ball joint of a motor vehicle comprising a bearing holding the ball joint and a ball shell integral with a caulking portion, wherein the caulking portion is smaller in thickness than the ball shell, and the caulking portion is bent so that the ball joint is prevented from escaping from the ball joint socket.

Abstract: A free piston is reciprocally disposed within a first plunger unit associated with one of two circuits which plunger also houses a poppet valve actuatable by the free piston. A second plunger is reciprocally received in one end of the first plunger unit and also has a poppet valve actuatable by the free piston. The second plunger is biased toward the first by an actuator piston/spring arrangement subject to control by a valve responsive to vehicular deceleration. During pressure modulation the free piston reciprocates back and forth rapidly, opening and closing each of the poppet valves. Upon failure of one of the dual circuits both of the plungers shift in the same direction causing one poppet valve to remain open and prevent pressure modulation. Upon failure of the other circuit, the pressure transmitted by the arrangement markedly increases to produce the necessary deceleration to close a deceleration sensitive valve and induce modulation.