Abstract: The assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along an axis. A stud is at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the housing and is pivotable relative to the housing. A top edge of the housing is bent radially inwardly to present a flange. A two-piece dust boot is provided including a cover piece of an elastic material and a spring washer. The cover piece extends from a first end portion that is sealed against the housing to a second end portion that is sealed against the stud. The spring washer is at least substantially encapsulated within the cover piece at the first end portion and biases the cover piece against the flange of the housing to establish a seal that is resistant to compression setting between the cover piece and the housing.

Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing which extends along an axis and a bearing. The bearing has an opening that extends between opposite axial ends and presents a curved bearing surface. A stud with an inner bore is positioned in the bearing and has an outer surface which is in sliding contact with the bearing surface to allow the bearing and housing to rotate relative to the stud. The assembly further includes a fastener which is receivable within the inner bore for connecting the stud with a frame of a vehicle. The fastener includes an internal passage which extends from an end of the fastener to a side surface of the fastener, and the stud has a channel which extends from the inner bore to the outer surface for allowing lubrication of the ball joint assembly while the ball joint assembly is installed in the vehicle suspension system.

Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing and a bearing which has an inner surface that extends between open ends and which presents a bearing surface that surrounds a generally spherically-shaped cavity. A stud is provided which has an outer surface with a generally ball-shaped portion that has at least two curved surfaces and at least two recessed surfaces. The bearing has a passage with a slots that extend from one of the ends to the cavity. The ball-shaped portion of the stud is insertable into the cavity of the bearing by aligning the curved surfaces of the stud with the slots of the passage. The stud is rotatable while the ball-shaped portion of the stud is positioned within the cavity to establish slidable contact between the curved surfaces of the stud and the bearing surface of the bearing to allow pivoting of the stud relative to the bearing.

Abstract: A moveable joint assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along an axis. A stud is at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the housing and is pivotable relative to the housing. A top edge of the housing is bent radially inwardly to present a flange. A two-piece dust boot is provided including a cover piece of an elastic material and a spring washer. The cover piece extends from a first end portion that is sealed against the housing to a second end portion that is sealed against the stud. The spring washer is at least substantially encapsulated within the cover piece at the first end portion and biases the cover piece against the flange of the housing to establish a seal that is resistant to compression setting between the cover piece and the housing.

Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing and a bearing which has an inner surface that extends between open ends and which presents a bearing surface that surrounds a generally spherically-shaped cavity. A stud is provided which has an outer surface with a generally ball-shaped portion that has at least two curved surfaces and at least two recessed surfaces. The bearing has a passage with a slots that extend from one of the ends to the cavity. The ball-shaped portion of the stud is insertable into the cavity of the bearing by aligning the curved surfaces of the stud with the slots of the passage. The stud is rotatable while the ball-shaped portion of the stud is positioned within the cavity to establish slidable contact between the curved surfaces of the stud and the bearing surface of the bearing to allow pivoting of the stud relative to the bearing.

Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing which extends along an axis and a bearing. The bearing has an opening that extends between opposite axial ends and presents a curved bearing surface. A stud with an inner bore is positioned in the bearing and has an outer surface which is in sliding contact with the bearing surface to allow the bearing and housing to rotate relative to the stud. The assembly further includes a fastener which is receivable within the inner bore for connecting the stud with a frame of a vehicle. The fastener includes an internal passage which extends from an end of the fastener to a side surface of the fastener, and the stud has a channel which extends from the inner bore to the outer surface for allowing lubrication of the ball joint assembly while the ball joint assembly is installed in the vehicle suspension system.

Abstract: A dust boot with enhanced protection from contaminants and improved lubrication characteristic includes a dust boot body having a housing opening on one end and on an opposing end a stud opening in an upper boot wall. The boot also includes a wiping lip located on an inner face of the upper boot wall in the stud opening, a grease channel on an outer surface of the upper boot wall bounded circumferentially by a rim seal, an offset opening hole through the upper boot wall into the grease channel which is offset from the wiping lip, and a flexible flap portion of said rim seal which is spaced away from said offset opening hole. The dust boot may also include an insert made from a plastic such as nylon housed in the upper boot wall such that the offset opening hole extends through the insert. The insert may also form a portion of the grease channel. The offset opening is preferably spaced opposite the flexible flap to promote the flow of grease around the outer surface of the stud.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly (28) for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing (42) in which is captured the articulating ball portion (32) of a stud (30). A shank (34) extends from the ball portion (32), outwardly from the housing cap (42), to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member (16) or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member (16) is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor (54) mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region (48) on the stud (30). On its outer surface, the adaptor (54) has a broad tapering feature (56) designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare (58) in the anchoring suspension member (16).

Abstract: A dust boot with enhanced protection from contaminants and improved lubrication characteristic includes a dust boot body having a housing opening on one end and on an opposing end a stud opening in an upper boot wall. The boot also includes a wiping lip located on an inner face of the upper boot wall in the stud opening, a grease channel on an outer surface of the upper boot wall bounded circumferentially by a rim seal, an offset opening hole through the upper boot wall into the grease channel which is offset from the wiping lip, and a flexible flap portion of said rim seal which is spaced away from said offset opening hole. The dust boot may also include an insert made from a plastic such as nylon housed in the upper boot wall such that the offset opening hole extends through the insert. The insert may also form a portion of the grease channel. The offset opening is preferably spaced opposite the flexible flap to promote the flow of grease around the outer surface of the stud.

Abstract: An improved compression load ball joint assembly consisting of a metal housing having an open end and an internal cylindrical chamber which at least partially encloses a portion of a movable stud member, a lower metal bearing, an upper metal split bearing, and a Belleville washer. The upper metal split bearing is disposed opposite the lower metal bearing to engage the movable stud member and the housing simultaneously. The upper metal split bearing is configured to slide within the housing to provide for a constant wear surface against the movable stud member. The lower metal bearing, upper metal split bearing, Belleville washer, and movable stud member are contained within the housing by a cover plate concentrically disposed about the movable stud member and secured within the open end of the housing.