Abstract: A ball bearing assembly has an inner and an outer race ring. One of the race rings, preferably the inner race ring, is formed with one side wall relieved, i.e., a somewhat cylindrical surface is formed that is tangent to the torus surface forming the ball race surface. The somewhat cylindrical surface is made to extend to a slightly tapered surface with its apical adjacent to the end of the race ring. At the region where the tapered surface joins with the cylindrical surface, the tapered surface has a slightly greater diameter, forming a radially directed shoulder. The bearing is assembled by placing the balls within the outer race and the inner race is snapped into position. The taper is so designed that the metal at the shoulder yields to allow the balls to pass into the race surface; however, if any of the metal should deform, a circumferential groove is formed just inside the shoulder into which the deformed metal flows where it does not degrade the hardened polished ball race surface.