Abstract: A bracket for supporting a fence rail includes a hollow body having an open-topped cavity and an end wall with a cross-shaped aperture through which a bolt is passed into a fence post. The angularity of the body with respect to the post surface is adjusted by installing one or more tapered spacers between the body and the post. The spacers have nesting bosses and recesses, and offset slots through which the bolt passes. One surface of the end wall has a spherical shape so that the head of the bolt seats flat, regardless of the angularity which has been established.

Abstract: An annular bearing set for a ball and socket joint includes annular inner and outer bearings that has a head of a ball stud engaging an inner seat face of each of the bearings. An axial compression preload results when the bearing set and ball stud are inserted into a socket and the socket is closed. The seat face of the outer bearing is provided with a plurality of compliance grooves and lubrication grooves. The inner bearing is also provided with lubrication grooves. The grooves permit the preloaded bearing set to relax during a predetermined time period, thereby producing a joint that has low torque and low end motion. The bearings are further provided with an alignment mechanism for aligning the lubrication grooves of the inner and outer bearings.