Socket assembly and method of making a socket assembly

A method of making a socket assembly, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a housing with an inner bore which extends along an axis from a wall at a generally closed first end to an open second end;
• inserting a first spring into the inner bore of the housing;
• inserting a backing bearing with a first bearing surface into the inner bore of the housing such that the backing bearing is movable in a radial direction relative to the housing within the inner bore;
• inserting a ball portion of a ball stud into the inner bore of the housing such that a shank portion of the ball stud projects out of the inner bore though the open second end and wherein a curved outer surface of the ball portion is in sliding contact with the first bearing surface of the backing bearing;
• preparing an exit bearing which has a second bearing surface with a cylindrical portion and a semi-spherical portion, the cylindrical portion having a constant diameter that extends in an axial direction;
• inserting the exit bearing into the inner bore of the housing such that the cylindrical portion of the second bearing surface of the exit bearing is in sliding contact with and extends axially past an equator of the ball portion of the ball stud and such that the semi-spherical portion of the second bearing surface is in sliding contact with an opposite hemisphere of the ball portion from the first bearing surface of the backing bearing;
• and
• inserting a second spring into the inner bore of the housing and biasing the exit bearing towards a predetermined location established by the housing while allowing the exit bearing to move from the predetermined location in a direction towards the open second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.