Abstract: A serviceable joint features a pin, a housing with a hollow interior, and a removable race. The race has hollow interior chambers, an upper one of which is larger than the lower. The bottom end of the pin is passable through the hollow interior chambers and onward through an open lower end of the housing to situate the top end of the joint pin within the upper chamber of the race, from which a remainder of the pin hangs in free floating state. A retaining ring is engaged in an annular groove in the peripheral wall of the housing to clamp the race in place in a seated position abutting a tapered exterior area of the race against a tapered interior portion of the housing, whereby the race is centered and stabilized in the housing to restrain the head of the free-floating pin.

Abstract: A spherical automotive joint features a housing, and a ball member with a spherically contoured ball head received in the housing and a stud that is attached to and projects from the ball head to a location situated externally of the housing at a spaced distance therefrom. A grease passage enters the stud of the ball member at a location outside the housing, reaches through the stud into the ball member, and exits the ball member at one or more locations inside the housing to enable greasing of the joint via the stud.

Abstract: A serviceable ball joint features a pin, a housing with a hollow interior, and a removable race. The race has hollow interior chambers, and upper one of which is larger than the lower. The bottom end of the pin is passable through the hollow interior chambers and onward through an open lower end of the housing to situate the top end of the ball joint pin within the upper chamber of the race, from which a remainder of the pin hangs in free floating state. A retaining ring is engaged in an annular groove in the peripheral wall of the housing to clamp the race in place in a seated position abutting a tapered exterior area of the race against a tapered interior portion of the housing, whereby the race is centered and stabilized in the housing to restrain the head of the free-floating pin.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, and a retaining ring installed directly over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing. In one embodiment, a retaining member is threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, and a retaining ring installed directly over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing. In one embodiment, a retaining member is threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, a retaining ring installed over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing, and a retaining member threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.