Ball joint assembly and method of making

A method of making a ball joint assembly, comprising the steps of:

• forming a ball stud having an attachment stud at one end and a ball portion at an opposing end;
• forming a housing having an upper end, a lower end and a cylindrical bore extending therebetween and defining a sidewall of the housing and a counterbore proximate the lower end forming a bearing shoulder within the sidewall;
• forming a cylindrical bearing having an upper end, a lower end, a cylindrical exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly from the exterior sidewall and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end;
• inserting the ball portion of the ball stud into the socket cavity of the bearing;
• inserting the upper end of the bearing into the bore at the lower end of the housing so as to seat the lower flange of the bearing against the bearing shoulder of the counterbore and expose the upper end of the bearing and the ring groove;
• and
• installing a retainer over the top flange sufficiently to achieve locking engagement with the ring groove.