Abstract: A ball and socket structure is disclosed for connecting the rack bar and tie rod of the vehicle steering system in which opposed bearing surfaces engage opposite hemispheres of the ball end. A tubular housing is internally threaded from one end and is formed with one of the bearing surfaces at its other end. A pre-loading plug or disc is threaded along the internal threads to a pre-loading position in which it compresses a high rate spring elastomeric to pre-load the two bearing surfaces toward each other the disc being supported during use by threading the end of the rack bar into the housing until the threaded end bottoms out against the pre-loading plug.